Media and floods under crisis in Serbia

Abstract

During the third week of May in 2014, Serbia was hit by heavy rains, which led to devastating floods. This chapter analyses a complex relationship between media and crisis in Serbia using the case of the spring floods. The aim of the chapter is to explore how the floods were constructed as crisis by and through the media. With the analytical tools of mediatization theory, the analysis focuses on how floods were represented through interplay of media and political logic. Since mediatized techniques can influence the course of the event and its outcome, the chapter also aims to explore how the authorities used the media to capitalize on the "disaster shock" and to silence possible dissenting views.