Disinformation and narrative control

Public discourse in Serbia is systematically shaped through aligned media, coordinated messaging, and the amplification of narratives that serve the ruling majority. CRTA's monitoring of RTS's flagship evening news program found President Vučić consistently portrayed in affirmative or neutral terms, while opposition parties and protest movements were minimized, framed as threats, or denied their own voice entirely. The term "color revolution" appeared over 10,000 times across ten online portals in ten months, as part of a coordinated effort to delegitimize civic mobilization. This section documents the key disinformation campaigns and narrative patterns shaping the information environment in Serbia.

Media monitoring report: January-June 2026

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.

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In the week of 28 September - 4 October, the media monitoring of the CRTA Election Observation Mission found that representatives of the ruling majority received 66% of the time allocated to political actors on national television, and the opposition 34%. Aleksandar Vučić, who resigned as President on 27 September and heads the United Serbia list, alone received 31%. On RTS, the ruling majority received 72% of the time, while the opposition appeared only in election campaign blocks and received no airtime in regular programming.

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The media monitoring of the CRTA Election Observation Mission found that representatives of the ruling majority received three-quarters of the time allocated to political actors on national television, and the opposition a quarter. President Aleksandar Vučić alone received 60%, more than the entire opposition and four times more than the rest of the ruling majority. There was no negative coverage of the ruling majority. On RTS 1 the imbalance was more pronounced still, with 93% of the time going to the ruling majority and 78% to the president alone.

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Heatmap of Vučić media appearances 2023 to 2025. Peak reached in Feb-Mar 2025

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

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.

Update

Media map of the world tailored to those in power: China and Russia positive, EU negative, Trump the...

CRTA's monitoring for the first half of 2026 finds television reporting on foreign actors sharply skewed - the EU portrayed as an adversary while China and Russia receive near-uniformly positive coverage.

Update

June manipulations

In June, CRTA recorded 162 manipulations on the front pages of print media and in the headlines of central news broadcasts. The dominant narratives were, again, vilifying opponents and vilifying neighbours.

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

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Slučajevi

Disinformation and narrative control

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

Between 28 September and 4 October, CRTA’s monitoring found the opposition received no airtime in RTS regular programming.

CRTA’s monitoring found President Vučić received 60% of political airtime on national television, more than the entire opposition.

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

The week on television: 14-20 September 2026

Euronews Serbia: a structural advantage for government-aligned perspectives

July manipulations

Media map of the world tailored to those in power: China and Russia positive, EU negative, Trump the...

June manipulations