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.
03.06.2026.
4 MINUTES READ

Vučić's addresses in May (34 addresses)

In May, President Vučić made 34 public addresses. 235 local television channels broadcast events at which Vučić spoke, while 131 national and cable television channels carried the events. The most frequent topics were international affairs and the church, with the economy and protests as secondary themes.

34

addresses by President Vučić

235

local TV channels carrying his addresses

131

national and cable TV channels carrying his addresses

Manipulations in headlines and leads of central news broadcasts (May 2026)

In May, CRTA recorded 134 manipulations. The dominant narratives were vilifying opponents and vilifying neighbours.

Among print outlets, Informer had the highest number of front-page manipulations - 27 in total - followed by Alo! with 21. In television news leads, TV Informer recorded the most manipulations - 14 in total - with TV Prva close behind at 13.

1) Vilifying opponents - 71 manipulations

Topic: students, rector Vladan Đokić
Examples:
Students: 
  • "They continue begging for foreign support - Picula's people badmouthed Serbia in Brussels." (6 May 2026, Informer)
  • "Violence is the essence of the blockaders; Serbia is divided between those who build and those who destroy; this is their own goal." (25 May 2026, TV Pink, TV Prva, Kurir, Večernje Novosti, Informer)
  • "Blood spilled because of the blockaders' rampage. Horror near the Faculty of Law, blood spurting everywhere as the blockaders brutally lynched a man." (15 May 2026, TV Prva, TV Pink, TV Informer, Informer)
Students are consistently portrayed as a source of destabilization and violence, while the authorities position themselves as guarantors of peace, stability and progress. Selective coverage of violent incidents and spin are used to discredit students and link their actions to foreign intelligence services.
Rector Đokić:
  • "This is how he cares about students - Tuition fees increased because of Đokić." (20 May 2026, TV B92, Informer, Srpski Telegraf)
  • "Here's why studying is becoming more expensive: Vladan Đokić is spending tuition fees in Greece." (22 May 2026, Informer)
  • "Leader of the so-called plenums thinks he is stronger than the state and the law - Đokić runs a campaign from the Rectorate with foreigners." (27 May 2026, Informer)
The rector is discredited through accusations of abusing his position.

2) Vilifying neighbours - 30 manipulations

All manipulations in May concerned Kosovo and Albania, Montenegro and Croatia.

Topics: Kosovo elections, Montenegro's independence anniversary, Croatia
Examples:
Kosovo elections:
  • "Albanians preparing to steal the elections in Kosovo and Metohija." (31 May 2026, Alo!)
  • "Pristina persistently continues its terror. They are seizing even railway stations from Serbs." (29 May 2026, Večernje Novosti, Politika, TV Pink)
  • "No one is a bigger Kurti than he is: Serbs arrested according to Rašić's list." (21 May 2026, Alo!)
These narratives victimize Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija and target Kurti and Albanians as the primary culprits for the situation in the region.

Total manipulations

134

Dominant narratives

Vilifying opponents & vilifying neighbours


Montenegro's independence anniversary
  • "Historic address by President Vučić to Montenegro - Sorry for loving you more than you love us! Serbia did not steal part of Montenegro, you recognised the theft of our Kosovo instead!" (16 May 2026, Kurir)
  • "President is clear: Montenegro's separation was part of a major conspiracy aimed at seizing Kosovo." (18 May 2026, Srpski Telegraf, TV Prva)
  • "Failed dictator rambling again: Milo accuses Serbs of genocide." (22 May 2026, Informer)

Croatia
  • "While Serbia is under attack from all sides, the state is accelerating development and modernisation. Vojislav Šešelj: 'Croatia is clearly escalating matters in Montenegro'." (31 May 2026, TV Informer)
  • "Threats from Zagreb: Croats want to seize Sombor and Apatin." (30 May 2026, Informer)
  • "Zagreb's new dirty game - Croats are stealing the Serbian patron saint celebration. They also want to Croatise: script, folklore and costumes, cemeteries and monuments, inscriptions, charters, scientists, artists and writers, heroes and athletes." (19 May 2026, Srpski Telegraf)
These narratives frame Croatia as pulling strings in Montenegro and spread hostility through accusations of territorial threats and cultural appropriation.

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