Veran Matić: The authorities have established abnormality everywhere

During discussions about the safety of journalists with colleagues from local media, he emphasized that attacks on journalists during street protests have somehow become "normal," even coming from pro-government media that disapprove of certain reporting.

"This year, the number of incidents and attacks on journalists has increased enormously. This year alone, 130 such cases have been recorded, which is significantly more than during the entire year of 2024," said Matić.

He highlighted that the lack of judicial outcomes following incident situations has resulted in a decline in journalists' and media's trust in the prosecutor's office and the police.

"At the same time, an analysis of the health conditions of journalists exposed to prolonged workplace stress showed that a large number of colleagues require some form of medical assistance," added the long-time journalist in independent media.

According to his assessment, journalists most often refuse such assistance because they "lack money or time, which raises another problematic issue—the material situation of employees in the media."

Matić advised his colleagues in local media to show mutual solidarity, "considering that there are increasing SLAPP lawsuits, which abuse the law with the sole purpose of exhausting undesirable journalists and media."

"After a series of mostly unsuccessful attempts to regulate the media scene, it becomes evident that this can only be achieved in Serbia through a change of the current government. The existing government does not allow institutions to perform their duties," emphasized Matić.