The atmosphere in Serbia after two mass shootings and femicides – with 19 women murdered since the start of the year – has been worsened by the media because of their lack of professionalism, publishing inappropriate and disturbing articles to gain more website clicks and social media post likes.
Miloš Đajić from the Center for Modern Skills told EURACTIV that it is necessary to generally reduce the level of violence and the deepening of divisions that exist in society.
“Certain media must stop spreading panic, fear, violence and tendentiously placing news that is not based on facts. Promotion of the code by journalist associations and independent professional bodies can be one of the ways. A clique cannot be ahead of professionalism and established rules,” he explains.
Đajić believes that can also be changed through education. He said the media is critical here, but all other institutions are also important.
“It is crucial that there is goodwill and a clear direction for the society we want. It seems to me that there is no such thing, that we wander and cannot agree on what kind of society we want, what values we promote and what boundaries we stick to”, concludes Đajić.
Jelena Višnjić, director of the feminist cultural centre BeFem, told EURACTIV that their team created the Feminist Media Declaration.
“Encouraging respect for the journalistic code and sanctioning its violation. It is important to continuously improve the competencies of journalists through various educational programs to increase the gender sensitivity of reporting and eliminate discriminatory and misogynistic media content,” she says.
Višnjić adds that the change of narrative in society is realised through advocacy and trust in science and facts, as opposed to the authoritative promotion of unscientific attitudes and prejudices, which have found their place in the educational system and digital spaces.
“We need to have politicians and actors who advocate for social justice and the well-being of all because political will and systemic intervention are key to changing the existing paradigm,” said the director of BeFem.
As she emphasises, we are witnessing that women who speak out against gender and institutional violence and point out experiences of harassment or abuse are exposed to public persecution and attack by conservative groups and individuals.
“We cannot expect anything while those who openly call for hatred and violence against everyone different are speaking in the public and media space,” concludes Višnjić.
In Albania, the government recently passed amendments to the audiovisual media law, banning sexist content on TV, radio, or online media. The law stipulates that victim blaming, violence against women, and hateful or discriminatory language cannot be shown in any format.
(Milena Antonijević | EURACTIV.rs)
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Source: euractiv.com
