ANEM ALARM: Urgently cease targeting female journalists from local media at Informer.

The latest example is the public targeting of Selma Kolašinac, a student and journalist from the Mahala editorial team in Novi Pazar, by regime-controlled media. In an article by Informer, she is labeled as "one of the organizers of the blockades from Novi Pazar," while her participation in the educational program of the Memorial Center Srebrenica is portrayed as part of a "shameful performance" and an "attack on Serbia."

Previously, on the same media's television, journalists Darija Ranković from the Kolubara editorial team and Slavica Vujanac from the vamedia.info portal were accused of "undermining the state," "extortion," and "blackmail," without any evidence provided, along with the display of their photographs and insults based on their physical appearance.

In the show, Darija Ranković and Slavica Vujanac were accused of "taking money from state institutions for the purpose of undermining the state," as certain local public enterprises advertise on these portals. The host, Andrea Veskov, addressing the directors and heads of state institutions, asked, "Are you normal?" and "Until when do you plan to finance such things" from the budget, claiming that it finances "the downfall of the state."

In the same show, claims were made that local officials and managers pay "serious extortion" to these media for "monthly peace." Saša Milovanović, director of Srpski Telegraf, stated that local officials "grovel and pay extortion to these opposition media" so that they do not write about them but rather "attack Vučić." The host then accused the journalists of going "from company to company" and "literally blackmailing and threatening people," and subsequently called on the relevant authorities to "address this issue as soon as possible."

In the show, the host, introducing a photograph of Darija Ranković, said: "I know that the photograph you will see next is not pleasant to the eyes, but we need to know who Darija Ranković is," and derogatory comments could also be heard.

"Informer and other tabloids, with their programs and articles, pose the greatest threat to the safety of journalists, especially female journalists. In addition to lies, fabricated accusations, and discreditation, journalists are also subjected to attacks related to their gender, misogyny, insults, targeting, and harassment. The media community must protect female journalists through solidarity and professionally condemn such behavior from these factories of lies and hate speech," stated Veran Matić, president of the ANEM Board of Directors, member of the Permanent Working Group for the Safety of Journalists, and coordinator of the Safe Line for Journalists 0800 100 115.

ANEM calls on media, institutions, and the public to cease targeting female journalists, as the public space must not be a space for intimidation, misogyny, and lynching. Such labeling and incendiary rhetoric can have serious consequences for the safety of media representatives, and we appeal to the relevant Ministry of Information and Telecommunications, other state institutions, and officials to condemn such media behavior and demonstrate that lynching dissenters and journalists is unacceptable in a democratic public space.

Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM)

The project "Improving the System of Prevention and Response Mechanisms in Cases of Threats to the Safety and Life of Female and Male Journalists in Serbia" is implemented by ANEM in partnership with Insajder TV and the Center for the Development of Local Media, with the support of the European Union.

The OSCE Mission to Serbia supported ANEM's project "24/7 SOS Hotline for Assistance to Journalists and Other At-Risk Media Workers," as part of the EU-funded project "Strengthening Freedom of Expression and Media Freedom in Serbia."