Two major Serbian tabloids are rapidly expanding their influence across the local media landscape, prompting concerns among analysts and media experts about increasing political control ahead of potential elections.
According to data from the Serbian Business Registers Agency, tabloids Alo and Informer have recently registered several new local media outlets through affiliated companies. These include regional online platforms in towns such as Priboj, Mionica, and Šabac, as well as the formal registration of an existing outlet linked to a television station in Užice.
The expansion is being carried out through a joint company, Best Media Team, owned by the publishers behind both tabloids. Since the beginning of the year, the company has reportedly acquired multiple local broadcasters and digital platforms, significantly increasing its presence in Serbia’s regional media market.
Media analysts argue that this strategy is aimed at consolidating influence and shaping public opinion. Saša Mirković from the Association of Independent Media said the acquisitions create only the appearance of pluralism, while in practice strengthening centralized control over information.
He warned that the growing number of outlets does not translate into improved journalistic quality, but rather risks producing content that fails to meet professional standards. According to him, the expansion is part of a broader effort by authorities to tighten control over the media environment ahead of elections frequently mentioned by Aleksandar Vučić.
Mirković also pointed to the role of state-backed funding mechanisms, claiming that pro-government media benefit disproportionately from public resources through project financing and public procurement processes. Independent outlets, he added, are often excluded from such funding due to what he described as biased selection procedures.
Media expert Rade Veljanovski echoed these concerns, stating that recent legal changes have enabled increased media concentration. He noted that ownership regulations in Serbia have become more permissive, allowing a single entity to control multiple outlets without sufficient safeguards to ensure editorial diversity.
Veljanovski highlighted that, unlike broader European trends moving toward stricter oversight of media ownership, Serbia risks further consolidation unless reforms are introduced. He also warned that newly acquired outlets are likely to receive continued financial support from public budgets, reinforcing their position in the media ecosystem.
The developments have intensified debate over media freedom in Serbia, with critics arguing that the growing concentration of ownership and funding undermines independent journalism and limits the diversity of viewpoints available to the public.
As the political climate remains uncertain, observers say the structure and control of the media sector will play a key role in shaping the country’s democratic processes in the months ahead.
