N1’s Bozic: Vucic is doing everything to shut us down 

Asked about Vucic's statement that the recent decision of N1 and Nova S television to black out the screens is proof that there is media freedom in Serbia, he said in FoNet's Kvaka 23 series that "the President, as usual, twists reality and facts."

"That was our protest, we wanted it to be talked about because we realized that it might be a decisive moment to see if we will exist or not," Bozic explained.

According to him, the way the Government and the pro-state media treat N1 is a very clear branding and targeting of journalists, as well as the company behind them.

The Programme Director has the impression that N1 television is more visible than the opposition, but rejects the objections that it is an opposition media.

We are a critical media, as all other media should be, he explained noting that in a normal country, a media like N1 could not be attacked by the populist politics led by Vucic.

When asked about Vucic's assessment that the protest by N1 and Nova S is a consequence of the pressure that Dragan Solak exerts on the journalists of these media, he replied that this was absurd.

"Neither I nor any of our employees have any communication with Dragan Solak. This frustration is actually the result of Vucic’s inability to control us," Božzc said.

Asked how he interpreted the Electronic Media Regulatory Body (REM) Council's decision to postpone the decision on the fifth national frequency, he assessed that blackmail was at work.

"In this way, they are blackmailing the televisions into being good and obedient if they want to get the frequency," Bozic pointed out, convinced that this is not done by the REM, but by Vucic.

There is no independent regulatory body, but Vucic decides who will get the frequency, N1’s Programme Director explained, adding that the REM Council's decision to suspend work under the pretext of being under pressure may be the result of the creative enthusiasm of the Head of the REM Council.

Pointing out that any critical opinion is treated as anti-state action, he indicated that there is no reasoned debate or discussion regarding key topics on the public stage because the government refuses to participate in it.

Referring to the reports of the European Commission, which pointed to the problems of media freedom in Serbia for years, while in practice either nothing has changed or it has changed for the worse, Bozic identified, primarily the international journalistic organizations as allies of professional and responsible media.

The slowness of the European administration and the people who should deal with the problems of media freedom is unimaginable, Bozic stated, but noted that nobody here pays attention to the reports of the European Commission, even the Prime Minister or the President say that they are nonsense, and that's the end of it.

"What kind of allies are we with the representatives of the European Commission, i.e. the European Union, if their report has no effect," he asked and stressed that Brussels could explain to its partners in Serbia that the path they are taking is not good, at least as far as the media is concerned.

Bozic confirmed that there is a threat that honest, professional and responsible journalism will no longer be needed by anyone, explaining that the public is polarized and that people only want to hear their own opinion.

"They are no longer interested in facts and data at all. Somehow everyone became a fan, like FC Zvezda and FC Partizan fans", he said adding that there can be no objectivity in such a situation.

If we don't look reality in the eye and see the facts, we will become an ordinary fan group that someone will manage very easily, Bozic predicted.