Verica Marinčić, a journalist from Inđija, Serbia, faces severe harassment, including seven lawsuits targeting the survival of her independent media outlet, IN Media. Her reporting, especially on the municipality’s distribution of “potency honey” to schoolchildren, has led to ongoing intimidation and a court ruling against her, demanding substantial damages for alleged harm to minors. This case exemplifies a typical SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation), intended to suppress critical reporting rather than pursue justice. The accumulated legal pressures threaten Marinčić’s personal well-being and increase the risk of self-censorship within her newsroom, highlighting the urgent need for a supportive environment where media workers can operate freely. Despite these challenges, Marinčić remains dedicated to journalistic freedom, underscoring the importance of mental health support for media professionals under the strain of SLAPPs and similar forms of legal intimidation. Read more here.
Source: Cenzolovka