Cvetković: As journalists, we develop certain defense mechanisms to survive
Dejana Cvetković discusses becoming a target of threats after reporting on the scapegoating of an Albanian family in southern Serbia.
Such situations demonstrate how quickly an individual event can turn into a question of ethnic identity and collective guilt.
A slogan calling for “boycott Park Bakery,” the Albanian-owned chain, during protests in Surdulica, Serbia.
The editorial offices I collaborate with received emails containing misogynistic insults and accusations against me, including comments and lies about my private life and sexuality.
I did not report the threats to the relevant institutions because my colleagues have been reporting threats for years, and, in most cases, there has been no judicial outcome for attacks on journalists.
Solidarity is important not only for the individual but also for protecting media freedom more broadly.
Slogans calling for “Justice for Rastko,” the victim of the fatal traffic accident, with other slogans proclaiming “He was one of us,” at protests in Surdulica, Serbia.
Dafina Halili
Dafina Halili is a senior journalist at K2.0, covering mainly human rights and social justice issues. Dafina has a master’s degree in diversity and the media from the University of Westminster in London, U.K..
This story was originally written in English.