A number of local and international media freedom and journalists’ organizations reacted to the attempt to blockade N1 by activists of the Serbian ruling coalition’s junior member party – Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin’s Movement of Socialists.
On March 13, a group of officials and members of the Movement of Socialists gathered outside the entrance to the N1 TV grounds, expressing dissatisfaction with N1’s reporting. They refused to give statements. Across the street, employees of companies from the nearby Airport City business park gathered to show their support for our media outlet.
Vulin, a close associate of President Aleksandar Vucic and former head of Serbia’s top security agency BIA, confirmed in the Serbian Parliament that members of his Movement of Socialists blockaded the entrance to the N1 TV grounds.
Attila Mong, a representative of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), expressed concern, noting that the safety of journalists and their ability to work without intimidation and violence is crucial.
“Demonstrators and political actors must respect media independence and refrain from actions that may be interpreted as pressure on journalists or silencing critics,” he added.
Commenting on the blockade of N1, Pavol Szalai from Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said “It is not for the ruling party to block the operations of any private media or public service.”
“It is the responsibility of politicians, especially those in power, to ensure conditions that are conducive to media freedom, independence, and pluralism,” Szalai told N1. He added that the blockade of N1 “is considered a form of political pressure that is merely an addition to the pressure that is already being created through the legal system, insults, and poor media regulations.”
The Coalition for Media Freedom and the Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) also condemned the gathering in front of N1 organized by provincial and Novi Sad officials.
These media organizations issued a statement saying that it is unacceptable and legally prohibited for political officials to exert any form of pressure on the editorial autonomy of independent media.
“A group of men led by Novi Sad Deputy Mayor Ivan Siler, provincial secretary for social policy, demographics, and gender equality Predrag Vuletic, and provincial MP Miroslav Rodic gathered in front of N1 TV demanding entry into the studio. These officials are members of Aleksandar Vulin’s Movement of Socialists, a coalition partner of the Serbian Progressive Party,” said the Coalition for Media Freedom and ANEM.
They added that the gathering lasted about an hour and that N1 reporters kept trying to get statements from those present.
“We believe that, unlike the public broadcaster (RTS), N1 TV consistently reported on the gathering, fulfilling its journalistic duty professionally, and the Coalition for Media Freedom and ANEM fully support the employees of this outlet,” they said.
“This gathering posed a risk to the safety of journalists and those present, considering that employees from nearby buildings came out to support the journalists of this television station. Therefore, we demand that the authorities immediately stop organizing similar events,” said the two media organizations.
The President of the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS), Zeljko Bodrozic, said that the gathering outside the N1 gates in a way demonstrates that N1 plays the role of a public service broadcaster.
“The RTS is the Serbian citizens’ public service, it is funded by taxpayers. N1 is a private television station that must also adhere to laws and codes. Of course, citizens have more rights and a greater obligation to protest when the public service broadcaster that we all pay for lies to us and deceives us. And that’s not even the case here. N1 is a television station that works professionally and in a way saves Serbia in years when a greater part of the media is captured,” said Bodrozic.
The Journalists’ Association of Serbia (UNS) issued a statement saying that any attempt to prevent journalists from doing their jobs is “unacceptable,” while criticism of any media outlet’s work is “legitimate.”
The blockade of N1’s entrance is viewed by political scientist Dejan Bursac as another attempt to imitate what Serbian students have done. In the broader picture, it is an attempt by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic to deflate the energy of the opposing side, as he must quickly provide stability to his loyal voters, or they may abandon him, said Bursac.
Source: N1
