23. 09. 2004

Journalists “irresponsible”

BELGRADE, September 23, 2004 (Beta) – Lawyers from Belgrade’s Media Centre have completed a two-month analysis of seven Belgrade daily newspapers. The research has revealed that journalists are to some extent responsible for the frequent legal action taken against media, for insults and vilification and for failing to adequately conform to professional standards. The study, presented under the title “Vilification, Insult and Ignorance of the Function of Public Institutions in the Daily Press in Serbia,” covered articles in Politika, Vecernje Novosti, Blic, Glas Javnosti, Danas, Balkan and Kurir, during February and March this year. Researchers identified 172 articles as litigious, of which 55.2 per cent had instances of vilification, 6.4 per cent insults and 9.8 per cent some other criminally liable feature. In 6.4 per cent of the articles journalists failed to identify instances of officials who had exceeded their authority and in 22.09 per cent failed to identify the responsibilities of officials and other individuals. The analysis identifies the majority of problems as arising from neglect and an unprofessional attitude by journalists who frequently enable public figures and individuals in power to use the media as a megaphone for personal promotion or the promotion of their own interest groups. The data indicates that insults which occur in press articles are usually the product of completely uncritical and irresponsible claims and statements. This is defined as a criminal act under Serbia’s Criminal Code and is punishable by up to three months’ imprisonment. Less frequent are cases of journalists referring to Albanians by the epithet “Shiptar”. The report asserts that journalists neglect the fact that all ethnic, racial and other groups have the right to choose their own name and insist on being referred to by it. The survey notes that articles such as these appeared more and more frequently after the anti-Serb violence in Kosovo in March this year. The analysis did find, however, that journalists were cautious on the issue of Roma, with no instance during the research period of this ethnic group being referred to as Gypsies.