October 15, 2024
The High Court of first instance has ordered the IN Media portal and Verica Marinčić, chief editor of this only independent media outlet in the Vojvodina municipality of Inđija, to pay 160 thousand dinars (approx. 1,400 euros).
This is the first judgement in the seven lawsuits filed since IN Media published a photo of children at a reception with the President of the Municipality – which was actually published on the municiaplity’s own website and is available to the media. Marinčić is being sued by the children’s parents because she published the photo in the context of what happened at the reception: the president of the municipality gave the children ‘honey for virility’.
IN Media is known as the only professional, critical media outlet in this municipality, while Marinčić has spent years being stalked, intimidated, insulted and belittled, both as a woman and a journalist. This has also led to her seeking the support of a psychologist.
This targeting continued with the seven lawsuits that could lead to the closure of this media outlet, because it lacks the funding required to pay the fines.
IN Media’s lawyer has lodged an appeal with the Court of Appeal.
