Front page manipulations

CRTA monitors manipulation narratives on the front pages of pro-government tabloids and other outlets in Serbia on a daily basis. This page presents monthly overviews of recurring patterns across four categories - vilifying opponents, vilifying neighbours, personality cult, and vilifying EU/West - and documents how these narratives shift in response to political developments.

July

In June 2026, CRTA recorded 162 manipulations on the front pages of print media and in the headlines of central news broadcasts. The dominant narratives were vilifying opponents (81 manipulations) - built around the "sound cannon" affair and the Belt of the Most Holy Mother of God to target students and protesters, increasingly paired with the glorification of President Vučić - and vilifying neighbours (49), focused on Montenegro around the EU summit in Tivat and on Kosovo during its election campaign. In the same month, 444 television channels carried President Vučić's 36 public addresses.

June

In May 2026, CRTA recorded 134 manipulations on the front pages of print media and in the headlines of central news broadcasts across two active narrative categories. Vilifying opponents was the dominant pattern, with 71 manipulations targeting students and rector Vladan Đokić. Vilifying neighbours accounted for 34 manipulations, focused on Kosovo elections, Montenegro's independence anniversary, and Croatia.

May

In April 2026, CRTA recorded 170 manipulations on the front pages of print media and in the headlines of central news broadcasts, the highest monthly total since monitoring began. Vilifying opponents was the dominant narrative with 96 manipulations, targeting rector Vladan Đokić and pro-European opposition representatives. Vilifying neighbours accounted for 30 manipulations, predominantly focused on Croatia.

Narrative types

Vilifying opponents

Coverage that discredits, dehumanizes or criminalizes political opponents, protesters or the student-led blockade movement.

Vilifying neighbours

Coverage that portrays neighbouring countries or their officials as hostile to Serbia or to Serbs.

Personality cult

Coverage that glorifies President Vučić as an indispensable, heroic or uniquely capable leader.

Vilifying EU

Coverage that portrays the European Union or Western institutions as hostile, hypocritical or acting against Serbia's interests.

Monthly overview

January 2026

123

Vilifying opponents: 48

Vilifying neighbours: 33

February 2026

144

Vilifying opponents: 79

Vilifying neighbours: 30

March 2026

121

Vilifying opponents: 57

Vilifying neighbours: 40

April 2026

170

Vilifying opponents: 96

Vilifying neighbours: 30

May 2026

134

Vilifying opponents: 71

Vilifying neighbours: 34

June 2026

162

Vilifying opponents: 81

Vilifying neighbours: 49

July 2026

207

Vilifying opponents: 80

Vilifying neighbours: 68

Vilifying opponents

Vilifying neighbours

Other

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.

Update

May manipulations

In May, CRTA recorded 134 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.

Update

April manipulations

In April, CRTA recorded 170 manipulations. The dominant narrative was vilifying opponents, with 96 manipulations, followed by vilifying neighbours with 30.

Update

March manipulations

In March, CRTA recorded 121 manipulations. The dominant narratives were vilifying opponents and vilifying neighbours.

Update

February manipulations

In February 2026, CRTA recorded 144 manipulations on the front pages of pro-government print media and in the headlines of central news broadcasts on five national television channels. The dominant narrative targeted domestic opponents of the government, primarily student protesters, while a significant number of manipulations portrayed neighboring countries as threats to Serbia.

Update

January manipulations

In January, CRTA recorded 111 manipulations on the front pages of print media and in the headlines of central news broadcasts. The dominant narratives were vilifying opponents, vilifying neighbours and vilifying the EU.

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

Front page manipulations

CRTA recorded 162 media manipulations in June, dominated by narratives vilifying opponents and neighbours.

In May 2026, CRTA recorded 134 manipulations on the front pages of print media and in the headlines of central news broadcasts, with vilifying opponents as the dominant narrative.

In April 2026, CRTA recorded 170 manipulations on the front pages of print media and in the headlines of central news broadcasts – the highest monthly total so far – with vilifying opponents as the dominant narrative.

June manipulations

May manipulations

April manipulations

March manipulations

February manipulations

January manipulations