The authors note a pattern of threats against journalists and provide an analysis of the broadcasting laws.
(ANEM/IFEX) – 30 June 2012 – The authors of the Monitoring Report for May 2012 are of the opinion that in this period, the media scene in Serbia was marked with the following:
Freedom of expression: In the period covered by this Monitoring Report, there were several cases that followed the pattern of threats and pressures that numerous local media and their journalists were exposed to almost daily. Such is the case of making threats and denying of information to a certain media by the Mayor of the Backa Palanka municipality, as well as the case of accusations for alleged supporting of terrorism directed at an agency’s editor in a situation where she was only making available information on issues relevant for public interest to know. The monitoring team also dealt with the case of court proceedings initiated by lawsuits of Tomislav Nikolic, the then presidential candidate, against media that had questioned his education level and qualifications, which were especially interesting because of the exorbitant damage claims that could limit freedom of expression, cause self-censorship and influence the media to avoid dealing with issues of public importance, but also because of the test the courts would need to do while deciding on this legal matter. Continuing to observe the proceedings on the lawsuit of Vladimir Jesic against Velimir Ilic, which the journalists had filed back in 2003 for incident during the recording of the interview with the political leader, the monitoring team analyzed the developments in the proceedings, indicating the importance of judicial decision in this case, which should set standards of accountability of politicians for attacks on journalists and equal application of procedural rules and legislations for citizens and political figures. On the occasion of the attempt to open a daily under the name of a famous TV program, the authors analyze the legal remedies available to media that want to protect their intellectual property rights, in particular their trademark or the right deriving from the trademark.