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After I was physically attacked during one of the numerous civil protests held in Subotica last year, I continue to reflect on what it means to be a journalist in a country where the boundaries of the feeling of safety are constantly shifting, but – how far does it go? And should I have to endure anything at all while simply doing my job?

Jelenko Pijevac, suspected of threatening Insider journalist Nataša Mijušković on November 2, has been placed under house arrest, as stated by the First Basic Prosecutor's Office to Insider. Initially, the court ordered his detention; however, following an accepted appeal, the decision was changed to house arrest under electronic surveillance, which includes the obligation to wear an ankle monitor.

Attorney Vladimir Todorić has filed a criminal complaint against the judges of the Appellate Court who overturned the conviction in the case of the murder of Slavko Ćuruvija and acquitted the defendants. He states that the judges altered the testimonies of the witnesses and that there is no immunity for this criminal act.

In the new year 2026, Telekom Srbija stepped into the year richer by yet another company, and with it, several media outlets - on the last day of 2025, the state telecom operator finally acquired Mondo INC, owned by WMG Media Igor Žeželj. This company is the publisher of the daily newspaper Kurir, as well as the Kurir portal and the television station of the same name.

During December 2025, the Slavko Ćuruvija Foundation recorded at least 79 cases of verbal attacks on critical journalists and media in Serbia by 18 high-ranking state officials and members of parliament, as well as one ministry, through public appearances and posts on social media.

The International Press Institute (IPI) has expressed concern regarding the decision of the Supreme Court of Serbia, which highlights serious legal shortcomings in the ruling that overturned the convictions for the murder of Serbian editor and publisher Slavko Ćuruvija, regretting that the prospect of justice remains painfully unattainable.

As of the beginning of 2026, the official Media Register in Serbia has added three new local media outlets: Serbia in the East, Palanka News, and Voice of Aranđelovac.

The journalists' fieldwork, marked by helmets, masks, yellow vests, and identification badges, defined the work of reporters in the previous year. However, protective gear was sometimes insufficient, and the press vest often became a target for violence, which was perpetrated against journalists by aggressors, including police officers.

What was it like to be a journalist in 2025? What parallels exist between the year 2025, with President Vučić at the helm of the state, and the year 1998, with Vučić as the Minister of Information? How is the significance of youth editorial offices reflected during the time of the greatest social crisis that has affected Serbia? Why do the police and security services attack media workers during protests instead of protecting them? What will happen to free media in Serbia?