The Independent Journalists’ Association of Vojvodina

EU Legislative Interests

NDNV’s work supports and contributes to EU policies and strategies related to freedom of expression, media pluralism, protection of journalists, rule of law, and civil society development. The organization also focuses on the promotion of minority rights, including the use of minority languages in the media, the development of local and community media, and the role of civil society media in strengthening democratic dialogue. • The EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy (2020–2024) • The European Democracy Action Plan • The EU Guidelines on Freedom of Expression Online and Offline • The EU enlargement policy and the rule of law benchmarks in the context of Serbia’s accession process • The Anti-SLAPP Initiative (Strengthening the protection of journalists and rights defenders) • The EU Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD), in particular provisions related to media pluralism, cultural and linguistic diversity, and access to audiovisual content in minority languages • The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, especially Article 21 (non-discrimination) and Article 11 (freedom of expression and information) • The Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (as referenced in EU enlargement policy and minority rights monitoring) • The EU support for local media and community media, as promoted through various DG NEAR, DG CONNECT, and Creative Europe programmes

Communication Activities

IJAV regularly implements communication and advocacy activities aimed at promoting EU values, policies, and standards in the areas of media freedom, minority rights, and democratic participation. These activities include: • Organizing public debates, roundtables and conferences on media pluralism, protection of journalists, and EU integration in Serbia and the Western Balkans • Coordinating campaigns against SLAPP lawsuits and other forms of pressure on journalists, in line with EU recommendations and the Anti-SLAPP initiative • Publishing policy briefs, research reports and articles on the state of media freedom, minority language media, and local journalism in Serbia • Running the web portal VOICE, which features investigative journalism, fact-checking, and articles promoting EU-related reforms • Promoting media literacy and EU values through youth workshops and public awareness campaigns • Participating in consultations and events organized by the EU Delegation to Serbia, as well as regional civil society dialogues related to the EU accession process

Interests Represented

Does not represent commercial interests

Member Of

IJAV is a member of several national and international networks, platforms, and coalitions that promote media freedom, protection of journalists, and civil society development. These include: • Coalition for Media Freedom (Koalicija za slobodu medija), Serbia • CASE (Coalition Against SLAPPs in Europe), a European coalition of NGOs, law firms, and foundations working together to protect public watchdogs from strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs). • National Working Group for the Fight Against SLAPP Lawsuits, an expert and advocacy platform working to counter strategic lawsuits against public participation in Serbia • Founding member of the non-governmental organizations’ coalition Građanska Vojvodina (Civic Vojvodina), which brings together civil society actors committed to the promotion of human rights, minority rights, anti-fascism, democratic values, and the protection of Vojvodina’s multicultural identity. • Occasional cooperation with the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and other European and global journalist associations and organizations. • NDNV is the founder of an informal network of civil society media outlets operating in local multiethnic communities across Serbia. The network aims to strengthen independent journalism, promote intercultural dialogue, and support minority and community media in underrepresented areas.

Organisation Members

IJAV is a professional association of individual journalists and media workers. It currently gathers over 600 members from across Serbia, mainly from the region of Vojvodina, with a strong focus on multiethnic and multilingual communities in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina. The list of members is not publicly available due to privacy and safety concerns, but membership criteria and procedures are outlined on the organization’s official website: https://ndnv.org