If information and knowledge are central to democracy,
they are the conditions for development.   – Kofi Annan

Europe & Eurasia

Serbia

   

{This graph represents scores that have been modified by CIMA so that higher scores indicate a better media situation. It is intended to show trends over time; each index measures significantly different factors of press freedom. To see an explanation for how this graph was created, click here.}
 

IREX Score: 2.06 [IREX Methodology]
{Higher is Better, Score Ranges from 0 to 4.00}  


IREX Description:

In 2010, some aspects of Serbia's media environment improved, and some worsened, but on the average it was a lost year for media in Serbia—hence the score remained nearly identical compared with last year.

Several major events shaped the year. Most significantly, the economic crisis deeply affected the entire media sector. Advertising budgets shrank sharply, and led to a drop in revenue for practically all media—generating a number of effects that endangered professionalism and freedom of speech. The economic crisis in Serbia hit state financing strongly too, and even non-privatized media had difficulty securing their budgets. In perhaps the most important development in the long run, the economic crisis—especially diminishing advertising revenue, coupled with inflation—spelled disaster for the local media. The economic crisis further aggravated the well-known belief that the Radio Broadcasting Agency issued too many licenses, unleashing enormous competition on weak local markets. According to one panelist, around 70 percent of local media in Vojvodina are on the edge of bankruptcy procedures.

http://www.irex.org/resource/serbia-media-sustainability-index-msi ">Read more on IREX’s site…

Freedom House Score: 33 (Partly Free) [Freedom House Methodology]
{Lower is Better, Score Ranges from 0 to 100}  


RSF Score: 23.00 [RSF Methodology]
{Lower is Better, Score Ranges from 0 to ~120}  


Reporters Without Borders Description:

Death threats, physical or verbal assaults, harassment and corruption are unfortunately still the daily lot of the press in Serbia. The independence of Kosovo and the arrest of nationalist leader Radovan Karadzic have exacerbated pan-Serbian nationalism which uses the press as an outlet for frustrations born out of a series of political and financial setbacks. The recent signing of a pre-membership accord to join the European Union has provided some hope for the people but joining the 27 EU member states remains dependent on institutional reform, including in the media sector.

Read more on RSF’s site…

 

Committee to Protect Journalists Description: [What is the Committee to Protect Journalists?]

Top Developments
• Authorities win convictions in anti-press attacks, improve access to information.
• Constitutional Court strikes down restrictive media ownership regulations.

Key Statistic
3: Suspects convicted and sentenced to prison for threats against B92 journalist.

Serbian authorities stepped up law enforcement efforts in attacks against journalists, winning convictions in high-profile cases, even as they pursued some restrictive media policies. These sometimes contradictory media practices reflected the broader political goals of President Boris Tadic, who pursued liberal policies such as seeking European Union membership and reconciling with neighboring Balkan states, while appealing to conservatives by refusing to recognize Kosovo's independence and failing to arrest indicted war criminal Ratko Mladic.

Visit CPJ’s Site for Recent Developments in this Country

IFEX News: [What is IFEX?]

Visit IFEX’s Site for Recent News on Media in this Country