Analysis

The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) has launched several public online databases that provide information to all interested parties regarding the actions of the police, prosecutors, and courts in cases of threats and attacks on journalists, as well as all cases of SLAPP lawsuits against journalists and media outlets.

In Šumadija, 80 media projects were supported through competitions for co-financing media content in 2026, with a total of 71,700,000 dinars. Every third funded project focuses on cultural and historical heritage, while nearly a quarter addresses tourism; however, none of them have been identified as dealing with corruption, public spending, or oversight of institutional operations. In this way, the project co-financing model, which is currently crucial for the financial sustainability of local media, has completely displaced investigative and critical journalism from local media and communities.

As part of the project "Improving the system and mechanisms of prevention and response in cases of threats to the safety and life of female and male journalists in Serbia", the Association of Independent Electronic Media with partners the Center for the Development of Local Media (CRLM) from Požarevac and Insider TV strives to improve the system of protection of journalists and media workers. One of the activities of the project is the preparation of a report by the CRLM on the state of local and smaller media, both in terms of security and financial and every other relevant aspect for the independence and professionalism of the media.

Written by: Veran Matić

Election day on Sunday in Serbia became a bloody Sunday for journalists. The shattered, battered and bloodied heads of journalists symbolize the image of elections in ten municipalities across Serbia.

The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) publishes the "Analysis of the Efficiency of the Actions of Public Prosecutors' Offices and the Ministry of Interior in Serbia in Cases of Attacks on Journalists from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2024," along with a database of all cases.

The situation and conditions under which journalists of local media in Serbia operate have further deteriorated in 2025. The rating given by media representatives is 2.23 for the previous year, compared to a score of 2.53 a year earlier, according to the research "Indicators of the State of Local Media in Serbia for 2025: A Case Study of Eight Cities and Municipalities and One Region," conducted by the Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM).

The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) has published a report titled "Chronology of Attacks on Media Workers in the Area Between Pioneer Park and the National Assembly of Serbia," in order to document all cases of threats to the safety of journalists in the so-called tent settlement in this area in the center of Belgrade. The document also serves as a reminder of unresolved cases of interference with the work of media representatives during a specific time period in a confined space that represented a sort of "forbidden city" for critical and professional media.

In the past year, there has been a drastic deterioration of the media situation in Serbia, evaluated by multiple criteria. Media freedoms in Serbia have been at a concerning level for the past few years, as indicated by numerous international organizations that focus on the protection of freedom of expression and journalism.

As part of the project "System for the Prevention of Violence and Protection of Journalists," the Association of Independent Electronic Media, in partnership with the Center for the Development of Local Media (CRLM) from Požarevac and Insider TV, aims to improve the protection system for journalists and media workers. One of the activities of the project is the preparation of a report by CRLM on the state of local media, covering safety, financial, and all other relevant aspects for the independence and professionalism of the media.