Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (IJAS) strongly condemns the new pressures on the media and journalists in the form of targeting and insults by officials of the ruling party and media and journalists close to the ruling party.
After an audio recording of Radio Belgrade speaker Aleksandar Boživić reading a statement published by the Serbian Progressive Party regarding RTS’s (Radio Television of Serbia) coverage of the student protest in Novi Sad, which was assessed as “scandalous” and “abuse of the journalistic profession,” went viral on social networks, the owner of Informer, Dragan Vučićević, performed in his recognizable style.
In the TV show “Collegium”, which is broadcast live on Inforemer TV, he first threatened Božović: “Oh, if I saw him somewhere, I would give him a gang, and then I would have to go to prison. Come on, I won’t. It’s a good thing I won’t see him, because I sit in front of the TV all day. But don’t do that, just saying,” said Vučićević.
He then uttered a series of insults against Božović, and at the same time published his photo, which is a clear targeting and call for the lynching of Aleksandar Božović.
He added that the public service, by definition, “must report objectively and balanced respecting the electoral will expressed in the elections”.
Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (IJAS) warns the owner of Informer, Dragan Vučićević, to stop abusing public space, threatening, manipulating facts and misleading viewers who follow his media, because in this way he violates the laws of the Republic of Serbia and endangers the safety of the people he reports on.
We also note that Dragan Vučićević’s assessment that the public service should report “respecting the electoral will expressed in the elections” shows elementary ignorance of the Law on Public Information and Media and the Law on Public Media Services, because the media, in the first place public broadcasting services, should report in public interest. That is why we invite the owner of Informer to read the mentioned laws, which, as a media worker, he should respect.
Another case of targeting, this time to the media, was by the deputy president of the Kragujevac City Assembly, Anđelka Stojković, to Glas Šumadije portal, which published an article under the title “What’s happening on February 15 in Kraguejvac?” with the cover photo of students during the Novi Sad two-day blockade and protest.
Stojković wrote on her Facebook profile: “This text on Glas Šumadije and the message on the banner in the hands of students in Novi Sad are a clear threat to the constitutionality and statehood of Serbia.” Long live Serbia, she added.
IJAS indicates that targeting the media as a subject that threatens to disrupt the constitutional order is dangerous and inadmissible. We invite Anđelka Stojković to stop this practice, take responsibility and send an apology to Glas Šumadije, as well as to start working in the interests of the citizens, not in the interests of the party.
Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (IJAS),
February 4th, 2025
