Serbian judge’s lawsuits set to chill press freedom - Article

The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) expresses grave concern regarding the legal threats facing the Serbian investigative news organization KRIK and its journalists. These abusive legal actions include demands for imprisonment and bans from journalism. We stand with the journalists on trial, and urge Serbia to implement anti-SLAPP safeguards to protect independent media

The problem is not in breaking law, but in failing to enforce it - Article

Regulatory authority for electronic media’s (REM) dependence on the government, the problem of non-transparency of media ownership, as well as impunity for attacks on journalists are the main problems on the media scene in Serbia, according to the report "Rule of Law and Media Freedom in Serbia – Shadow Report for 2024", jointly prepared by the Independent Journalists ‘ Association of Serbia (IJAS) and the Italian think tank OBC Transeuropa 

Originally published by IJAS . Also available in Serbo-Croatian  

Serbia: media independence is an exception rather than the rule - Article

Increasing political and financial pressure threatens the independence and editorial autonomy of many media outlets in Serbia. We interviewed Irina Milutinović, Senior Research Associate at the Institute of European Studies in Belgrade and co-author of the Country Report on Serbia of the Media Pluralism Monitor 2023

By Serena Epis

Originally published on OBCT , also available in ITA

Media Capture in the Western Balkans: From captured states to captured media - Reports

The policy brief produced by Southeast European Leadership for Development and Integrity (SELDI)  provides an analytical insight into the mechanisms behind media capture in the Western Balkans countries, as a phenomenon that negatively affects the media landscape in those countries through impairment of media freedom and pluralism. With the region being on track for EU accession, media capture presents a paramount problem that the brief addresses

Safety and justice: demanding accountability for attacks against journalists in Serbia - Article

Media freedom advocates condemn 25 years of impunity for Ćuruvija’s murder

Defunding disinformation in the Balkans - How International Brands Support Russia’s Agenda - Reports

Defunding disinformation in the Balkans - How International Brands Support Russia’s Agenda is a report produced by the Balkan Free Media Initiative (BFMI) and the Center for Research, Transparency and Accountability (CRTA)

Serbia 2023 Report - Reports

Each year the European Commission monitors the progress of candidate countries in their reform process aimed at the EU accession. As part of the annual progress report, the EC assesses the developments in relation to freedom of expression and media pluralism and independence

Media pluralism in a legal limbo in Serbia - Article

The allocation of national broadcasting frequencies in Serbia highlights the lack of transparency and pluralism in the sector. Frequencies are only awarded to government-friendly media. Concerns have been expressed by both the European Commission and the European Parliament

By Massimo Moratti

Originally published by OBCT, also available in ITA

Serbia: Independent journalism faces its biggest crisis in years - Article

Following a visit to Belgrade on April 10 and 11 2023 to commemorate the murder anniversary of editor and publisher Slavko Ćuruvija, the undersigned international press freedom and journalists’ organisations today issue a stark warning over the state of media freedom and journalists’ safety in Serbia

Serbia: REM’s awarding of TV licences underscores media pluralism and media diversity failure - Article

The decision made by the Serbia’s Regulatory Body for Electronic Media to award four national FTA TV licences to pro-government outlets perpetuates a deeply unbalanced commercial broadcast media market and is another example of the authority’s failure to protect media diversity and pluralism in Serbia