The Croatian Journalists’ Association (CJA) and the Trade Union of Croatian Journalists (TUCJ) are following with great concern the news about the closure of Al Jazeera Balkans after 14 years of operation. This decision marks not only the end of an important media project, but also a serious blow to the entire media landscape of this part of Europe, and a clear signal of how fragile the system of free, professional, and independent journalism truly is. Al Jazeera Balkans was one of the rare media outlets that provided citizens with high-quality, independent reporting, investigative journalism, and a regional perspective. Its closure, formally justified by business reasons, is in fact a democratic loss in societies where media pluralism is already weak or virtually nonexistent. The shutdown of this newsroom represents a further erosion of the space for freedom and truth.

The journalists of Al Jazeera were often among the few who had the courage to ask difficult questions, expose corruption, and report on crime, injustice, and abuse of power. As a result of this decision, around 250 colleagues are now left without jobs, security, or prospects—overnight.

We emphasize that such events can no longer be viewed as ordinary business decisions happening somewhere far away and without consequences. This is a blow to workers’ rights, the livelihoods of hundreds of families, and to the public’s right to truthful information. The precarity of journalists and media workers is not just a personal issue—it is a direct threat to democracy. Every lost professional media outlet, every newsroom that closes, every journalist who leaves the profession because they cannot make a living means less truth in the public sphere, and less freedom for all of us.

Responsibility does not lie only in Doha. It is shared by national governments, the European Union, regulatory bodies, and political actors alike. All of them must begin to treat the media and journalism as fundamental pillars of democracy.

We demand political will to pass and implement laws that will safeguard media pluralism and editorial independence, including mechanisms to prevent the sudden shutdown of media outlets without minimum social and legal protections for their workers. Media pluralism cannot be achieved without a thorough reform of media legislation that strengthens the labour rights of journalists and media workers—this includes obligations for employers to provide transparent restructuring plans and fair severance packages. It is urgent to establish support funds for journalists who lose their jobs due to media closures in order to prevent their departure from the profession. We call for the creation of a sustainable public funding system for independent media so that pluralism of information can be guaranteed beyond market and political pressures. Greater transparency in media ownership and financial flows is also needed, so that citizens know who controls the information they receive.

We also urge the European Union not to stop at declarations on media freedom, but to adopt concrete, binding mechanisms to protect journalists and independent media—especially in countries where the media are exposed to political pressure or authoritarian tendencies. This is not just a story about Al Jazeera Balkans.

In Croatia and neighboring countries, we have been witnessing a steady decline in media pluralism for years. Particularly concerning are the recent changes in ownership and management at N1 Television, which affect perceptions of that outlet’s independence. At the same time, in Serbia, political pressures on independent media are intensifying, and the fate of regional channels such as N1 hangs by a thread—any further shutdown could be a fatal blow to media freedom in that country. The loss of yet another strong, independent regional media voice—after Al Jazeera Balkans—would leave citizens without a key source of credible information and push the entire region deeper into a space dominated by propaganda, disinformation, and captured media.

With sincere and full solidarity for our colleagues at Al Jazeera Balkans, we call on all those responsible—Croatia’s government, European Union institutions, political actors, and media owners—to take urgent responsibility and concrete steps to protect media pluralism, journalist safety, and the future of professional journalism. This is not the time for declarations and empty words, but for decisive, systemic action to ensure that journalists can do their work in freedom and safety—and that citizens can have the right to truth.

Maja Sever, President of the Trade Union of Croatian Journalists
Hrvoje Zovko, President of the Croatian Journalists’ Association