N1’s Vucenic says media divisions reflect political system

N1 anchor Danica Vucenic told FoNet that the divisions among Serbian media reflects the very nature of the country’s political system.

She recalled similar divisions between pro-regime and independent media in the 1990s under the Milosevic regime but added that the digital environment changed the way journalists operate and communicate with their audiences.

Vucenic said Serbia is operating in an environment of low democratic standards, weakened institutions, and severely restricted media freedom all of which force independent journalists to fight for small fragments of freedom under constant pressure.

She accused pro-government media of being propaganda outlets for the authorities, focused on serving the interests of President Aleksandar Vucic and the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), rather than the public.

According to her, the core problem is not regulatory failure but the political system itself, which she said is authoritarian and “bordering on dictatorship.” She added that critical media are systematically cut off from official sources.