Media and Information Space

Serbia's media landscape is shaped by a concentration of outlets aligned with or controlled by ruling party interests, while independent media operate under sustained financial and political pressure. Genuine pluralism is largely absent - President Vučić dominates media coverage to a degree that leaves little room for alternative voices or critical reporting. Public broadcasters have largely abandoned their editorial independence, and the regulatory body overseeing electronic media has failed to act as a genuine check on political influence over the airwaves. Journalists face harassment, surveillance, and coordinated smear campaigns - with some cases involving illegal use of spyware documented by international forensic investigations.

July manipulations in the media

October

In the week of 5-11 October, the media monitoring of the CRTA Election Observation Mission found that the ruling majority received 77% of the time allocated to political actors on national television, 11 percentage points more than the week before, and the opposition 23%. Aleksandar Vučić alone accounted for 29%, more than the entire opposition. 44% of the coverage of the opposition was negative. The ruling majority's share ranged from 56% on RTS 1 to 84% on TV Prva and TV B92.

See more data

In mid-October 2026, REM’s director Rajka Galin Ćertić - in the post since late 2023 - left the regulator, her employment ending on 23 October. Accounts of why differ: some reports described a resignation tied to a dispute over documenting an incident involving TV Informer, while Council member Miloš Garić said she is retiring and dismissed other accounts as speculation. The departure comes during the election campaign, with the Council already split 4-4 over whether to bring Informer into its campaign monitoring.

REM developments

The Higher Court in Belgrade granted CRTA's motion for an interim measure and barred Informer's editor-in-chief, Milovan Stanić, from republishing claims that CRTA is a criminal organization preparing bloodshed, under a penalty of RSD 100,000. The measure applies until the end of the civil proceedings. CRTA had sued over three Informer publications of 4 October that linked it to a recording of lawyer Vladimir Tupanjac. The measure is not a ruling on the lawsuit itself, and the defendant may appeal within 48 hours of service.

President Vučić live addresses 2023 to 2026, cumulative and monthly

Source: CRTA media monitoring, 2023 - 2026. Figures count President Vučić’s live appearances on television. The 2026 series covers 1 January - 30 August 2026; the remaining months are not yet available.

Update

The week on television: 5-11 October 2026

The ruling majority took 77% of political airtime, up from 66% a week earlier, and Aleksandar Vučić alone more than the entire opposition. Two weeks before election day.

Update

Higher Court bars Informer from republishing claims that CRTA is a criminal organization

The interim measure applies until the end of the civil proceedings and does not amount to a ruling on CRTA's lawsuit, which the court will decide by judgment.

Update

The week on television: 28 September – 4 October 2026

The ruling majority took two-thirds of political airtime, and Aleksandar Vučić alone almost a third. On RTS, the opposition appeared only in election blocks. Three weeks before election day.

Update

The week on television: 21-27 September 2026

The ruling majority took three-quarters of political airtime and no negative coverage at all. President Vučić alone received more than the entire opposition. Four weeks to election day.

Update

REM keeps Informer out of campaign monitoring; four members warn international partners

All eight members had agreed in writing to monitor Informer, but four reversed in a 4-4 vote; four independents asked the EU and OSCE/ODIHR to take note.

Update

Telekom Srbija and REM urged to stop terrestrial broadcasting of Informer and Kurir

Sixteen media associations and civil society organisations say the two channels hold no licence for national terrestrial broadcasting and that Telekom has assumed the regulator's powers.

Update

The week on television: 14-20 September 2026

The ruling majority received nearly two-thirds of political airtime, and President Vučić alone 46%. Five weeks to election day.

Brief

Euronews Serbia: a structural advantage for government-aligned perspectives

CRTA's July 2026 media monitoring finds the ruling majority received 87% of political airtime in the...

Update

July manipulations

In July, CRTA recorded 207 manipulations on the front pages of print media and in the headlines of central news broadcasts - the highest monthly total since the start of the year. The dominant narratives were vilifying opponents and vilifying neighbours, alongside a marked rise in personality cult content.

CRTA.Plus is part of CRTA’s work to document developments related to democracy, the rule of law, and accountability in Serbia.

Key Issues

Slučajevi

Other pages

Slučajevi

Media and Information Space

Between 5 and 11 October, CRTA’s monitoring found Aleksandar Vučić alone received more political airtime than the entire opposition.

REM’s long-serving director is leaving the regulator mid-campaign, as the Council stays split over whether to sanction TV Informer.

The Higher Court in Belgrade granted CRTA’s motion barring Informer from republishing claims that CRTA is a criminal organization.

President Vučić live addresses 2023 to 2026, cumulative and monthly

The week on television: 5-11 October 2026

Higher Court bars Informer from republishing claims that CRTA is a criminal organization

The week on television: 28 September – 4 October 2026

The week on television: 21-27 September 2026

REM keeps Informer out of campaign monitoring; four members warn international partners

Telekom Srbija and REM urged to stop terrestrial broadcasting of Informer and Kurir

The week on television: 14-20 September 2026

Euronews Serbia: a structural advantage for government-aligned perspectives

July manipulations