Serbia's Media Under Tight Government Control, Reports Indicate

The state of media freedom in Serbia is a grave concern, as numerous international reports confirm a disturbing trend of "backsliding" and "pressure." TEMPO.CO, reflecting the findings of these global assessments, highlights how the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) has methodically consolidated its grip on the media landscape since coming to power in 2012. This systematic approach involves a clear dichotomy: media outlets that align with the government receive preferential financial and institutional backing, while those that dare to maintain independence face severe economic and political repercussions.

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Backsliding," "pressure," "political influence over editorial policy" — this is how numerous international reports describe the state of the media in Serbia.

Journalist and media analyst Nedim Sejdinovic elaborates on this control mechanism, pointing to the strategic takeover of media, particularly at the local and provincial levels. The acquisition of outlets by individuals connected to the ruling elite, such as Minister Bratislav Gasic's family or tycoon Radojica Milosavljevic, has resulted in a situation where an estimated 90% of media are directly or indirectly tied to President Aleksandar Vucic's administration. This pervasive influence extends to the funding of these media, with public money being channeled through less transparent means like project co-financing and state advertising, disproportionately benefiting pro-government outlets.

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The main goal of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) after coming to power in 2012 was to place the entire media landscape under firm control. And they did this very systematically.

The consequences for independent journalism are dire. An environment has been fostered where even large private companies shy away from advertising in critical media for fear of jeopardizing their business relationships with the authorities. This deregulation, coupled with political pressure, effectively erases the line between legitimate journalism and state propaganda. Critical voices are systematically delegitimized and demonized, and news is often reported out of context, solely through the lens favored by government officials. This situation is a stark departure from the principles of a free press, creating a media ecosystem that serves the interests of the ruling party rather than the public.

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But one of the most important elements of this media engineering was the purchase of media outlets, especially at the local level, by people who are part of the ruling elite, such as the family of [minister] Bratislav Gasic, or tycoons like Radojica Milosavljevic.