The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS), the Journalists’ Association of Serbia (UNS), and the Branch Trade Union of Culture, Arts and Media ‘Nezavisnost’ express their strongest protest over a series of alarming cases indicating systematic retaliation and pressure against employees and freelance associates at Radio Television of Serbia (RTS), particularly those who have voiced their support and expressed opinions in favor of objective, professional, and legally grounded reporting.
EFJ member organizations from Serbia have recorded multiple cases in which employees were punished, had their contracts terminated, or were placed in professional isolation due to their professional views, participation in peaceful protests, or signing an open letter addressed to the management of RTS. Such actions are contrary to the fundamental principles of journalistic professionalism and ethics and represent serious violations of the Labor Law, the Law on the Prevention of Workplace Harassment, and international conventions that guarantee freedom of expression.
All the mentioned colleagues signed an open letter in which they publicly opposed RTS’s reporting practices and demanded that this public broadcaster improve its reporting so that it is objective, truthful, and timely, in accordance with the law and ethical standards. Most of them are members of the informal RTS workers’ association “Our Protest,” which was formed following the start of student and civil protests in Serbia. This association advocates for improving the work of RTS, with a particular focus on ensuring objective and professional reporting by this public broadcaster.
In April, a contract was terminated without explanation with a music editor at the radio, a professor at the Faculty of Music Arts, who has contributed to high‑quality programming for decades. In May, three colleagues from the television sector were not given contract renewals and lost their engagement simply because they signed the open letter. For one of them, there had even been prior talk of a permanent position, but according to witnesses, this never materialized solely because of their signature on the letter. In June, nine more freelance associates lost their contracts, all of them signatories of the same letter, despite being essential to programming and some having received awards for their work.
Particularly alarming is the fact that three permanently employed radio staff members received formal warnings for alleged breaches of work obligations and discipline, with a threat of dismissal if repeated within the next six months – without prior notice. These are employees who spoke publicly about the pressures, posted comments unwelcome to management, or worked on topics of unquestionable public interest that management did not want aired.
RTS employees who strive to work professionally and critically face heavy pressure and have great difficulty exercising their right to work. Tamara Tankosić, editor of the RTS News Program, has not been given the opportunity to edit news broadcasts despite being employed in that position. When it comes to journalistic assignments, she rarely receives tasks and is almost never sent out to cover events – sometimes receiving only a few assignments over half a year. Her proposals are very often ignored by superiors, and when approved, the process of production is later deliberately complicated and slowed. Despite years of challenges, Tamara, a multi‑award‑winning journalist, continues to fight for professional work at RTS.
We demand that the management of Radio Television of Serbia immediately cease the unlawful practice of punishing, intimidating, and professionally degrading employees who act in accordance with the ethical standards of the journalistic profession. We further demand that management enable all journalists and media workers to work freely, regardless of their views, and review all previous decisions on termination of engagement that were made for reasons unrelated to professional performance.
We call on all relevant institutions – especially the Ministry of Information and Telecommunications, the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs, as well as competent inspectors and other authorities – to urgently investigate all reported cases of pressure, and unfounded disciplinary action within RTS. We also demand that effective legal and institutional protection be ensured for all employees exposed to repression because of their professional work and that appropriate proceedings be initiated against those responsible.
The undersigned organizations express their full support to all colleagues who, despite the pressures, continue to fight for free, objective, and responsible journalism within the public broadcaster. In this struggle they will have legal, professional, and public support, because safeguarding media freedom – especially in a public service broadcaster – is of crucial importance for a democratic society.
