Report on Media in Eastern Serbia

The experiences of journalists from Zaječar and Bor indicate that the safety of local media is a multifaceted problem encompassing physical attacks, online targeting, institutional obstructions, political pressures, and economic insecurity, as stated in the report on media reporting in Eastern Serbia.

Respondents in this analysis testify that these pressures do not appear in isolation; rather, they often intertwine and reinforce each other – which directly affects professional work, the sense of personal security, and the long-term sustainability of newsrooms.

Particularly concerning is the fact that institutional responses are inconsistent and often inadequate, which further undermines journalists' trust in the protection system. In such an environment, the burden of safety shifts to the newsrooms themselves, personal assessments of journalists, and the support of journalistic associations and groups.

Although there are examples of solidarity, training, and inter-editorial support, respondents emphasize that these mechanisms are still insufficient to ensure systemic security. Most newsrooms lack formal protocols for dealing with crisis situations, while training sessions are rare and short-lived, as noted in the report.

Without systemic protection and the political will to sanction attacks on journalists, local media remain exposed to constant pressures that directly threaten citizens' rights to accurate, timely, and free information, the authors of the analysis conclude.

Report authors Jana Jacić and Marko Tadić state that this report was based on interviews with journalists from Zaječar and Bor: Saša Trifunović (Ist Media), Vesna Obrenović (Radio Magnum), Zvonko Damnjanović (Media Center Bor), Dušan Vojvodić (ZA Media), Lazar Ranđelović (Tebra portal), Anđela Risantijević, and Miljko Stojanović (Glas Zaječara). Respondents spoke about journalists' safety, institutional and political pressures, professional challenges, and working conditions in Eastern Serbia through their personal experiences.

The full report on the state of media reporting in Eastern Serbia can be read here.

The project "System for the Prevention of Violence and Protection of Journalists" is supported by the European Union, Norway, and the Balkan Democracy Fund, a project of the German Marshall Fund of the United States.