The Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (IJAS) strongly condemns the threats directed at students involved in protests through the portal of the Kurir tabloid. It is unacceptable for the media to be used to incite and spread hatred against dissenters.
Specifically, yesterday and today in the “Politics” and “Personal Opinion” sections, Kurir published an unsigned text under the title “Who did you block, whose life did you make miserable?” in which students are “advised” to “avoid harassing citizens”, because “it could happen that citizens react differently to one of the next bridge blockades than before. That those who trusted Jovo Bakić could swim in the river”.
It is clear that this is not a journalistic article, but rather a kind of political pamphlet that attempts to shift the responsibility for the state of the entire society onto the protesting students, including the responsibility in case they “swim in the river”.
IJAS reminds that the media is responsible for the content they publish, and the Law on Public Information and Media clearly states that “ideas, opinions, or information published in the media must not incite discrimination, hatred or violence”. The aforementioned text in the Kurir calls for aggressive behavior and violence against students.
We call on the Ministry of Information to initiate proceedings against the Kurira for violating the Law on Public Information and Media.
The Serbian Journalists’ Code of Ethics states that journalists are responsible to the public and that they must not subordinate this responsibility to the interests of others, especially not to the political interests and interests of publishers. That’s why we call on journalists and editors working in Kurir not to participate in campaigns that are ordered and aimed at discrediting and causing violence against dissenters.
Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (IJAS),
Belgrade, March 28, 2025
