Serbia: President Attempts to Discredit N1 Reporter Gordana Bjeletić
The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom concerned about worsening press freedom in Serbia, amplified by the country’s leading politician
Location: Serbia, Vranje
Date: January 26, 2024
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić's recent insults and mockery directed at journalist Gordana Bjeletić and N1 during a press conference are not isolated occurrences but part of a disturbing pattern. This disrespectful behavior towards critical press exemplifies a broader campaign to undermine independent journalists questioning the government’s narratives. The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom expresses deep dismay but not surprise, given President Vučić's consistent attempts to discredit reputable independent media while encouraging pro-regime media outlets to amplify these attacks. We vehemently condemn the President’s actions and demand an immediate end to aggressive assaults on journalists in Serbia.
“We do what journalists do anywhere in the world, but the response is not the same as it should be in a democratic society,” N1 reporter Gordana Bjeletić tells CFWIJ with frustration following her recent interaction with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. “It's the usual situation in Serbia when journalists ask questions, and the President doesn't like the question. He sees that as an opportunity to attack and paint the journalist as his political opponent.”
On January 26, 2024, a press conference in Vranje took a contentious turn when Bjeletić questioned President Vučić about post-electoral dynamics in Belgrade. Specifically, she inquired about the possibility of a coalition between Vučić's party, SNS, and the "We – The Voice of the People'' party, considering SNS does not hold a majority in local elections.
“We do what journalists do anywhere in the world, but the response is not the same as it should be in a democratic society”
“My question was really concrete,” recalls Bjeletić. “What are they planning to do in Belgrade with which party will they go into coalition with? And he said, 'I have no idea.' And that was his answer, and he was supposed to stop there, but he didn't. He started insulting me and my network.”
President Vučić launched into a diatribe, accusing Bjeletić’s network N1 of spreading lies, portraying him as a thief, and labeling the channel as a fraud. This is part of an ongoing pattern for N1, which has been under sustained attacks from both official authorities and extreme right-wing groups. These assaults have resulted in threats and online harassment targeting the network's journalists.
Bjeletić says the President’s aim was to discredit professional journalists by indicating they are connected to opposition parties and his political rivals. “He started saying that we are in a campaign against him and things like that. And as a journalist, you don't know how you should react. Because you asked the question to inform the public, but you have to react if someone tries to discredit you and insult you.”
Bjeletić explains that it was not just the words and the President’s mocking of her and N1 that caused uproar from press freedom advocates and fellow journalists, something she and her colleagues are used to from the leader, but rather the tone and aggressiveness of his approach.
While denying he was attacking the journalist personally, Vučić criticized N1, accusing them of refusing him the opportunity to defend himself — a claim Bjeletić strongly refutes. She explains that the channel repeatedly reaches out to him and ruling MPs for comments but is consistently refused. Bjeletić says that journalists from N1 encounter difficulties trying to interview politicians around the country because of the pressure from Belgrade.
“Local leaders in many places would like to speak to us and give the information to the public, but they are afraid because they will have consequences from the leading party and the president”
“Local leaders in many places would like to speak to us and give the information to the public, but they are afraid because they will have consequences from the leading party and the president,” explains Bjeletić.
As a result, MPs for the ruling SNS party portray N1 as one-sided. “When they are not on our program, they say we are not professional, we don't have balance.” To counteract this, Bjeletić and her colleagues attend all events open to the press. “What we do is keep trying every day. We go to all the conferences and things like that, trying to ask questions and get information.”
Declining Press Freedom in Serbia
In Serbia, the landscape of press freedom is marred by a troubling pattern of attacks, smear campaigns, and physical assaults against journalists working in non-state-aligned media. CFWIJ and other international press freedom and journalist organizations have consistently sounded the alarm regarding the deteriorating state of media freedom in the country.
The plight of journalists in Serbia is aggravated by poor conditions for their safety, a weakened rule of law, media capture, and an atmosphere of hostility toward critical reporting, collectively creating a crisis for independent journalism. The political leadership of Serbia, including President Aleksandar Vučić, Prime Minister Ana Brnabić, and ruling party MPs, contribute to a climate of verbal pressure and direct attacks on journalists. Serbia, a candidate for European Union membership, is recognized as a place where journalists face strong threats from the state.
“We are presented like the enemy,” reveals Bjeletić, highlighting the political tactics used to attack and discredit journalists. “They are attacking you at every step. You cannot even predict what they will do next. They're so creative in the way they use their forces to fight against us. It's crazy.”
Bjeletić, reflecting on the past decade, observes a worsening situation for journalists in the country. As a reporter for N1, she acknowledges the difficulties but emphasizes that local journalists face even more egregious challenges.
“Working for national media, you're more protected because things are happening more publicly, but people who are working for small media stations, they are not protected at all.”
“They are attacking you at every step. You cannot even predict what they will do next”
Bjeletić recounts harrowing incidents from her time reporting for local outlets, including being physically attacked on election day a few years ago and being forcibly removed from the leading party's office. She says investigative reporters are particularly at risk.
“When you cover a topic about corruption or something that relates to government, local or national, the people in power try to discredit you.”
Bjeletić has experienced threats as well as a malicious online smear campaign, where a website was created solely to spread fake news about her and discredit her work.
“When you cover a topic about corruption or something that relates to government, local or national, the people in power try to discredit you”
“They would publish fake news saying I have lots of money and things like that. Which, for me, is easy to disprove because I live in a small city, and people know I don't live that way,” she says, adding that the continued need to defend herself is exhausting. “These attacks put you in a position to defend yourself all the time, and you can’t just do your job.”
The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom strongly denounces President Vučić's derogatory and insulting attack against Gordana Bjeletić and N1. This hostile attitude toward critical press is unfortunately typical of the Serbian leadership and the ruling party. Such actions are unacceptable, especially for a country aspiring to join the European Union.
We urge all EU bodies currently involved in Serbia's negotiation process to prioritize and address press freedom issues in the country. The leadership of Serbia cannot be allowed to attack and launch propaganda campaigns against independent journalists and outlets without facing appropriate repercussions. A commitment to press freedom is fundamental for any country seeking EU membership, and Serbia must be held accountable for creating an environment where journalists can work without fear of reprisal.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help women career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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