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In Serbia there are many legal guarantees for freedom of expression and media freedom. They are, above all, guaranteed by the Constitution, and then specified in the Public Information Act and the Public Broadcasting Act. Serbia also ratified the most important international treaties safeguarding freedom of thought and press freedom \u2013 the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. Under the Constitution, freedom of expression may be restricted solely in exceptional cases which are exempted in accordance with the limitations set by international acts. Prohibition of the dissemination of information via media is also in accordance with international norms. Such a prohibition is possible in order to prevent incitement to a violent overthrow of the system in the country or violation of its territorial integrity, to prevent warmongering or instigation to direct violence and advocacy of racial, ethnic or religious hatred which fosters discrimination, hostility or violence \u2013 by way of a court decision only, and if necessary in a democratic society.1<\/a><\/p>\n However<\/span>, the existence of <\/span>institutional<\/span> and legal structure<\/span> is a prerequisite<\/span> but not<\/span> itself<\/span> a sufficient condition<\/span> for<\/span> the exercise of freedom<\/span> of the media in<\/span> all its glory<\/span>. <\/span>What is very<\/span> peculiar<\/span> in Serbia<\/span> is that<\/span> adopted laws<\/span> and regulations<\/span> have become<\/span> a dead letter<\/span>, and the <\/span>reality of everyday<\/span> life<\/span> remains unchanged<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n According to the survey of news media editors-in-chief, only 22% of media outlets did not experience some form of violation of media freedom in their everyday work. Out of those who did, one third (34%) were denied access to information of public importance; another third of them (30%) received unequal treatment, compared to other media, at the hands of the sources of informati on; one fourth (27%) had their advertising contracts cancelled, and another fourth of them (26%) experienced interference in their editorial policies (in the form of a ban on publication of certain information, designation of \u201cdesirable\u201d and \u201cundesirable\u201d content, etc.). As the sources of greatest pressure exerted on their media, the surveyed media editors named the ruling political parties (47%), organs of executive power (32%), opposition parties (26%), and, in the same measure, private companies in their capacity as advertisers (16%) and public enterprises (16%).2<\/p>\n According to Michael Davenport, Head of the EU Delegation in Serbia, three phenomena currently affect freedom of expression in Serbia – self-censorship, hacking websites and intimidation of individuals who were detained and arrested for comments on social networks. Controversy about alleged censorship in the media started during the recent floods, when some websites criticising the government’s handling of the crisis were taken down as a result of hacker attacks.3<\/p>\n \u201eFreedom of the press is guaranteed only to those who own one.\u201c<\/i><\/span><\/span> ~ Abbott Joseph Liebling<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Unfortunately<\/span>, we live <\/span>in a time<\/span> of media<\/span> darkness that<\/span> devours<\/span> everything in its path<\/span>. <\/span>We put<\/span> locks<\/span> on<\/span> the hands of a clock<\/span> and<\/span> started<\/span> to live<\/span> in another time<\/span> out of<\/span> the hand<\/span> of reality.<\/span> The media<\/span> is <\/span>undoubtedly a<\/span> dangerous tool<\/span> in the hands of<\/span> individuals<\/span>, <\/span>enabling them to<\/span> create public<\/span> opinion<\/span> by their own<\/span> needs.<\/span> The reason for this<\/span>, <\/span>as in most of<\/span> the problems<\/span> that has been plaguing<\/span> our society<\/span> is education<\/span>. <\/span>Considering the fact<\/span> that the level of<\/span> education<\/span> of the population<\/span> of the Republic of<\/span> Serbia<\/span> is very low<\/span>, <\/span>with<\/span> only a small proportion<\/span> of highly educated<\/span> people<\/span>, <\/span>who<\/span> are taught to<\/span> critically<\/span> observe<\/span>, <\/span>it is not surprising<\/span> that what<\/span> is received<\/span> as<\/span> information through the media<\/span> is <\/span>adopted without<\/span> any<\/span> reserves<\/span>. Since <\/span>that there<\/span> is no investment<\/span> and reforms <\/span>in<\/span> education<\/span> \u2013 we have to ask <\/span>why<\/span>? Maybe the more important thing is to gain freedom of our mind – then we can start fighting for the freedom of media!<\/span><\/p>\n Bibliography<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Internet resources<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Serbian media scene vs European standards \u2013 Report based on Council of Europe\u2019s Indicators for Media in a Democracy, <\/span>available<\/span><\/span> at: <\/span><\/span>http:\/\/mediaobservatory.net\/sites\/default\/files\/Serbian-Media-Scene-VS-European-Standards.pdf<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n http:\/\/www.balkaninsight.com\/en\/article\/us-eu-and-osce-urge-media-freedom-in-serbia<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Photographs<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n http:\/\/www.osisa.org\/media-and-ict\/blog\/power-sas-bad-example<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n http:\/\/www.dc4mf.org\/en\/cartoons?page=4<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n![\"jkessay2\"](\"http:\/\/iea.rs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/jkessay2-800x574.jpg\")
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