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Every year, on November 2, the world marks the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists<\/strong>. This date serves not only as a reminder of the journalists who have been killed or attacked but also as a mirror reflecting the state of media freedom in each country. In Serbia, that mirror has for years revealed deep cracks \u2014 showing pressure, threats, intimidation, and attempts to silence every voice that dares to speak outside the ruling narrative.<\/p>\n Although freedom of expression is often discussed publicly, the reality on the ground paints a different picture. According to data from the Independent Journalists\u2019 Association of Serbia (NUNS)<\/strong>, since the beginning of 2025, there have been over 120 attacks and pressures<\/strong> on journalists. Many have been subjected to brutal online campaigns, targeted by tabloids, and some have even experienced physical assaults.<\/p>\n The Journalists\u2019 Association of Serbia (UNS)<\/strong> reported 111 cases of threats, pressure, and attacks<\/strong> on journalists and media workers during 2024, including 13 physical attacks<\/strong>, showing that violence against media professionals remains persistent. Even more alarming, in the first five months of 2025 alone, 16 physical attacks<\/strong> were recorded \u2014 the highest number in the past five years. Particularly concerning is that independent and critically oriented journalists<\/strong> are most often the targets \u2014 those who ask questions about corruption, abuse of power, and the links between politics and crime. In addition, female journalists<\/strong> are frequently subjected to gender-based violence and misogynistic attacks<\/strong>, both in public and online spaces.<\/p>\n The media landscape in Serbia has become a battleground of sharp polarization. On one side are pro-government media<\/strong> with almost unlimited access to airwaves and resources, while on the other side are small, independent outlets<\/strong> struggling daily under financial and political pressure, direct threats, and censorship. Campaigns against journalists from outlets such as KRIK, BIRN, N1, Danas,<\/strong> and CINS<\/strong> reveal how dangerous it is to persist in seeking the truth in a country where power and interest often stand above the law.<\/p>\n Institutional protection is almost nonexistent. Many cases of threats and attacks on journalists remain unsolved for years<\/strong>, and impunity has become the rule, not the exception<\/strong>. Such a state not only endangers journalists\u2019 safety but also discourages new generations from pursuing investigative journalism \u2014 a profession that should be a pillar of democracy, not a risk to one\u2019s life.<\/p>\n As we mark this day of fighting impunity, it is crucial to remember that media freedom is not given \u2014 it is fought for and defended every day<\/strong>. Journalists in Serbia are not asking for privileges; they are asking for the right to do their job without fear<\/strong>. A society that fails to protect its journalists will soon be left without truth<\/strong>.<\/p>\n
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