Darko Šper, president of the Trade union Nezavisnost and an employee of Radio-television Vojvodina, spoke about the importance of an independent public media service and the fight for public radio and television without political pressure and censorship at the Voices Festival of Journalism and media literacy. In his presentation, Šper warned of the dangers that arise when political structures take control of public media and presented Slobodni dnevnik, an initiative of trade unionists and RTV workers launched as a sign of protest against censorship and political influence on editorial policy. Namely, the employees of Radio-television Vojvodina began broadcasting the Slobodni Dnevnik and gathered in front of the RTV building in Novi Sad to point out the unprofessional coverage of the public service on the events that followed the fall of the canopy at the railway station—student protests and blockades—and demanded the resignation of the editors of the First Television program. One Slobodni Dnevnik was shown at the Voices festival, and six Slobodni Dnevnik have been published to date.
In an interview after the screening of Slobodni Dnevnik, Darko Šper emphasised that independent public services are crucial for informing citizens since they are financed by the public and their primary task is to serve it. He warned that when a public service becomes a means of spreading political propaganda, society is put at risk because citizens are deprived of credible information. The space for critical debate and free journalism is narrow. 
Speaking about the situation in Serbia, Šper highlighted the case of RTV Vojvodina as an example of the violation of the independence of the public media. He recalled that Slobodni Dnevnik was launched on February 3, 2025, after the RTV Board of Directors failed to respond to the union’s request to dismiss the acting editor-in-chief of the First Program, Nenad Ćaćić. According to unionists, the editorial policy of the First Program of RTV was under intense political influence, which led to growing dissatisfaction among journalists and media workers who found themselves in a situation where they had to choose between professional standards and the political demands of their superiors. To highlight this problem and continue to inform the public, the Nezavisnost trade union decided to organise Slobodni Dnevnik. This alternative news program is broadcast in front of the RTV building. Šper spoke at the festival about the challenges they faced in its implementation, emphasising that this is a move that is not only symbolic but also a concrete attempt to fight for the preservation of professional journalism within the public service. The conversation emphasised that solidarity is essential, and the experience of Slobodni Dnevnik has shown that there is room for journalism that is not under the direct influence of the government but that broader support from citizens is necessary for its survival. Darko Šper’s participation in the Voices festival raised essential questions about the role of public media and how their independence can be protected. His message was clear – the fight for free and professional public services must not be left only to journalists but also to society as a whole because only independent media can ensure an informed and democratic public.
