Report says 60 Serbian journalists and media attacked in 2022

The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) report tracks, monitors and reacts to violations of press and media freedom in European Union member states and Candidate countries and provides support to protect journalists and media staff. It is produced by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), the International Press Institute (IPI), and the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) as part of the MFRR.

The MFRR recorded 41 alerts for Serbia involving 60 attacked persons or media outlets, most of which were verbal attacks (32 cases, 78.0%) taking place mainly online (13), in the workplace (5), or in public places.

“The toxic environment in which journalists work remains a concern,” it said and warned that the constant labeling of journalists as traitors and enemies of the state by politicians and other media encourages and legitimises additional intimidation from the public.

It listed five attacks on Danas daily, two bomb threats against the Adria Media Group and posters meant to intimidate journalists.

“With seven alerts, physical assaults were the second most frequent type of attack on journalists in Serbia. A total of ten journalists were assaulted while reporting from the field – three of them during the EuroPride’s march in September 2022. Legal incidents followed with two lawsuits against journalists on defamation grounds and one civil lawsuit for alleged violation of public order,” the report said.