"We honor the journalists and media professionals who have dedicated their lives, frequently at great risk, to promote accountability, transparency and inclusion in the United States, Croatia and around the world," US embassy in Zagreb said in a press release marking the World Press Freedom Day on Friday.

“Journalism is a public good and freedom of the press is a key pillar of a democratic society. Unfortunately, journalists continue to face serious obstacles,” the embassy said.

The press release comes two weeks after the latest report for 2019 compiled by the Reporters Without Borders global media watchdog, in which Croatia was ranked 64th in the world – moving up five places from 2018 – but also warned about cases of harassment of investigative reporters, and the political pressures at state television HRT.

“The rise of physical attacks and online threats is having a chilling effect on media freedom throughout the world. The threat of disinformation is growing as it seeks to undermine democracies and divide us from our allies and partners. These major challenges underscore the important role the media plays in ensuring citizens are fully informed and remain active and engaged in their societies,” the US embassy added.

In the same report, the United States was ranked 48th in the world, with special mention given to President Donald Trump’s frequent attacks against the media and his tendency to label any critical reporting as “fake news,” which the group said helped exacerbate the steady decline of press freedoms in the country.

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