The top 15 Serbian state officials attacked journalists and media outlets more than 130 times in August according to research done by the Slavko Curuvija Foundation.
It said that President Aleksandar Vucic, Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic, MPs and almost all of the government used their public appearances and social media accounts to attack journalists and the media at least 137 times, the foundations media monitoring report said.
It added that the journalists reporting on the protests across Serbia and on the authorities in general are the target of attempts to discredit them and spread mistrust in their reports. They were demonized and dehumanized and were accused of taking part in what the authorities call a colored revolution, anti-government protests and other activities which the authorities claim are intended to destroy Serbia.
Journalists and media outlets were labeled terrorists, fascists and Nazis more than 20 times with President Vucic along calling independent media “occupation media” 9 times.
The report said that the top state officials targeted United Media’s N1, Nova S, Danas and Radar as well as the Raskrinkavanje and Ozon B. Nova S reporter Sanja Eker was attacked 11 times, more than any other reporter in August, over her reporting on protests which included attacks on ruling party offices.
Source: N1
