Serbian media outlets face financial scrutiny over public funding

Investigations into the Serbian media landscape have revealed significant financial challenges and questions regarding the distribution of public funds. The Novi Sad based newspaper Dnevnik, published by Dnevnik Vojvodina Pres, is facing its most severe financial crisis in 84 years. The company reported blocked accounts due to a tax debt of 30 million dinars, unpaid salaries, and accumulated losses exceeding 500 million dinars.

Despite receiving millions in state subsidies and securing numerous public tenders, Dnevnik has seen declining revenues from sales and services. Reports indicate the publisher received between 7 and 10 million dinars annually in subsidies in previous years, a figure that rose to 46 million dinars last year.

Broader investigations by Raskrikavanje have raised concerns about how taxpayer money is allocated to media groups with unproven readership. Data shows that various media groups, such as Zaple Media Group and Best Media Team, have received hundreds of millions of dinars through project co-financing. These funds often support networks of local portals and stations in regions including Sandžak, even as some outlets struggle to compete in the open market.