PERCEPTION OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION OF MEDIA WORKERS IN THE EASTERN REGION OF THE REPUBLIC OF NORTH MACEDONIA

Andon Majhosev, PhD Associate Professor /Faculty of Law, University of Goce Delchev

Iskra Koroveshovska, PhD Editor in chief, Alfa TV /Alfa TV

Jadranka Denkova PhD Associate Professor /Faculty of Law, Goce Delcev University in Stip

Jordanka Galeva, PhD Assistant professor /Faculty of Law, Goce Delcev University in Stip

Abstract
Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right guaranteed by several UN legal instruments, the Council of Europe, of the EU and other international organizations. Republic of N. Macedonia as a member state of the UN, of the Council of Europe and other international organizations, has implemented the right to freedom of expression in the Constitution of the State and the Laws. Consider that in every societythe freedom of expression is a mirror of democracy, the level of democracy could be measured through level of protection of this right. The media and journalists, in their daily professional duties, face various pressures from certain centers of power, which restrict the implementation of their right to freedom of expression. The subject of this paper is a research of the perception of media workers about the right to freedom of expression, as well as, the reasons that contribute to the restriction of this right. The aim of the research was to obtain actual data about the perception of the degree of censorship and self-censorship of media workers in the media in the Eastern region of the Republic of N. Macedonia. The basic guide question in the research is “What is the perception of media workers about the degree of freedom of expression in the East Planning Region of the Republic of N. Macedonia?”
Key words: media, freedom of expression, censorship, Republic of N. Macedonia