Journalism in Serbia – degraded and humiliated

In Serbia, each of the 30 journalists who participated in our survey used almost exactly the same words to describe the state of journalism today as once used during the research conducted during 2003. The prevalent emotions were negative and epithets like bad, disastrous, degraded, humiliated, worse than ever were used.

Encumbered by extremely bad material situation and unsatisfying status in society, most interviewees are seemingly indifferent, but actually indignant towards visible negative manifestations in Serbian journalism during transition. “Main problems are subjectivity, political partisanship, buying and selling for small change or flat let. Journalists sell themselves for a small change and small ideas – immorality and short-sightedness”, says a journalist from a weekly magazine with 10 years of experience.

Not one of these 30 journalists, among them many inexperienced, but also many veteran journalists, gave affirmative answer to a question – is it possible to make a living as a journalist? Most of the interviewees said openly that they were forced to take additional jobs, while many of the middle aged journalists confessed that they depended on their parents' help to survive. Journalists don't think of themselves as respected category of population – journalism is an insecure, publicly deprecated and underpaid profession.

When compared with the research conducted two years ago, it is indicative that journalists now speak more about insecurity, fear of losing their jobs, atmosphere of hopelessness, insecurity and defenselessness in media companies. Our interviewers had a general impression that some journalists were too scared to talk freely about their profession, especially concerning media outlets they worked in. In some editorial offices even “informants” on duty were noticed who had listened to journalists' conversations with our interviewers.

Weak and insecure position. Politicians influence the owners

Media situation in Serbia is certainly characterized by the lack of regulation, which allows operation of disproportional number of newspapers and radio and TV stations. The consequence is not only a difficult financial position of many journalists in a crowded market, but also perhaps even more pronounced negative selection of professionals. Journalists themselves don't have a very high opinion of their profession: “Selection of journalists is worse than ever. Becoming a star overnight was not possible before. Every media outlet is affiliated with a certain political option, there is no selection, training, professional standards. It was better during Slobo's rule.” (Editor, 12 years of experience, daily newspaper)

Message is: don’t make waves

As a rule, media outlets find themselves in a weak and insecure position and their status often depends on the politicians’ “goodwill”, so the atmosphere of non criticism pervades, especially towards those who can influence the ownership structure in the media outlet. The most obvious example of submission to such pressure is the testimony of an interviewed journalist with a thirteen years of radio experience: “In the period when relationships of ownership between our radio station and the city get examined and redefined, we always receive instructions “not to rock the boat”, regardless of the fact that we have always criticized city authorities, no matter who they were. Yesterday they were some other guys, today they are Radicals. We were told not to be hasty to publish any material on city authorities, because solving the ownership structure was 'a higher interest'.” This answer illustrates domination of certain parts of the political establishment who control the public media (local or national) or their owners.

Some answers indicate that political parties hire journalists to “work for them”. “The party I worked for had one journalist whose duty was to do TV reporting. They've always hired journalists, not just for their campaigns. For example, I know which journalists now work for them.” (Journalist, 10 years experience, radio)

Editors are not willing to defend his/her colleagues

Several examples were mentioned illustrating the fact that media owners often personally insist on promoting their own interest and smearing their opponents in the media, or instruct journalists to repeatedly ask certain questions thus forcing certain officials to take hands off their company. It was mentioned that campaigns against certain ministers could have been orchestrated on behalf of media owners' interests. On the other side, several cases of excessive servility of the media towards government because of unfinished privatization, taxes, inspections etc. were pointed out.

The relationship between journalists and owners constitutes a special segment of the media environment in Serbia. Although journalists mostly perceive owners' views as dictate and pressure, it is evident that they are more tolerant towards that kind of pressure than towards the pressure coming from politicians. They justify this position citing difficult financial situation and the desire to survive in the marketplace. With such an attitude, journalists ignore or are unaware of the principle that publishers should not have the right to use their own media outlet for promotion of their private economic, political or any other interests, nor to use their content to promote their interests or views.

