Should you wish to file a complaint about media content, you can find information on regulators and self-regulators and their complaint mechanisms in this section.
Regulator: Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media
Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media (Regulator) is an independent regulatory organization that exercises public authority for the purpose of:
- Effective implementation of policy in the provision of media services;
- Improving the quality and variety of electronic media;
- Contributing to the preservation, protection and development of freedom of opinion and expression;
- Protecting public interest in the fields of electronic media and protection of electronic media users.
The Regulator is authorized to monitor implementation of the Law on Electronic Media, issue broadcasting licences, set binding rules for media service providers, ensure that broadcasters abide with legal provisions on the protection of minors, copyright law and related rights, as well as ensure that broadcasting programs do not feature content that incites discrimination, hatred or violence.
Regulator is also authorized to consider and decide on applications filed by natural and legal persons regarding the operation of broadcasters.
Submit application
Applications to the Regulator may be submitted by natural and legal persons if they believe that the content is violating or jeopardizing their personal interests or the public interest.
Here is the model of an application containing all required elements. The application should be legibly handwritten or typed.
Applications may be submitted via this online form on the Regulator’s website.
A signed original of the application should be sent by post to the Regulator’s address:
Trg Nikole Pašića 5, 11103 Beograd, Republika Srbija
Self-regulatory body: Press Council
The Press Council is an independent, self-regulatory body that brings together publishers, owners of print and online media, news agencies and media professionals.
It has been established for monitoring the observance of the Journalist’s Code of Ethics in print and online media, as well as in news agencies, and solving complaints made by individuals and institutions related to media content.
The Press Council is also authorized to mediate between aggrieved individuals, institutions and editorial staff, and to pronounce public warnings in cases when determined that the violation of ethical standards as defined by the Journalist’s Code of Ethics has occurred.
Submitting a complaint
The Council has a Complaints Committee, which decides upon the content of your complaints to the text, photographs, and other contents of printed media, their web sites, web portals and news agencies. The Commission is here to help you, and its services are free. You will need to wait for the decision no longer than 45 days from the moment the Press Council receives a complaint.
Who has the right to submit a complaint:
- Any individual, organization or institution directly affected by the content they complain about. If one files a complaint on someone’s behalf, one needs to provide a written consent of the person.
- Complaint on behalf of a minor child can be submitted by the parents or guardians of a child or someone else with the written consent of a parent or guardian.
- If the published content violates the rights of a certain group, a complaint may be submitted by an organization involved in the protection of human rights.
- Any member of the Complaints Commission.
What content one can complain about:
- the texts and photos published in the daily and periodical press, on their websites, as well as on news portals and news agencies
- the audio records on news portals and online editions of print media
- the letters from readers
It is important to know:
- Complaints can be lodged for violation of the Code of journalists, for this reason the Press Council advises you to take a look at the Codex before you file a complaint. If you need assistance, please contact the Press Council.
- The Press Council accepts only complaints of those who directly suffered damage by either the published article or photograph, or complaints lodged with their written consent.
- It does not accept complaints concerning the content of print media that have been published more than 3 months ago. Complaints about online media contents can be submitted until these contents are available to the public.
- Complaints must be signed and submitted in writing or sent via e-mail.
- You can suggest that the media which you complain about publishes your response, correction, to apologize or to make a deal in some other manner. The Press Council will try to reach a a solution through intermeditation.
Not under jurisdiction of the Press Council:
- Objections on advertising and other marketing content
- Complaints about the content that you consider “distasteful” or inappropriate
Please provide a letter or an e-mail which outlines your complaint and provide a copy of the text to which the complaint relates. If you have some other relevant documents that would assist the Press Council in reviewing complaints, (for example, previous correspondence with the editor) please send them also.
A complaint can be sent to: The Press Council, Ljuba Jovanovic 9 c, 11000 Belgrade, or Electronic mail to the following address: [email protected] or [email protected], or by filling out this form on the Press Council website:
By submitting an appeal you accept that it will be available to the public.
Before you submit a complaint, please make sure:
- that you provided the Press Council with a copy of the text or internet link to it, and that you are specifying the date of text publication
- that you are specifying in which media the text was published
- that you are specifying why you believe that the publication of the article violated the Code of Journalists
Complaints Commission
In the Commission for complaints there are four representatives of the media industry (three from the Serbian Media Association and one from the association Local Press), two representatives of the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia and the Journalists’ Association of Serbia and three representatives of the civil society.
