The Coalition for Media Freedom and the Association of Independent Electronic Media (AIEM) strongly condemn the gathering in front of the entrance to the N1 television building, which was organized by provincial and Novi Sad officials. It is unacceptable and prohibited by law for political officials to put pressure on the editorial autonomy of independent media in any way.
A group of men, led by the deputy mayor of Novi Sad Ivan Siler, the provincial secretary for social policy, demography, gender equality Predrag Vuletić, as well as the provincial deputy Miroslav Rodić, gathered today in front of television N1 with a request to enter the studio. The aforementioned officials are members of the Socialist Movement of Aleksandar Vulin, which is a coalition partner of the Serbian Progressive Party.
The gathering lasted for about an hour, and Television N1 had reporters on the ground all the time who tried to get statements from gathered citizens.
Although the reporters asked Siler why they had gathered, he did not want to answer, but demanded to enter the studio, because “just as the students asked RTS” to come in and announce what they want, they are asking the same today from N1.
In our opinion television N1 did its journalistic work professionally and we fully support the employees of this media. Unlike the public media service, N1 reported on the meeting all the time. We remind you that the public service (Radio television of Serbia) did not report properly from the student rally in front of its building a few days ago.
This gathering represented a risk for the safety of journalists and people gathered, considering that employees in nearby buildings came out to support the journalists of this television station. That is why we demand that the government immediately stop organizing similar events.
The Coalition for Media Freedom and Association of Independent Electronic Media (AIEM)
Belgrade, March 13, 2025
The Coalition for Media Freedom: the Association of Media, the Association of Online Media (AOM), the Independent Journalists’ Association of Vojvodina (NDNV), the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS), the Business Association of Local and Independent Media “Local Press”, the Slavko Curuvija Foundation and Branch Trade Union of Culture, Arts and Media ‘Nezavisnost’
