At a time when our society needs free, independent and professional media more than ever, any pressure on their editorial independence, or attempt to subordinate them to interests that do not serve the public, is a serious blow not only to journalism but to society as a whole.

Journalists and media workers who have maintained their professional dignity under pressure and financial uncertainty, even at personal cost, deserve particular respect. Their commitment reminds us that public trust cannot be bought overnight; it is earned over years through truth, responsibility and honest work.

Those who take ownership of media outlets must understand that they also assume responsibility for preserving what generations of journalists before them have built. Buying a media company does not buy the conscience, convictions or professional integrity of the people who work there.

Media freedom is not a matter of political allegiance, but of every citizen’s freedom and dignity. We must defend it even when we disagree with a media outlet’s editorial policy. A society in which independent voices are silenced loses the ability to discuss its own future openly.

Serbia needs institutions that inspire trust, media that are free to ask questions, and people who refuse to abandon their principles. Free media are not a privilege of journalists, but a right of citizens.

Crown Prince Filip