Position and safety of women journalists in Kosovo, 2025

The report explores two connected themes: the safety of women journalists and their position within newsrooms across Kosovo. A key highlight is that women make up 65% of the journalists recorded in the database of the Association of Journalists of Kosovo.

According to this report, women journalists in Kosovo face gender bias, exclusion from mentorship, and marginalization in editorial roles, as they are often assigned “soft” news. They encounter workplace harassment, rigid work policies, and limited support for caregiving or health needs, alongside safety risks in the field and online abuse. Weak institutional protection worsens stress, self-censorship, and limits career growth.

The authors focus on the role of the key stakeholders. On one hand, they argue that the Independent Media Commission (IMC) should enforce gender-sensitive media rules, penalize sexist content, promote internal equality policies, and run public education campaigns. On the other, the Press Council of Kosovo should ensure responsible reporting on sensitive issues, moderate online hate speech, and coordinate with the Women Journalists Network, IMC, and justice institutions to address harassment and threats. In addition, the Free Legal Aid agency can provide awareness, legal assistance, and policy advocacy for journalists facing harassment or discrimination. The Gender Equality Office can promote inclusive media policies, offer gender-awareness training, and monitor harassment and workplace disparities to ensure accountability.

The report is based on a survey that included mostly Albanian women journalists aged 18–35, working across private, public, and local media, and as freelancers, with minority groups also represented. 

Recommendations include: improving gender equality policies; enhancing workplace harassment reporting mechanisms; implementing family-friendly and health-conscious policies; addressing online harassment; collaborating with key stakeholders for support; strengthening institutional accountability and response mechanisms, mental health support, and institutional resources.