31 May Press Shelter Zajecar: Disparaging as part of everyday life
During the experimental phase of the portal, even before “Voice of Zajecar” was officially entered in the media register, the first pressures on the members of the editorial board began, mainly due to the critical texts that were published on the portal in the form of columns.
“Not long after the mayor of Zajecar used the derogatory phrase “beautiful piggy head “on his Facebook profile on several occasions, more than obviously alluding to me, I was surprised with pig leg at the front door. If the mayor hadn’t posted an insulting phrase, and if several friends hadn’t contacted me after each post that contained this phrase with the words “he’s talking about you again,” I would have thought it was a coincidence. However, it was obviously a very offensive joke of his like-minded people, which aimed to intimidate and warn me. Of course, it wasn’t pleasant at all. Who has the right to belittle you constantly in such an insidious way? That and other cases were recognized and acknowledged by the international public as cases of attacks on journalists. “- said Andjela Risantijevic.
Andjela Risantijevic: Offensive phrases of the mayor
Disabling operation and belittling continued soon, and as early as March, members of the portal’s editorial staff were removed from the reporting site, giving the advantage in reporting to another journalist team.
“My colleague and I are were put away from the place where we were allegedly in life-threatening danger.” I felt extremely humiliated as a journalist and human being when we met with a team of colleagues from RTS accompanied by Elena Petrović. They arrived at the place where only a few minutes earlier we were sent away from, with the pretext of endangered security. I will never forget that feeling. Humiliation at the moment when we worked with all available means to inform the public on time about the floods that endangered the lives and property of many fellow citizens. “- said Andjela Risantijevic.
The Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia has repeatedly condemned the behavior of the mayor of Zajecar, without result. The editorial staff of the portal also addressed the City Administration with requests for delivery of invitations for public gatherings and events hosted and organized by the City Administration – but there was no answer.
“Selective invitations to gatherings has been a practice for a long time – and it is not limited to the City Administration. Zajecar Administrative District removed our portal from the mailing list after the head of the district was asked an awkward question regarding the arrest of a labor inspector. Since that day, we have not received a single official invitation via e-mail from the Zajecar Administrative District due to a column that was obviously not liked by the authorities in the district. The public company “Timok Odrzavanje” also does not send us invitations for press conferences, nor press releases, or any other announcements. In most cases, It doesn’t respond to our emails either. That’s not the end of the list. Although there is a section for journalists on the website of the City Administration of Zajecar, where public invitations for events are published, it often happens that public invitations, especially for the sessions of the City Council, are published literally a few minutes before the start. How come suitable media do appear in a timely manner? Thanks to timely invitations that we do not receive,” added Andjela Aksentijevic.
Vladimir Petkovic: The downtown attack
Vladimir Petkovic, an associate of the Voice of Zajecar portal, was also exposed to pressure. He was physically attacked downtown Zajecar in February 2019, due to the badge he was wearing. Interestingly, S.S. who attacked Petković soon was engaged in the public company “Timok Odrzavanje.”
“Vladimir was attacked in broad daylight in the center of Zajecar. Although the attacker relatively quickly had been brought to justice, he was soon employed in “Timok Odrzavanje.” Whether it is just a coincidence or in that way he was rewarded for the work done – I cannot say for sure. Colleague Vladimir was repeatedly belittled by using the term “so-called” journalist. He was denied the right to attend the reception of citizens with the mayor and present the problems of citizens. The explanation was that it was a matter of receiving citizens, not journalists. Journalists are probably not citizens. That’s how it sounds,” added Risantijevic.
Denial of the right to work, belittling, and oppression are part of everyday life. Uskraćivanje prava na rad, omalovažavanje i pritisci, deo su svakodnevnice. However, the work continues – for how long, it remains to be seen.
“Troubles appear in all forms. Sometimes as subtle insult, sometimes as “friendly advice” to keep quiet about something or stop digging on something. Although it appears in different forms, the essence is the same. If you are not like-minded, you must be a foreign mercenary. We are continuing with our work, and it remains to be seen for how long. It is difficult to get financial resources in a struggle to survive – and stubbornness does not pay off. We`ll see who will be more persistent, but it certainly won`t last long, because the strength is running out. ” Andjela Risantijevic concludes.