Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets in Novi Sad, leading to an unexpected media response that reflects tensions within Serbia's governing class.
Serbia's Media Landscape Shifts as Protests Grow
Serbia's Media Landscape Shifts as Protests Grow
State-controlled media begins reporting on major protests against President Vucic, challenging previous suppression of dissent.
This past weekend, tens of thousands of demonstrators paralyzed the bustling city of Novi Sad, Serbia's second-largest city, by blocking key bridges over the Danube River. This massive show of dissent has prompted a turnaround from state-controlled media, which had long remained silent on the protests against President Aleksandar Vucic's administration.
Initially, Radio Television Serbia treated the months-long series of protests organized primarily by students as insignificant, yet a marked shift occurred this weekend, placing the demonstrations prominently in their news coverage.
Ironically, this change in tone displeased Vucic's Serbian Progressive Party, which issued a statement criticizing the broadcaster's "scandalous reporting." They accused the media of betraying its journalistic responsibilities by siding with opposition groups aiming to undermine Serbia's constitutional order.
Vucic's grip on Serbia hinges on media control, enabling him to navigate political turmoil while vilifying protesters and maintaining his power for over a decade. However, as bridges were blocked and voices rose across Novi Sad, the changing landscape in media coverage hints at deepening fractures within the governing party, as the protests challenge the established political narrative.
