Recent events in Serbia have raised serious concerns about the state of press freedom and the treatment of journalists. Two cases in particular those of Vojislava Crnjanski Spasojević, a journalist at one Serbian newspaper, and Milan Srdić, a correspondent for one Serbian television, highlight troubling patterns of censorship and professional retaliation against members of the media.
In Serbia, a wave of student protests erupted after the tragic collapse of a canopy in Novi Sad, Serbia, on 1 November 2024, which claimed 15 lives and injured two others. The demonstrations, led by students and supported by various societal groups like part of the teachers, actors, and lawyers, have expanded nationwide. The movement demands accountability, systemic reforms, and justice, criticizing a culture of nepotism, corruption, and lack of opportunities. Operating through direct democracy and innovative tactics, such as brief traffic blockades, the students emphasize solidarity and persistence. The protests symbolize a generational demand for a functional legal state, democracy, and a brighter future, rejecting complacency and systemic decay.
Vojislava Crnjanski Spasojević, a journalist with over 30 years of experience, was abruptly terminated from her position. According to Spasojević, the dismissal occurred a day after she posted a photo of herself attending a protest outside Serbia’s Constitutional Court in Belgrade, Serbia on her private Instagram account. This came just days after she publicly criticized publishing the private information of two students in the public.
Spasojević has reported very often on misuse of personal data, which made her deeply disturbed by the publication of the students’ passport details. She spoke out against the incident on her social media, an act she believes contributed to her sudden dismissal.
Spasojević also alleges that her dismissal was orchestrated without consulting her editors or the editorial board, raising questions about the motivations behind the decision. She suspects that her participation in the protest and her critique of unethical practices were the true reasons for her removal.
On other side, according to the media company, the official reason provided for her termination was the “cessation of the need for her position” due to “technological, economic, and organizational changes.”
On another case, Milan Srdić, born 1977, a TV correspondent in Novi Sad, Serbia, has also reported instances of professional interference and censorship. After delivering a live report following a tragic event in the city, Srdić claims he was prevented by his company from further reporting. Even when he was later allowed to file a story, significant portions of his work were altered or omitted.
Srdić noted that in one particular instance, a key interview with an opposition figure was heavily edited to diminish its impact. Despite his attempts to maintain journalistic balance by including perspectives from both the government and the opposition, his efforts were undermined. Additionally, he revealed that most of the materials collected by his team were only published on this television’s website, while minimal content were on TV. As Srdić published on his Facebook profile, after the tragedy on 1 November until 17 January instead of reporters from Novi Sad, the reports on the TV channel from Novi Sad were produced by journalists from Belgrade, or there were none, and some editors simply stopped talking to him.
Both cases highlight the challenges faced by Serbian journalists, who are increasingly vulnerable to dismissal, censorship, self-censorship, and other forms of professional retribution.
The implications of these actions extend far beyond the individuals involved, threatening the broader principles of transparency, accountability, and democracy. When journalists are silenced, it sends a chilling message to the entire profession and undermines public trust in the media.
As these cases unfold, they serve as stark reminders of the critical importance of protecting journalistic integrity and the right to report freely, even in the face of systemic pressures and retaliation.
The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) will closely monitor the developments in Serbia and continue to advocate for the rights of journalists in Serbia.
South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.
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