ANEM ALARM: Istinomer under threats and disturbing messages
The journalist from the Istinomer portal received several messages on her private phone number in which she was insulted and threatened. The messages were sent from an anonymous number by an individual who claims to have specifically searched for and found the journalist's phone number in order to inform her that she is under her unauthorized surveillance and to intimidate and threaten her.
This very act has disturbed the journalist, the editorial team of Istinomer, and the founder of this media outlet, the non-governmental organization CRTA.
“[She is] disturbed, and we are disturbed by the surge of violent behavior, especially since the campaign has just begun,” stated CRTA, adding that they will take all legal steps to protect their colleague and to ensure that the perpetrator is identified and punished.
Istinomer is a civil society media outlet engaged in the extremely important work of fact-checking – verifying facts by assessing the statements of public officials and politicians. In an era marked by the reign of "post-truth," fake news, "alternative facts," spin, and the distortion of reality, media outlets focusing on fact-checking are becoming a crucial part of the journalistic profession. Just like investigative journalists, they are increasingly targeted by those who seek to undermine media based on fact verification through the fabrication of lies and targeted discrediting of public figures, political opponents, activists, independent and professional journalists, and media.
“The civil society media, of which there are dozens in Serbia, are becoming increasingly important sources of reliable information, both in local communities and at the national level. As a result, journalists from these media outlets, particularly female journalists, are becoming more frequent targets of intimidation, and their safety is increasingly at risk. Unfortunately, with the rise of violence and threats comes the impunity of perpetrators, as well as the obstruction from the police and some prosecutors. In the last two years, only four percent of cases have been resolved, which is a clear message that journalists can be threatened with impunity and can be attacked without consequence.”
The same applies to activists from civil society organizations. ANEM condemns not only this attack on the Istinomer journalist but also the increasingly evident targeting of media and civil society organizations, especially in the final stage of the election campaign. ANEM will strive to protect female and male journalists, as well as non-governmental organizations and activists who are under constant violence, surveillance, including the use of sophisticated spyware, threats, and ongoing intimidation.
We call on all actors in the social and political scene to show solidarity and support the work of journalists, activists, and members of civil society organizations, who are often solitary "guard dogs of the public interest," stated Veran Matić, operator of the SOS line for reporting threats and violence against journalists at the Association of Independent Electronic Media and a member of the Permanent Working Group for the Safety of Journalists.
ANEM will regularly inform international organizations about every attack and threat directed at journalists, particularly institutions that will monitor the regularity of the election campaign and the elections themselves, from ODIHR to representatives of the European Commission, and will seek their response and protection.
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