A police officer confiscated a phone from a reporter of Beta during the coverage of the brutal intervention by the gendarmerie near DIF.

A total of 34 physical attacks on journalists have been recorded by Reporters Without Borders in the last two months in Serbia – 14 were perpetrated by supporters of the Serbian Progressive Party, while 20 were committed by police officers.

During the coverage of the brutal police intervention at the protest near the Faculty of Sport and Physical Education (DIF) in Novi Sad on September 1, a gendarme seized the phone of Beta news agency reporter Božidar Milovac after he filmed the gendarmerie unit moving in formation.

Milovac told Cenzolovka that the police officer "was very rude and impudent":

“He took my phone and said, ‘You can't film here, man!’”

He noted that he was wearing a fluorescent vest marked "press" and that the police officer knew he was a journalist.

“I assume he wanted to delete that video, but he struggled with his gloves, so I offered to delete it if it bothered him, since the recording would remain on the Cloud anyway. However, he said that was not what he wanted. It lasted briefly, maybe a minute or two at most. He roughly took the phone, but eventually returned it to me.”

This incident was captured by Marina Nenadović, a reporter for the youth portal Zoomer, who says that another police officer approached her and Milovac immediately after the first one returned the phone:

“That police officer came up to us when the first one returned Boži's phone. He asked us if we were journalists. We were both wearing press vests, but he asked if we had accreditations, emphasizing: ‘Those vests mean nothing to you.’ After we showed our accreditations, he told us to move aside, and then they left.”

Milovac: Young journalists learn to document important moments in absurd circumstances

Cenzolovka has previously reported on the issues faced by Zoomer journalists during their coverage of violent protests.

One police officer attempted to prevent journalist Teodora Šulj from filming the police intervention at a protest in Belgrade, even hitting her on the arm.

Marina Nenadović was grabbed by another police officer in Novi Sad and pushed away.

Božidar Milovac, a young journalist, has been following protests since November of last year:

“I have been reporting regularly since November 5, but this police intervention in front of the DIF was the most radical yet. I can't say I feel extremely insecure at protests, but last night was the most chaotic so far.”

Milovac says that following protests, which have been ongoing for 10 months now, will certainly have consequences for the mental health of reporters covering the events.

“The circumstances are so absurd for everyone, and journalists are the most exposed to it because we constantly witness unpleasant scenes while our safety is often compromised. In very complicated conditions, we learn how to document all important recordings, photographs, and information. The current protests are simultaneously the best and worst field for young journalists to learn their craft.”

Journalists covering protests in Novi Sad, adds the interviewee from Cenzolovka, already know each other well and understand where to stand to preserve and obtain important information:

“It all depends on how we react and how prepared we are for situations where our safety is at risk. In the end, it all comes down to that.”

He emphasizes that journalists are now preparing much more seriously for protests than at the very beginning.

“It’s very interesting to see how this has changed over the past ten months. Although vests and full gear are always recommended, we didn’t carry everything so massively to every protest before. Today, it’s unimaginable to go into the field without vests, identification, masks, water, saline solution, and an external battery for the phone. These things literally save your life.”

Milovac says that he still hasn't gotten used to wearing a helmet, although he admits that it – is not wise.

MINI-GUIDE FOR PROTEST REPORTERS: POLICE DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO TAKE YOUR PHONE A few tips for protecting safety and asserting your rights for journalists covering protests: Right to film: Everyone has the right to film police interventions, and a police officer cannot prohibit this – especially not a journalist. Phone: A police officer does not have the right to take your phone. If they request it, refuse to hand it over. If they do take your phone and refuse to return it, report the incident to the first police supervisor. Digital security: Always keep your phone locked (ideally with a password). You can find more about protecting data on your phone here. Communication: Be polite and calm to avoid provoking a secondary issue. Although police officers today often wear masks, they are legally obligated to identify themselves if they take action against you. Insist on seeing their identification. Documentation: If you cannot film or photograph, ask a colleague or someone present to document your interaction with the police. At the protest: Never stand between the cordon and the demonstrators, especially when the police are about to intervene. You could be knocked down or hit. Always stand to the side – this way, you are safer and able to report. Visible identification: A press vest helps you to be recognized as a journalist in the crowd, but only identification confirms your status – display both. Journalists' obligations: Follow police orders. Being a journalist does not mean you can move wherever you want. Always carry your ID and show it upon request – it is a public document, while a press ID is internal. In case of attack: If you are physically attacked, immediately stop working and seek medical help. MAKE SURE to state that you were injured by the police – doctors often write that injuries are from "unknown persons." If they omit this, insist on a new report. The doctor is legally required to inform the police, who must come to the medical facility. Tell them only the basics, that you were attacked by the police while reporting, and that you will provide a detailed statement to the Internal Control Sector and the relevant prosecutor's office. IMPORTANT: Nothing is more important than your safety. No shot, photo, or story is worth more than your health.

Source: Cenzolovka