EFJ: Safety of Journalists in Serbia Seriously Threatened by Politicians’ Behavior

Maja Sever, president of the European Federation of Journalists (YouTube/PrintScreen)

Journalists in Serbia are the target of attacks instigated by politicians, which not only threaten the freedom and pluralism of media outlets, but their safety, Maja Sever, president of the European Federation of Journalists has said, voicing serious concerns that the situation could get worse.

Sever told BETA's Daily European Service that the targeting of and campaigns against journalists in Serbia were being instigated by politicians, who should be helping to protect journalism and the freedom of expression by acting responsibly, but that, "On the contrary, they are instigating and encouraging attacks on journalists."

"Populism in politics has brought a dangerous increase in tensions in societies everywhere, but I'm afraid that in Serbia certain lines have been crossed and I fear the consequences can only be even worse. In fact, sometimes when I watch the speeches, Tweets or video messages shared by some of your politicians, I feel genuinely afraid for the safety of my colleagues," Sever said. She stressed that the issue was no longer just the freedom of the press or media pluralism, but the very safety of journalists.

This behavior, she added, is so frequent that it sometimes seems that many journalists have accepted it as a part of their job. "It is not and must not be. Attacks, threats, insults are not part of our job, and, like it is our job to ask questions, it is the job of politicians' to answer those questions, not to lock doors in the faces of journalists so they cannot ask questions," Sever said.

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