Roma in Serbia after the Collapse of Yugoslavia: Political implications and media silence on racial violence

This paper attempts to clarify the Roma issue in Serbia. Media representations of attacks against Roma are very important. The Roma are marginalized members of Serbian society. They are often the victims of violence and discrimination that are related to stereotypes and prejudice about Roma ”otherness”. The media paid special attention to the murder of Du ko Jovanovi in 1997 because it was the first official murder based on racial hatred. This case study shows that the topics of the assassination of the Roma are no more attractive to the media and that the “spiral of silence” occupies an important role.