Analiza medijskog zakonodavstva u Republici Srbiji
Analysis of Media Legislation in the Republic of Serbia

Author(s): Predrag Dimitrijević, Jelena Vučković
Subject(s): Law, Constitution, Jurisprudence, Media studies, Public Law, Transformation Period (1990 - 2010), Present Times (2010 - today)
Published by: Fondacija Centar za javno pravo
Keywords: Serbia; media; media legislation; Regulatory authority for electronic media; media pluralism;
Summary/Abstract: Development of media legislation in Serbia begins after social changes in 2000. Media law in Serbia is regulated by media laws adopted in 2014. Fundamental media laws are the Law on public information law and media, Law on electronic media and the Law on public media services. Even at the time of the adoption of these laws, the individual experts and media workers expressed concerns over how the particular insufficiently explicit provisions should be interpreted and applied. Current media laws in Serbia show a certain discrepancy and retrograde tendency, which further complicates their application and absence of case law. Poor condition in the media is a consequence of growing political influence on the media, as well as a very high concentration of ownership which violates media pluralism principle. The findings of the research show that there are pressures on the media in Serbia, that there are censorship and self-censorship, that representatives of the authorities interpret critically-minded media as their political opponents and that specific media are the means for political propaganda and crackdown of political opponents. This further complicates a realistic state and application of media legislation. Several important problems arise in the implementation of media legislation, namely: transparency of ownership and financing of private media; the need for efficient supervision of state funding and co-financing of the media; strengthening the independence and capacity of the regulatory authority for electronic media; attacks and intimidation of journalists and the need for protection of journalists.Development of media legislation in Serbia begins after social changes in 2000. Media law in Serbia is regulated by media laws adopted in 2014. Fundamental media laws are the Law on public information law and media, Law on electronic media and the Law on public media services. Even at the time of the adoption of these laws, the individual experts and media workers expressed concerns over how the particular insufficiently explicit provisions should be interpreted and applied. Current media laws in Serbia show a certain discrepancy and retrograde tendency, which further complicates their application and absence of case law. Poor condition in the media is a consequence of growing political influence on the media, as well as a very high concentration of ownership which violates media pluralism principle. The findings of the research show that there are pressures on the media in Serbia, that there are censorship and self-censorship, that representatives of the authorities interpret critically-minded media as their political opponents and that specific media are the means for political propaganda and crackdown of political opponents. This further complicates a realistic state and application of media legislation. Several important problems arise in the implementation of media legislation, namely: transparency of ownership and financing of private media; the need for efficient supervision of state funding and co-financing of the media; strengthening the independence and capacity of the regulatory authority for electronic media; attacks and intimidation of journalists and the need for protection of journalists.

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