“… he shouted and cursed my mother... ”

Two kinds of political pressures were defined in the survey. One of them were direct calls and in several cases even undisguised threats to journalists from dissatisfied politicians who had various and numerous complaints – from certain headings they didn't like to the very issues the media reported on. There are also more subtle pressures, such as when media editors and owners get a hint that a certain statement or public position may be used or misused, depending on the treatment of a specific issue in a media outlet. “At least once a week Minister of Finance Mladjan Dinkic demands a certain story not to be published. He completely stopped one of my articles. Some businessman wanted us to drop some story. Dinkic called the editor in chief, shouted, demanded my resignation and cursed my mother. The businessman was angry, but he didn't threaten me.” (Journalist, 3 years experience, private TV station)

“They often do that. Former Minister of Police Dusan Mihajlovic intervened because I had asked the other guest, Boris Tadic, if Mihajlovic should resign after the assassination of Zoran Djindjic. Miroljub Labus wanted me to be professionally and morally stigmatized because I asked him about his role in advertising and promotion of private banks and commercial chains. Goran Vesic was angry after the Bodrum affair had been disclosed and published”, said a journalist from a daily newspaper while one of his colleagues cites the following example: “Nobody ever suggested to me not to report on something, but some of my articles were never published although I had written them. I would later find out that some politician called and asked for my story not to be published.” (Journalist, 13 years of journalistic experience, daily newspaper)

Pointing out existing pressures is important for description of the circumstances, but two other aspects are crucial from the ethical viewpoint – a) whether editors and journalists resist those pressures, and b) whether media outlets protect journalists. It seems this is where the sense of helplessness prevails.

More than anything else, media environment is dominated by political pressures and dependence on financial centres of power, either media owners or their sponsors. The survey transpires visible lack of resistance to pressures (which is required by the journalistic code), and compliance with the “rules of the game”. One of the interviewees made a vivid description: “Nobody has to tell you anything. It is like – today we support Partizan, although yesterday we supported Zvezda. Some things go without saying.” One of the journalists brought up the most painful subject: “What bothers me the most is the fact that there are no editors who will support their journalists and say – 'excuse me, the journalist has professionally done his/her job and it is the correct information'. Something like that happened just two days ago. We've published bare information, correct and without any comments. We got a call from the Cabinet. We don't have an editor who is willing to defend his/her journalists and guarantee their professionalism.”

There are too many 'contractors' who just carry tape-recorders

Some of the answers reflect the working habits embodied in the principles – 'nothing depends on me anyway, the editors make all the decisions' and 'why should we care if we can't make a living out of it'. Some interviewees said that they had left their jobs in the media because of such an attitude. Others said they would like to do so. One interviewee just kept grumbling because he had in mind a talented colleague who quit his job because he had not approved of the editorial policy and is now unemployed. Some journalists think that journalism in Serbia goes backwards, not only because of journalists' flaws, but because editors and owners are not aware of their power and their role. They also believe that negative selection prevails in journalism – the overcrowded media market caused the “inflation of journalists”. Many of them expressed profound dissatisfaction with the journalists’ status in the society.

Political bias of certain media outlets is visible – journalists claim that they can clearly see the political orientation of their editor or the owner (to be exact, most of these diagnoses refer to their competition, but some journalists had their own editors in mind).

“State of the media is so dreadful that it's actually worse than during Milosevic's era. There is no repression as before, but after October 5th the media went to the other extreme: we now have the most liberal media scene where no one can be held accountable for the published information. Responsibility depends on the goodwill of editors and owners. Nobody fears legal repercussions and it is erroneous because, in other words, there is no responsibility for published material. That's why it is even worse now.” (Journalist, two years experience, daily newspaper)

Unfortunately, professional introspection reveals many examples of journalists' “indifference, lack of professionalism, ignorance, lack of ambition, corruption, fatigue and laziness, 'here today, gone tomorrow' attitude” – “there are many 'contractors' – people who carry tape recorders, run from press conference to press conference, record something, go back to their office and make some news. Such people make 95% of journalists. They don't bother for 15.000 dinars or less a month. Some of them work for years without being officially full-time employed and feel that anyone can harass and oppress them...” (Editor, eight years experience, weekly magazine)

Compared to the survey conducted in 2003, the most visible change is more open expression of disappointment in journalistic profession, general situation in the media, social environment, politicians and their own personal and professional status.

Political cleavages within editorial offices are visible and, according to our interviewees, heated discussions occur between journalists and editors as well as journalists themselves, although that's often a part of professional dynamics. It is frequently known, or can be assumed with a great degree of certainty, which part of political establishment controls which media outlets.

It seems that most often discussed issue in media outlets is their political orientation, not elementary violations of professional ethics. It appears that there is certain confusion regarding the controversy over the journalists' right to have a political opinion and their obligation to report without bias and be impartial. What is missing is a structure of rules of conduct.

No initiative, no courage, no ambitions. You can smell the corruption

Politicians often call editors and interfere. Political pressure is seemingly all pervasive, but ethics should constrain politicians and restrain them from influencing the media: „Today everything is about PR agencies and media advisers who call editorial staff. Our profession comes down to holding microphones; there are no ideas or ambitions: “They go from press conference to press conference, record something, go back to office and then make some news...”

