ANEM alarm: New unacceptable threats to Dinko Gruhonjić and Marko Vidojković
The number of threats to female and male journalists in Serbia is increasing daily. Two cases of threats were reported yesterday to the Safe Line of the Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM), specifically the SOS phone for reporting threats and violence against journalists (0800 100 115).
Marko Vidojković received a threat via the Instagram page of the Danas newspaper from the account "zorancvetkovic.cvetkovic," which states: "You should be killed and thrown to the dogs."
Dinko Gruhonjić received a threat and a vulgar message via SMS that is not suitable for quoting.
Both threats have been reported to the Prosecutor's Office for High-Tech Crime and the Basic Public Prosecutor's Office in Novi Sad.
A journalist who is under constant attack in a town in the interior has been summoned to the BIA for an interview, which can only be interpreted as a covert threat intended to result in self-censorship.
Every day, journalists are subjected to demonization in pro-government tabloid media. The main instigators are high-ranking state officials of Serbia. In just one month, the Slavko Ćuruvija Foundation recorded that 15 officials attacked journalists and media at least 137 times in their public appearances and through social media. Messages are sent from the very top of the government, which are then amplified by tabloids, "bots" on social media, and these attacks quickly escalate into dangerous threats as well as physical assaults.
ANEM calls on government representatives to cease the intimidation, insults, and labeling of journalists and media through demonization and dehumanization.
We also urge the relevant institutions to urgently prosecute and sanction threats and hate speech.
Veran Matić, President of the Board of the Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) and member of the Permanent Working Group for the Safety of Journalists
The project "System for the Prevention of Violence and Protection of Journalists" 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 and the Balkan Fund for Democracy.
The OSCE Mission to Serbia has supported the ANEM project "24/7 SOS Helpline for Assistance to Journalists and Other Vulnerable Media Workers," as part of the EU-funded project "Strengthening Freedom of Expression and Media Freedom in Serbia."
