The Development of Electronic Media Regulation in Serbia in the 20th Century

This paper examines the historical development of Serbian legal frameworks related to electronic media in Serbia and former Yugoslavia over the past century, up to the democratic changes in 2000. The regulatory and legislative process, starting with regulations concerning radio receivers (in the 1920s) and culminating in the current Electronic Media Act (2023), was characterized by strong legal and political influence of the state on the media. The period of electronic media development is divided into three phases: the first spans the period from the inception of electronic media (1920s) until World War II (1941), the second covers the post-war period (1945) until the dissolution of the SFR Yugoslavia (1990s), and the third extends from the dissolution of the SFRY (1990s) to the democratic changes in 2000. The analysis covers key legislative milestones, such as the Rulebook on Private Radio-Telegraph and Telephone Receiving Devices (1923), the Broadcasting Stations Act (1955), the Basic Act on Broadcasting Institutions (1965), the Radio-Television Act (1991), and the Public Information Act (1991).The research reveals the significant influence of electronic media on general law in Serbia, highlighting historical legal challenges and illustrating the legal framework before the adoption of European standards and directives in the 21st century.