ПРОГРАМИ
en de ru fr es sr gr al tr ro
Podcast in English
Share
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 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.
Radio Bulgaria News    Alfa Research corruption Hristofor Kazadzhov income journalism journalist journalists low pay

More from category

Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Ivan Ivanov (L) takes the helm from Elmedin Konaković

In 2026, Bulgaria takes over the presidency of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region for the second time

In 2026, Bulgaria will assume the presidency of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region for the second time. The symbolic handover of the presidency took place during the 14 th Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR) held in..

published on 11/17/25 10:02 AM
Tomislav Donchev

The future of Lukoil Burgas depends on the United States and the owner, says Deputy Premier Donchev

“The storm has mostly passed, but there are still risks”, Deputy Premier Tomislav Donchev told bTV regarding Lukoil . ''The first priority is to avoid a crisis with fuel supplies and fuel prices in the country. Secondly, the refinery must continue..

published on 11/17/25 9:09 AM

Cold mornings and sunny weather through the weekend

On Saturday, the lowest temperatures will be between 0 and 5°C; in Sofia - it will be around 0°C. During the day it will be mostly sunny. In the Danube Plain it will be foggy. Until noon it will also be foggy along the river..

published on 11/14/25 7:50 PM

WEATHER
Pick city: Sofía
Rain
Min: 13 | Max: 15
Cloudy
Min: 16 | Max: 21
Scattered showers
Min: 12 | Max: 16
Scattered showers
Min: 5 | Max: 7
Scattered showers
Min: 5 | Max: 8
Rain
Min: 7 | Max: 10
Rain
Min: 7 | Max: 9
Rain
Min: 6 | Max: 11
Scattered showers
Min: 14 | Max: 20
Rain
Min: 10 | Max: 14
Rain
Min: 6 | Max: 8
Scattered showers
Min: 5 | Max: 8
Scattered showers
Min: 11 | Max: 16
Rain
Min: 8 | Max: 11
Rain
Min: 5 | Max: 8
Scattered showers
Min: 12 | Max: 16
Rain
Min: 4 | Max: 9
Rain
Min: 5 | Max: 7
Rain
Min: 6 | Max: 9
Scattered showers
Min: 14 | Max: 18
Scattered showers
Min: 7 | Max: 14
Rain
Min: 6 | Max: 12
Scattered showers
Min: 13 | Max: 17
Rain
Min: 7 | Max: 10
Cloudy
Min: 16 | Max: 21
Rain
Min: 8 | Max: 10
Cloudy
Min: 15 | Max: 20
BULGARIA IN PICTURES
Which world-famous Bulgarian artist designed QSL cards for Radio Bulgaria?
Yasen Gyuzelev
Theodore Ushev
Christo Javacheff - Christo
Ilia Peikov
Lika Yanko

BULGARIANS ABROAD

Български English Русский Deutsch Српски Français Ελληνικά Español Shqip Türkçe Română
MOST VIEWED

Warm and rainy across much of Bugaria

On Tuesday, overnight lows will range from 7°C to 12°C, rising to 12–16°C in eastern Bulgaria and around 9°C in Sofia. It will be a cloudy day with rain,..

published on 11/17/25 7:05 PM

Constitutional court rules that the National Assembly speaker has no right to decide unilaterally on a national referendum

The Speaker of the National Assembly has no right to rule unilaterally on a national referendum. This becomes clear from a decision of the Constitutional..

published on 11/18/25 5:55 PM

Bulgaria's E-Government Minister meets with Google's Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy for Europe

At a meeting in Berlin with Google’s Vice President for Government Affairs and Public Policy for Europe Annette Kroeber-Riel, Minister of E-Government..

published on 11/18/25 6:11 PM

english@bnr.bg

+359 2 9336 661

Общи условия за използване на сайта | Политика за поверителност | Политика за "бисквитки"