ANEM: There are no free elections without free media – SOS hotlines for reporting attacks and guidelines for safe reporting.

We would like to remind you that the free ANEM Safe Line 0800 100 115 is available to report any attack or situation that threatens you as a journalist. The ANEM Safe Line is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and provides guidance on further actions to be taken in order to report threats to safety to the relevant authorities, police, and prosecutor's office.

On the election day, media outlets will also have access to the emergency phone lines of the Independent Association of Journalists of Serbia (NUNS) 060 688 22 31 and the Journalists' Association of Serbia (UNS) - 062 530 337 and 064 941 04 89.

Journalists and citizens can also contact the Citizens' Initiatives call center, an organization that provides legal assistance through the SHIELD lawyers' network - 069 192 192 0.

Digital attacks, threats to account security, unauthorized access to devices, attacks on websites, or other forms of digital security threats can be reported to SHARE CERT at 064 089 7067 or via email at info@sharecert.rs. For assistance in cases of coordinated attacks on social media accounts, the contact for the SHARE Foundation is available at info@sharedefense.org and through the platform.

ANEM reminds you that threats, attacks, and other forms of endangerment of journalists can also be reported to contact points in the police and public prosecutor's offices throughout Serbia. Contact lists for representatives at all police departments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs are available here, as well as contact points in public prosecutor's offices. We recommend that you save the phone numbers of the contact points responsible for the area you are reporting from before going out into the field, so you can contact them without delay in case of an incident.

We urge our colleagues to report any threats, pressure, attacks, and other forms of disruption and endangerment to their safety at the provided phone numbers. All information will be forwarded to the on-call members of the Permanent Working Group for the Safety of Journalists (SRG), who will be in communication with contact points in the police and prosecutor's offices on the election day.

Journalistic and media associations demand that the relevant authorities ensure the unhindered work of media teams reporting on Sunday, October 25, protect journalists from potential violence, and refrain from using excessive force. Free elections are the foundation of a democratic society, and free, independent, and safe reporting by the media is one of the key prerequisites for citizens to be informed about the electoral process in a timely and objective manner. Any attack on journalists and any obstruction of their work simultaneously endangers the citizens' right to information and the democratic nature of the electoral process.

Guidelines for Safe Reporting on Election Day

ANEM appeals to journalists to apply the recommendations and advice of domestic and international journalistic and media organizations when reporting from polling stations, public gatherings, and other election-related events, to be mindful of their own safety and that of their colleagues, to carry their press credentials and vests, and to bring protective equipment.

It is recommended that whenever possible, colleagues work in pairs, maintain regular communication with the editorial office, carry press credentials, and have a pre-arranged plan of action in case of an incident. In situations of increased risk, it is essential to avoid conflicts and areas where violence may occur, and to seek a safe place in case of immediate danger.

We advise journalists to safely document threats, attacks, and attempts to obstruct their work, preserve photographs, recordings, and other evidence, and immediately inform the editorial office and relevant authorities about any incident. In the case of a physical attack, it is necessary to seek medical assistance and secure documentation of any injuries sustained.

More detailed guidelines for protecting physical, legal, and digital security are available on the Safe Journalists portal launched by ANEM.

We also recommend familiarizing yourself with the safety guidelines from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), specifically prepared for covering the elections on October 25, which include risk assessment, physical and digital safety, as well as advice for dealing with potentially dangerous situations.

Pay attention to digital security on election day and protect your phones, computers, and accounts with strong passwords and two-factor authentication. If possible, use a backup phone that does not contain sensitive data. For communication with the editorial office and confidential sources, use applications with end-to-end encryption, such as Signal, and enable the option for messages to disappear after a certain period. Additional tips on protecting devices and data can be found in the SHARE Foundation's Guide to Digital Security at Protests.

We call on journalists to show solidarity with each other, keeping in mind that inadequate protection by the relevant authorities has been noted in recent months, and it is crucial for professional media workers to stand together, support, and help one another.

Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM)

The project "Improving the System of Prevention and Response Mechanisms in Cases of Threats to the Safety and Lives of Female and Male Journalists in Serbia" is being 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 in Serbia has supported ANEM's project "24/7 SOS Hotline for Assistance to Journalists and Other Threatened Media Workers," under the EU-funded project "Strengthening Freedom of Expression and Media Freedom in Serbia."