Serbian Professor Denounces Government Support for Hate Media, Cites Journalist Threats

Smiljana Milinkov, head of media studies at the University of Novi Sad's Faculty of Philosophy, strongly criticized the Serbian government's financial support for media outlets accused of disseminating hate speech and falsehoods. Speaking at a protest in Novi Sad, she declared, "We will break the nexus of hate and state money sooner or later. They must no longer be called journalists."

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We will break the nexus of hate and state money sooner or later. They must no longer be called journalists.

Milinkov detailed the alarming threats and targeting faced by journalists in Serbia, including death threats and violent messages. She pointed out that female journalists are particularly vulnerable to slander and attacks due to their gender and their persistence in reporting. Despite journalists reporting these threats, Milinkov stated that police and prosecutors rarely intervene, contributing to a climate of impunity.

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Imagine receiving threats like these every day and having no one to inform the public about it and ask for accountability from the authorities.

The professor also addressed the systematic obstruction of independent reporting, noting that reporters are frequently barred from covering events, which she described as discrimination and a violation of citizens' right to be informed. She contrasted the situation in Serbia with other countries where such restrictions are unthinkable, adding that police sometimes physically assault journalists. Milinkov urged society to recognize the normalization of these dangerous conditions and to actively work towards creating safe environments for journalists.

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Press vests have become magnets for police batons.

Furthermore, Milinkov drew parallels between the current media landscape in Serbia and the approach taken by Hungary under Viktor Orbán, characterizing it as a systematic effort to silence critical voices. She argued that independent media have been deliberately weakened financially while a parallel system of state-loyal media has been built using public funds. This model, she contended, serves the regime's political interests, including the targeting of journalists and activists who dare to criticize the government, and is essential for the survival of Aleksandar Vučić's administration.

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Think about this the next time you go to your job: how much have we, as a society, normalized the abnormal? It is up to us whether we will organize safe houses and shelters for journalists targeted by the regime, or change all of this rottenness. Change!