Media Pluralism in Serbia

Twelve indicators of Risks to Media Pluralism aim to run a diagnostic on the health of the media sector in Serbia by assessing three dimensions: economic, legal and political. How concentrated is the media market both horizontally (in each sector) and vertically (across sectors) in Serbia? What are the greatest risks to Media Pluralism? Do the Media in Serbia provide space for public debate that includes all voices, all viewpoints including those that are critical of people in power?

Media Audience Concentration

high

Media Market Concentration

NO DATA

Regulatory Safeguards: Media Ownership Concentration

medium

Cross-media Ownership Concentration

high

Regulatory Safeguards: Cross-media Ownership Concentration

high

Ownership Transparency

medium

Regulatory Safeguards: Ownership Transparency

Medium

Political Control Over Media Outlets

HIGH

Political Control Over Infrastructure

MEDIUM

State Control Over Media Resources

high

Regulatory Safeguards: Net Neutrality

low

Gender Imbalance in the Media Industry

HIGH

Key Findings

Media Pluralism

Pressure on Truthful Reporting: Decline in Media Freedom

Since the Media Ownership Monitor last researched Serbia four years ago, media freedom, pluralism and information quality in the country have continued to decline.
Problems include threats and negative campaigns against independent media and journalists, weak institutions and regulatory systems for protection, lack of transparency in media ownership and financing, favouring of pro-government media in the market, and state control over sources of funding.

Independence

Pro-govt media make the biggest bucks

The media landscape in Serbia is dominated by commercial companies, and the most profitable are those operating national television networks and multimedia digital platforms. The same media are, as MOM research shows, owned by the persons close to the government and ruling party, and therefore, the most desirable partners for state advertising and other state subsidies.

Concentration

New media laws have legalized state ownership of media

In October 2023, with amendments to media laws, Serbia has once again allowed the state to indirectly open and own media outlets, in a move that has legalised state-owned company Telekom Srbija take over of several television stations and online media outlets. Media associations and journalist organisations advocating for media freedom warn that the new laws will allow Telekom to expand its presence in the media sector further, bringing with it more undesirable state influence.