It appears that journalists are often engaged in political parties, councils etc, which proves that people do not consider it necessary to separate functions and avoid conflict of interest. It is obvious that everybody is aware of and talks critically about it. They often claim they are not involved in such practice, but are pointing to others instead. Several interviewees said that they took unpaid leave or ceased reporting about a campaign to avoid conflict of interest. Some journalists who used to take unpaid leave during electoral campaigns to work in electoral offices said that it had enabled them to earn “two and a half monthly salaries for a 15 day work” or “to open perspectives for the future”. In that way it is maybe possible to avoid direct and common definition conflict of interest, but not really to eliminate it. Some of them admitted that during such engagement they had actually “invested”, i.e. made contacts to use them later.

Significant number of interviewees views with suspicion journalists who report on economy. They cite examples that point to corruption. Some answers indicate that political parties and companies take journalists on tours and it seems to be a common practice. Small bribes are considered normal. People mentioned gifts, jotters, cell phones, paid travels, etc. One of them even said he was offered an apartment.

It seems that journalists often work on gathering and design of advertisements. Some stories and articles presented as usual editorial content are in fact disguised advertisements.

Journalism between servile flattering and affairs

This year's survey not only reveals that investigative journalism is on the edge of extinction, but also that some fundamental professional standards are being abandoned: nobody checks correctness of information, journalists avoid resistance, journalism is very often reduced to mere transmitting of politicians' and official statements, especially those made by police and even some suspicious characters hanging around editorial offices offering their services. It should also be noted that political infighting often leads to simulated investigative journalism (“affairs breaking out”, “satanization”). On the other side, calling attention to political fights often makes results of investigative journalism relative. In some media investigative journalism is often combined with sensationalism, vulgar words and insults. There are many ongoing libel lawsuits in Serbia. Journalistic associations are on a defence, but the lack of solidarity will probably lead to courts being overcrowded with journalistic cases.

Wide range of answers to important question on information verification suggests that apathy and nihilism prevails: “I bet that nobody abides by the rule of confirmation from two independent sources” - says the editor with ten years of radio experience.
We must acknowledge the argument that journalists can't get relevant information and write objectively because the implementation of Free Access to Information (FAI) Law has not yet come fully into force. It has to be noted that some people wrongly believe that one office (FAI Commissioner's Office) can replace tedious checking and confirmation of information.

Fake “nutcrackers” in service of fighting political opponents

Politicians make a significant contribution to dreadful condition in the media. They love to make wild accusations against their political opponents and try, often with considerable success, to use the media for their purposes. Behind news according to “well informed sources” just ruthless political skirmishing is hidden. We need not stress that certain professional practices were never adopted. Wrongful information is rarely corrected; mistakes are often covered up by meaningless corrections or justified by technical errors.

It is obvious that journalists either lack necessary cautiousness or the courage to hold people with power accountable for their actions or characteristics. Journalism in Serbia wavers between sycophancy and affairs.

Some interviewees talked about the widespread belief that the public's right to know overpowers politicians' right to privacy and protection of personality. One of them explained how he discovered that former president of the parliament had an affair. The other one mentioned mental disabilities of a public official.

Common people have more right to keep information about themselves secret than do officials and others who are fighting to gain power and influence and attract attention. However, such position implies that judging about ethical dilemmas is left to journalists or editors and that the moral arbiter (journalist, editor) must decide in each case which one of those ethical interests prevails, the public's right to know or the right to protection of personal integrity.

On the other side, it is obvious from many answers that the fear of politicians often prevails: for example, a journalist keeps quiet while Minister Ilic lies obviously, but sharply questions Natasa Kandic (humanitarian activist), says editor with 12 years experience.

“The heroes of investigative journalism are tired”

Journalists are very critical about their colleagues: even some well known journalists, very highly regarded for their professional achievements until recently, are criticized for lowering their standards below acceptable levels, especially when facing politicians, powerful people and businessmen. It is increasingly common that journalists do not want to confront politicians and powerful people nor mention anything in their reports even when they lie brazenly. “Politicians lie by default”, says a journalist with six years of experience in a daily newspaper.

Some journalists admit openly and with resignation, that journalists often don't know enough about the subject at hand or lack the courage to ask questions when the person they are questioning lies or tries to avoid certain issues. One thing is evident: according to many, there are a lot of young, ignorant and inexperienced journalists who were forcefully elevated to high positions (most often on TV).

