The International and European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) lend their full support to their Serbian member, the Independent Journalists of Serbia (NUNS), targeted by a coordinated campaign initiated by the newly formed pro-government Association of Journalists of Serbia (AJS/ANS).
NUNS was labeled as an organisation that “supports the riot organisers” simply for opening its office in Belgrade to journalists and media workers who would have difficulty in reaching their newsrooms due to traffic disruptions on demonstration days.
This direct attack on NUNS have sparked a smear campaign across media supported by dozens of pro-government media outlets spreading hostile narrative and portraying NUNS as an association at “political outpost supporting anti-Serbian, Ustaša, and destructive ideologies” and providing“logistical support to the organisers of political unrest, blockades, and violence”.
The ANS is a new association which held its founding assembly last week and is composed mainly of journalists working in pro-government media.
On the eve of the anti-government demonstration, the IFJ/ EFJ calls on the ANS to immediately cease its public attacks and hate speech towards NUNS and further call on all media outlets to stop fuelling this toxic narrative, which above all contributes to endangering the safety of the association’s staff and members.
Since the deadly collapse of the Novi Sad canopy railway in November 2024, journalists in Serbia covering the event and subsequent protests have come under increasing pressure. As these attacks are taking place in a climate of total impunity, our Serbian members have redoubled their efforts to defend their members, their rights, but also freedom of expression in the face of numerous acts of intimidation and censorship.
“We stand shoulder to shoulder with our members, NUNS, which is doing an immense amount of work for Serbian journalists, working tirelessly to protect and support media professionals operating in an extremely difficult environment. NUNS is internationally respected and recognised for its dedication and commitment to improving working conditions for all journalists. We understand these attacks coming from a brand new association as a desperate attempt to support an increasingly authoritarian government seeking to remain in power against a backdrop of unprecedented protests that are shaking it to the core,” said EFJ General Secretary Ricardo Gutiérrez.
“We stand by NUNS, our long-established affiliate, and denounce these extremely grave attacks on their reputation and great job to sustain press freedom. Targeting them with a smear campaign not only undermines their vital work but also threatens the broader fight for independent, ethical journalism in the region. An attack on NUNS is an attack on all of us,” said IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger
Source: IFJ
