The Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (IJAS) strongly condemns the smear campaigns and targeting carried out by pro-government tabloids against all those who publicly express critical views of the authorities. Such content is not an expression of media freedom, but a dangerous form of propaganda that incites hatred, dehumanizes individuals, and creates an atmosphere in which threats and violence are presented as acceptable.
The latest example of this practice is an article published by the Novosti portal against actress Jelena Stupljanin, portraying her through an insulting, inflammatory, and dehumanizing narrative, filled with severe disqualifications, political labeling, and historical comparisons intended to present her as an enemy and a legitimate target of public persecution. The text is rife with hate speech and constructions that further inflame an atmosphere of lynching.
IJAS warns that such campaigns are not isolated incidents, but an established pattern of tabloid conduct that has for years served as a tool for settling scores with dissenting voices. When individuals are systematically branded as traitors, extremists, or enemies of the state, the consequence is not only a gross violation of professional and ethical standards, but also the creation of a real security risk.
We therefore demand that the competent institutions, including the Ministry of Information and Telecommunications, stop ignoring dangerous patterns of media targeting and respond when media content clearly incites hatred and violence, instead of rewarding such outlets with public money. At the same time, we call on journalists’ and media associations, human rights organizations, and the international public to condemn these campaigns and insist on the protection of all those exposed to organized public persecution.
Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia
Belgrade, April 7, 2026
