Media War on Montenegro: Serbian Tabloids in Propaganda Mode!
Every year, just before the summer tourist season, Serbian tabloids like Informer, Alo, Blic, Kurir, Srbija Danas, and Telegraf launch a full media assault against Montenegro. The Digital Forensic Center (DFC) reveals that in the first 20 days of June alone, 20 articles were published with manipulative and sensational narratives portraying Montenegro as a destination to avoid.
What’s behind the headlines?
Headlines like “Lemonade costs as much as a kilo of lemons, Montenegrins rip you off” or “Pizza costs a whopping 10 euros, Montenegrins hit you hard” are no accident. They paint Montenegro as an overpriced, unprofessional, and unsafe destination. Tabloids selectively show prices of luxury spots as the norm, not the exception, stirring anger and resentment among readers, especially potential Serbian tourists.
Sensationalism and fear as weapons
Besides prices, the media spreads panic about safety. Reports on sporadic illegal serving of shellfish in restaurants, presence of bears in mountain areas, and shark attacks on the Montenegrin coast are presented with alarming rhetoric. Although these events are rare and under constant supervision, tabloids portray them as serious threats to tourists’ health and safety.
Why is this happening?
DFC points out this is part of a synchronized propaganda campaign influenced by Serbian authorities, aiming to cause economic damage to Montenegro. The goal is to destabilize the tourist season and damage Montenegro’s image as a successful, independent, and European-oriented state.
Montenegro’s economy in trouble
While Serbian tabloids attack, Montenegro faces real economic challenges. President Jakov Milatović’s cabinet warns that tourism, the backbone of Montenegro’s economy, recorded a 6.4% revenue drop and a 10% drop in overnight stays in the first quarter of this year. The sector’s profitability is almost negligible, at just 0.4%.
Airports see growth in passenger numbers and employment, but revenues and profits fall, indicating deep management and sustainability issues. Milatović stresses that Montenegro must implement systemic reforms and stop focusing on politics instead of the economy.
Conclusion: Who’s the real loser?
While Serbian tabloids turn Montenegro into a circus, real problems remain unresolved. Tourism is declining, the economy slows, and the propaganda campaign further discourages potential tourists. Is this just a media game or part of a broader political strategy? One thing is clear – Montenegro deserves better than sensationalism and manipulation.
So, what do you think? Are Serbian tabloids really serving the truth or just creating chaos? Drop a comment, maybe together we’ll expose this media farce!