At the top of the list of the Code rules is the principle that authors, editors and the editor in chief must respect truth and human rights, and the principle of timely informing of the public. It is obvious that not many journalists respect the rule of confirmation of validity of the information before publishing. This is the rule that seems to be most often neglected. There are many indications that it is done with an unacceptable ease. Responsibility for validity of the claims is often laid on those who provide it (politicians, parties). Some of the journalists obviously think that once they publish the opinion of the side which was attacked by the politician their job is done. It seems that this kind of shallowness is considerable – a certain journalist got someone's phone number using service 988 and published his statement. It turned out later that the person he interviewed just happened to have the same name as the one who was competent on the subject! In several cases journalists were angry because people did not wish to comment on accusations against themselves, finding these accusations to be unsubstantial or wishing not to get involved in a campaign started by someone else.

It is especially disturbing that some media are apparently owned by people with criminal records trying to whitewash their biography and their money and position themselves in the political establishment.

Most interviewees think that the fight for survival in the marketplace is unscrupulous. Sensationalism in newspapers is considered necessary to sell the product, but condemned for all the moral reasons. It is obvious that the answer depends on the character of the media someone works in. Generally speaking, we can notice trends towards tabloidization, use of scandals and necrophilic voyeurism (“readers love blood”).

Too much bad taste. Suspicious values. Criminals are portrayed as angels

Most of the journalists believe that fundamental professional principles have been violated and that people with suspicious biographies (let us use euphemisms) are often presented like modern heroes: “Tabloids are full of fairy tales with criminals described as angels”, says a journalist with 12 years experience on a private TV station. But: “Unlike in the nineties, the media now publish much less of that stuff”, says a journalist with five years experience in a weekly magazine.

Almost everyone believes that this kind of content had political implications.

“There is no adherence to any ethical and moral rules of conduct. It's a disaster! I've read recently: Pavarotti is coming: hotel has ordered a toilet bowl of such and such size, and the heading says – Three meters of ass.” (Journalist, nine years experience, daily newspaper)

A female journalist who worked in many media outlets says that she is aware of the fact that a single mistaken word can be costly. “Everyone who had a chance had already left this profession.” She misses “the good old days of honest journalism”.

A crisis of the professional authority of established journalists is evident. Interviewees have often criticized the conduct of renowned or highly regarded journalists. For example, several journalists pointed out that Aleksandar Tijanic's (director of national TV) columns are the embodiment of unacceptable hate speech in the media and public scene because they violate the rule that physical and mental shortcomings should be treated as a personal matter. In his columns Tijanic describes the people he disagrees with using terms like sperm, jerk, whores, mongoloids, mafia's wet nurse, Monica Lewinsky, herpes on the face of Serbia, convalescents from recurrent case of smallpox. Almost all of the journalists agree that Tijanic violated some of the fundamental professional principles: he attacks his opponent ad hominem, caricatures and ridicules their physical shortcomings and shows disrespect for their family privacy.

One journalist (editor, 12 years experience, daily newspaper) objected to Milomir Maric's (former editor, BK TV) public boasting about how he expressed his condolences to Ruzica Djindjic (wife of the assassinated Prime Minister). He later published that conversation in his newspaper, presenting it like an interview.

Interviewees cited many specific examples of flagrant violations of professional ethical principles. In all the media, victims are most often the impoverished and minors, children from children's homes and children with AIDS. Minors who commit suicide have their names published in the press. Journalists were once decent enough not to mention the names of those unfortunate people who committed suicide. Now they publish all the details: names, surnames, photographs taken “on the spot”.

We asked them if they remembered stories when victims of crime or accidents were publicly exposed or unnecessarily identified, especially if they were minors. We received many answers indicative of the state of journalism. Most of them mentioned the incident when a minor was thrown from the Branko's Bridge by his peers. His nationality was accentuated without any reason or justification. They also pointed out the pompous TV appearance of Dr. Stajkovac who announced a story about sexual abuse of a baby, which was not true, but parents' names were mentioned anyway. Name of a child infected by AIDS in hospital has been published. Some interviewees pointed out the appearing of photographs of soldiers killed in Topcider. Some of them mentioned the misuse of a car accident when the Minister of Agriculture's vehicle killed a girl. Only one person has put this problem into wider perspective: “Let us not forget victims from Srebrenica – they recalculate, add, subtract, it's not 7000, it's 2500... It is disgraceful, almost inhuman...” (Journalist, 10 years experience, weekly magazine”

Most of the interviewees believe that this situation is caused by the rush for bigger press circulation: “I think it's a result of competition. They're trying to attract more readers. Serbs are the kind of people that need only food and games to have fun in this crisis situation, the social and economic crisis.” (Female journalist, eight years experience, news agency)

Contrary to the principle that reporting (especially reporting on legal proceedings) must be unbiased, Serbian media have for years violated presumption of innocence. Suspects are indicted, the indicted are convicted and the convicted are – protected (because the media often glorify criminals...). Such conduct was more pronounced during and after the so called operation Sablja (state of emergency and mass raid against criminals after the assassination of Prime Minister Djindjic) and the trials that followed.

