Journalism is a public vocation, and journalists should always work in the service of public interest. However, critically oriented media today increasingly face pressures from institutions and those who lead them, as well as open targeting by other media outlets, which seriously complicates their work and further undermines the status of the journalistic profession, as highlighted in the latest PROUDCAST by the Centre for Civic Education (CCE).
On the role of journalism, the importance of timely and accurate information for the public, and the pressures journalists face both in the field and in newsrooms, Željka Zvicer, programme associate at CCE, spoke with Mirjana Miladinović, a journalist from Montenegro, and Mladen Savatović, a journalist from TV N1 in Serbia.
The interlocutors agreed that journalism entails the pursuit of truth – always and everywhere, and that it is simultaneously a public vocation and a public service.
“We are in the service of citizens and the public. We often forget this or are not fully aware of it, but this is the essence of journalism. We know the questions that journalism needs to provide answers to. Anything beyond that is straying from the profession. We must be aware of our calling, even more than the public or politicians,” Miladinović stated.
The pursuit of truth, however, is not always easy, said Mladen Savatović, describing the current situation in Serbia. “We are faced with phenomena that perhaps previous generations did not face, such as targeting, pressures, attempts at intimidation, lawsuits, physical attacks, and verbal confrontations. It is increasingly difficult to reach the truth, but journalists are and must remain seekers of truth. We are also a control mechanism of democracy and its guardians,” said Savatović.
He also pointed out that, over time, the number of employees in media who understand their role in this way has decreased, so today it is not only politicians who conceal the truth, but also certain media outlets that serve those politics. He shared his personal experience after being targeted at a press conference by the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, with the support of pro-government media. “After this targeting and dehumanization, I received threats of rape, murder, and expulsion. One person wrote on social media that they would come to the company where I work and find me. When you know that all this was provoked by the most powerful person in the country, that he is the generator of this, and that people believe those who threaten him, there is a real fear that a physical attack could actually happen,” he warned.
Although the situation in Montenegro is not as extreme, Mirjana Miladinović emphasized that journalists and media here also become targets. “The target is drawn on your forehead by the highest institutions. This practically gives anyone the right to do anything to you. It is the most dangerous message that can be sent to any society. Divisions between ‘ours’ and ‘theirs’ exist in politics, society, and the media. When you represent one media outlet, at one event you are unwelcome; at another, you are treated as if you are part of their house. Neither is correct. We are here to report on what is happening,” Miladinović explained.
Because of this environment, Savatović said he is forced to avoid certain events that carry high security risks. “For the first time in my life, I genuinely fear that a stone or bottle could be thrown at me, that someone could stab me, or something similar. A few months ago, there was a military parade, attended mostly by supporters of the Serbian Progressive Party. I went to that event not considering it a party gathering, even though I had requested not to be sent to partisan events. However, what these people shouted at me, how they insulted and humiliated me, I cannot describe,” stated Savatović.
The interlocutors consider that politicians are well aware of the dangers they expose journalists and the media they work for when targeting them.
“Words spoken from the parliamentary podium have immense power. Those labels, accusations, and links to crime do not only endanger the person targeted at that moment, but also people in the field,” warned Miladinović.
“Their words sometimes even have physical consequences. Attacks and targeting are not new; they have been going on for 13 years. Every time we tell them that what they say today could serve as justification tomorrow for someone to kill us, maim us, or destroy our lives. They are fully aware of what they are doing, because they know that by targeting us, they divert attention from the essence – corrupt deals, links to criminal structures, and similar issues,” added Savatović.
Another issue highlighted was the lack of solidarity among colleagues, especially in situations of public attacks.
“At that conference, the President called me a proven liar, without presenting any evidence, accused me of calling him Hitler, claimed I was rude, and said he would ‘re-educate’ me when my parents did not. Two employees of pro-Government media defended the president against my follow-up questions. I did not insult him or say anything bad to him – I only insisted on a response. Perhaps it was even staged: he shouts, insults, and targets, while they stand a few meters away and shout back,” recalled Savatović.
“When we talk about solidarity in Montenegro, one thing is solidarity among journalists in the field, among reporters. How many times do we wait for hours, get frozen, they are moving us from one corridor to another, get soaked in the rain, and so on – such circumstances create a certain feeling of solidarity. However, when it comes to press conferences and asking questions, individuals again stand out, as if someone has greater right to ask, as if some questions are better or more desirable than others,” Miladinović said.
Speaking about legal protection, Savatović emphasized that rulings against pro-government media exist, but fines are mostly symbolic, while attacks on journalists are often not prosecuted.
“These are tiny fines, but they represent some satisfaction because someone officially confirmed that they lied and conducted a campaign. As for attacks, while conducting a street survey, I was attacked by the Deputy Mayor of Smederevo. Legal proceedings were initiated only after months of insistence and filing complaints. I gave a statement to the prosecution, but we never reached court; the indictment was dismissed. And this despite the video clearly showing who the attacker was, how he pulled my arm, grabbed my microphone, threatened me, and threatened to break my equipment. The prosecution justified it by saying that I had broadcast the footage and that no one allegedly prevented me from publishing what I wanted,” shared one of his experiences Savatović.
Miladinović emphasized that in Montenegro, the number of completed proceedings can “be counted on the fingers of one hand,” and that institutions do not do enough to ensure a safe working environment for journalists.
Reflecting on the future of journalism as a profession, Miladinović and Savatović expressed limited optimism, but believe that truth, in whose service media must operate, will remain valuable.
“Investigative journalism has a future, because we cannot teach machines where to investigate, what to investigate, and how to act as democracy’s watchdogs, which is our primary role. Here I see the main purpose of journalism in the future: in investigative stories and oversight of authorities, in areas that modern technologies, the internet, ChatGPT, and everything else we face today, cannot replace,” Miladinović assessed.
“What worries me is the interest of the generations that come after us. Every year, fewer and fewer young people choose journalism, because it has become a dangerous and unprofitable profession. On the other hand, those media outlets that operate professionally often do not have the capacity to provide a secure livelihood. Journalism used to be a highly respected profession, and today its status is degraded. Therefore, the question arises: who will pursue this profession in the future?“ concluded Savatović.
The full PROUDCAST is available at: https://youtu.be/hSMe766v2Go.
This programme is a joint production of CCE and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES). The content of the programme is the sole responsibility of the interviewees.
Maja Marinović, Programme Associate