Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

International study reveals:

Worrying trends in the work of Bulgarian journalists

Bulgarian journalists work in a toxic environment, under pressure

Photo: Archive

In recent years, journalists in Bulgaria have been aging and declining, they work in a risky and toxic work environment, it is difficult to maintain high professional standards due to various types of pressure and corruption. This is shown by a nationally representative study "Journalists in Bulgaria: Changes and trends 2016-2022", part of the international study "Worlds of Journalism". 

From 5,800 in 2016, journalists in Bulgaria have decreased to 3,800 in 2020, and their average age has increased from 42 to 49.8 years. 

Among the demotivating factors is low pay, one of the scientific leaders of the project, Hristofor Kadarzhov, commented to BNR-Radio Sofia. Karadzhov is a journalist, political and media observer, professor of journalism at California State University, Long Beach, USA.

Only 61% of journalists in Bulgaria receive all their income from their work as journalists. Between two-thirds and one-third of the rest additionally earn from public relations, corporate communications and/or advertising, often placing them in a conflict of interest and dependency.

The survey was conducted from the end of 2021 to April 2022 by the Alfa Research sociological agency through online, telephone and direct interviews with 391 Bulgarian journalists.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

New parking lots with charging stations for electric vehicles open at Sofia Airport

New parking lots with over 1,000 parking spaces, including special areas for people with limited mobility and electric vehicle charging stations, were opened at Sofia Airport today.  The parking lots are divided into short-term and..

published on 11/26/24 3:30 PM

The European Public Prosecutor's Office has charged a Bulgarian citizen with attempted fraud with Chinese agricultural machinery

A Bulgarian businessman has been charged by the European Public Prosecutor's Office with attempted fraud with Chinese agricultural machinery. He tried to present the machinery as Bulgarian-made. A lawsuit has been filed in the Sofia..

published on 11/26/24 2:13 PM

GERB party say they will return the first mandate as soon as they receive it

Boyko Boris s ov, leader of the GERB-SDS coalition that won the parliamentary elections on October 27, announced he is withdrawing his candidacy for prime minister. At a briefing at the party headquarters he urged the PP-DB to..

published on 11/26/24 1:43 PM