Journalists Defend Targets of Serbian Tabloid 'Lynch'

About 40 journalists from the informal organization "Journalists Network" have called on colleagues throughout former Yugoslavia to show solidarity with the Serbian journalists being targeted by Serbia's pro-government media.

The call for action comes after the Belgrade tabloid Informer launched a series of attacks on Stevan Dojcinovic, the editor of KRIK, an investigative journalism portal.

Several journalists have created a Twitter hashtag of support for KRIK - #podrziKRIK# {support KRIK} - calling also for a boycott of Informer.

Dusan Masic, creator of the Twitter support action, told BIRN that the attacks on KRIK and Dojcinovic are a way of disciplining journalists who do not back Serbia's ruling party.

"The goal is not only to crush KRIK's credibility but to criminalize Dojcinovic as the first man of this organization. This is a clear message to journalists who do not want to respect the unwritten rules of the Serbian Progressive Party," Masic said.

"The idea of a boycott is simple. It is an appeal to thinking people not to give statements to Informer and also an invitation to people not to buy that falsely called 'newspaper,'" Masic said.

Informer last Thursday accused Dojcinovic of planning to publish a false article about Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic, alleging he had concealed ownership of millions worth of assets.

The paper said KRIK planned to publish an article accusing Vucic of hiding his ownership of major assets in Belgrade through members of his family.

The article included a blurred photograph of KRIK's leading journalist and details of the as yet unpublished investigative report.

Informer put Dojcinovic on the front page with the headline "Mafia...