In August, state officials targeted the media 137 times: More than 20 times labeled as terrorists, fascists, and Nazis.
The Slavko Ćuruvija Foundation announced that during August, 15 high-ranking state officials attacked journalists and media at least 137 times in public appearances and through social media.
In addition to the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, the Speaker of Parliament, Ana Brnabić, and members of parliament, nearly the entire Government of Serbia participated in these intimidation campaigns, including the Minister of Information, as noted in the media monitoring by the foundation.
The dominant narratives used against journalists reporting from protests across Serbia and critically addressing the work of the authorities manifest in discrediting and spreading distrust toward their reporting, labeling through demonization and dehumanization, as well as accusations of participating in the so-called "colored revolution," organizing anti-government protests, and activities aimed at "overthrowing Serbia."
Journalists and media have been criminalized and labeled as terrorists, fascists, and Nazis more than 20 times, while Vučić mentioned "occupying media" as many as nine times at a single press conference.
Regarding attacks on individual newsrooms, N1, Nova S, Danas, Vreme, Raskrikavanje, Radar, and Ozon b were directly targeted, according to the Slavko Ćuruvija Foundation.
Among individual journalists, the highest number of individual attacks—11—was directed at TV Nova S reporter Sanja Eker, due to her reporting from protests during which the premises of the Serbian Progressive Party were damaged, and threats of death were directed at her and her child on social media.
Source: Fonet
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