ANEM in Novi Pazar: A Record Year for Attacks on Journalists

“In the past four years, there have been no reported cases of threats to journalists' safety in Novi Pazar in the records of the Supreme Public Prosecutor's Office of Serbia. It is extremely important to continue to avoid such situations, and to report any threats or attacks to the contact points in the prosecutor's office and the police, as well as to the SOS phone number 0800 100 115,” said Matić.

He added that journalists have become targets of almost daily threats and attacks in recent months: death threats and violence on social media, physical assaults at protest gatherings - most often by perpetrators hired by the ruling party, but increasingly also by members of police intervention units.

“For this reason, journalists have started to adapt and wear vests with press markings, which was not the case before as they perceived wearing them made them more vulnerable. It has now turned out that the vests are useful, but it is also important to wear protective equipment such as helmets, gas masks for tear gas, and pepper spray neutralizers, as well as means for neutralizing chemical agents that are increasingly used by the police,” emphasized Matić, assessing that we live in a “society of shattered institutions, which is why solidarity among journalists and media is of exceptional importance, as we often can only rely on ourselves.” He added that primarily editorial offices should take care of the safety of their journalists, which many already do, by sending them into the field trained for safe reporting and equipping them with protective gear that includes a helmet or hard hat with recognizable “PRESS” markings, elbow and knee pads, gas masks, and chemical neutralization agents...

According to him, there has been a tremendous increase in incidents threatening journalists' safety, making it clear that this year will be a record year for the number of attacks on journalists. He also highlighted that an additional problem is the impoverishment of professional media and the gradual decline of the profession as we know it, along with the absence of systematic support from the European Union, which is unprecedented. Journalists and media are becoming increasingly vulnerable, and broad international support is needed to halt the decline, particularly of local media.

Saša Mirković from ANEM pointed out that Novi Pazar has long been an example of an unacceptable way of distributing funds through project co-financing. “The long-standing and open favoritism of RTV Novi Pazar by the local government jeopardizes the survival and normal functioning of professional media in this city, which is not the purpose of project co-financing that should protect and promote the public interest in information,” emphasized Mirković.

Matić, who is also a member of the Permanent Working Group for Journalist Safety, stressed that solidarity is extremely important, as “we live in times when we often cannot rely on institutions, and therefore we need to find time for one another and help each other with experience, advice, and communication.”

During his visit to Novi Pazar, Matić also met with representatives of the prosecutor's office, who are the contact points for ensuring the safety of journalists in that city.

The project "System for the Prevention of Violence and Protection of Journalists" is implemented by ANEM in partnership with Insider TV and the Center for the Development of Local Media, with the support of the European Union and the Balkan Fund for Democracy.