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Media freedom in Serbia today resembles a bird in a cage: attacks, threats, and censorship come from politically powerful structures, while the key to the cage is held by those who are supposed to ensure security.

Every month, there is a new record in the number of reported attacks on journalists. This should trigger all alarms, not only because of the journalists but also because of the citizens, who make decisions based on the news. The problem is that the number of attacks indicates that the perpetrators do not back down, institutions do not react, and the public is becoming desensitized.

The ring around critical media is tightening in a year that, by all accounts, will also be an election year.

The year of attacks on journalists – this is how the year 2025 could be described, a year in which institutions have forgotten that attackers on journalists are not just a problem for journalists. So let us remind them – these perpetrators are a problem for the entire state, its institutions, and all citizens. Because, by attacking the freedom of movement and freedom of speech, the fundamental principles of a state are under threat, principles that can only exist if the Constitution and laws are respected.

Acquittal for threats against a journalist, destruction of a camera, new attacks by the police and activists of the ruling party on media workers – this could summarize yet another month in the lives of journalists.

Reporting on the protests in Serbia this summer resembles reporting from war zones.

Impunity for attacks on journalists must not become the new norm, as it directly affects media freedom, the right to inform citizens, and consequently, democratic society. This was stated at the event commemorating the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, titled "Impunity is a Crime – Let's Prevent It," organized by the Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) at the European House in Belgrade.

In Serbia, there has been a concerning increase in hate speech and attacks on journalists in recent years. According to research data, over a hundred cases of hate speech in domestic media have been recorded in the past year and a half.

In the midst of a months-long crisis, particularly during the local elections, we are witnessing a wave of attacks on journalists, layoffs, and SLAPP lawsuits directed at investigative media.