June 27, 2014
Slavko Ćuruvija Foundation” launched today a website “Cenzolovka” (www.cenzolovka.rs), aimed at informing public on all issues that are relevant to the freedom of media in Serbia. The project is being implemented with the support of the Embassy of Australia in Belgrade.
After a long period of lethargic silence, recent cases of removing content from critically minded media and websites initiated a strong debate on media freedom and freedom of speech in Serbia.
The purpose of the “Cenzolovka” is to sustain this debate in a responsible, well argumented and open manner, by involving as many media professionals, independent experts, government representatives and ordinary citizens as possible.
We believe that the level of achieved media freedom in any society, including ours, directly depends on the readiness of members of the general public to fight for it.
“Cenzolovka” explores the cases such as “Feketić”, “Obrenovac” and “Doctorate” by collecting and easily representing all publicly available information (reports, analyses, expert opinions, relevant documents, etc.) important for their understanding.
Without bringing judgment, “Cenzolovka” provides the users with direct insight into the chronology and the content on these cases, in order to allow them to draw their own conclusions.
In the same manner we will record all other cases in the media field for which there is reason to believe that they contain elements of censorship, or some other sort of pressure on the media and journalists that directly threaten the public’s right to know.
Also, “Cenzolovka” will follow the process of the passing and implementing of the announced “media laws”, other social and political processes that affect the degree of freedom of speech and freedom of the media in Serbia, as well as all relevant events in the region and internationally.