In this important and delicate segment, almost all of the journalists admitted that they were guilty themselves. Ignorance was the most often cited excuse, as were sensationalism and unreliability of official sources.

Just like in Germany, 30 years ago

We asked our interviewees if they have ever mentioned religion, nationality or sexual orientation when reporting on crime. At first sight it seems that everybody are politically correct on the issue, but the media are filled with unacceptable ethnic references which border insulting, unusual or criminal behaviour. As expected, they admitted to have been using these references when reporting on others. “When someone is not Serbian, his nationality is always emphasized – for example, an Albanian or Hungarian has killed a Serb. They always insist on that. His/her religion and sexual orientation are always accentuated. It happens in all the media.” (Journalist, two years experience, daily newspaper)

Roma minority is most often discriminated against: their ethnicity is always mentioned when reporting on conflicts, even when they are underage. “For example, if you're reporting on a fight with skinheads, you must mention if you're talking about Roma, because that was the reason for conflict.” (Journalist, 10 years experience, radio) This answer indicates that we must make a choice between different interests when evaluating ethical questions. Unfortunately, it is increasingly obvious that such subtlety is lacking. The media are flooded with criminals' memoirs and narrations or, in the best case, analytic articles.

While doing research for the 2003 survey, in many media we've heard heroic stories of investigative journalism, of taking a firm stand. Now it's obvious that “heroes” are tired or that the crisis is now more distinct. One of them said: “I think this is the Serbia’s journalism lowest point. It is a consolation that journalism was in exactly the same situation 30 years ago in Germany. It can be seen in the film 'The Lost Honour of Katharine Blum' (film made in 1984, based on the Heinrich Bell's novel about the bank employee who meets an anarchistic bank robber and becomes a victim of a frenzied media investigation) and the Spiegel affair – this weekly paper used to publish the kind of stories which are prevalent now in our media. After these affairs, media laws in Germany were changed. We are now in that phase.”

A selected choice of characteristic answers

“Each newsroom has its own patron”

Have you worked in any other areas besides journalism (government, economy, NGOs or public sector, electoral offices etc) and have you ever used these jobs as a source of information or opportunity to make a story?

“That has become almost usual. During the last presidential elections, several journalists from my office took days off to work in electoral offices. They were mostly working for the Democratic Party, Democratic Party of Serbia, Otpor and Serbian Radical Party.” (Editor, 31 year of journalistic experience, private TV station)

“I know that certain journalists work for party newsletters. It's an additional source of income for them. It may be that they're using that opportunity to find contacts...” (Journalist, 9 years experience, daily newspaper)

Does political, economic or some other instructions from your editor or the owner influence the way you deal with a subject?

“Yes, very often. We are economically independent and sometimes a financial help, from Delta Bank for example, may influence our reporting on their friends. There is self-censorship. I know who the friends of my paper are and whom I must not attack because it won't go... Every media has its benefactor, be it a private company, NGO or a lobby.” (Journalist, 6 years experience, daily newspaper)

“I know of some cases where instructions came not only from the owner, but also from his wife, lawyer and the rest of his family.” (Editor, 31 year of journalistic experience, private TV station)

Before, politicians intervened more than businessmen – now it’s reversed

Do you know of any cases when a third party – from a political party, the government, NGO or business sphere – had intervened and asked something to be published or not published or intervened after the publication of a certain article?

“Yes. I know of almost no party or government structure that hasn’t asked for something like that... It is most difficult when someone is trying to blackmail the owner, because it makes it hard for you to resist. You've got to comply.” (Journalist, 12 years experience, private TV)

“PR and marketing agencies call us all the time and complain. They believe you work for them and always want something to be published or protest about something that's already printed... (Journalist, 9 years experience, daily newspaper)

“At least once a week Minister of Finance Mladjan Dinkic has some subject he doesn't want published. He stopped one of my stories. I had a case when a businessman demanded one story to be withheld. Dinkic called the editor in chief, shouted at him, asked him to fire me and cursed my mother. The businessman was angry, but he didn't threaten anybody.” (Journalist, 3 years experience, private TV station)

“It happens every day. Before, politicians intervened more than businessmen. Today it's the other way around, but it's questionable if they are only businessmen because they're involved in politics too.” (Journalist, 14 years experience, weekly magazine)

“They've been interfering with our paper since I've started to work there. They will do it as long as there is journalism in Serbia. We knew exactly which newspapers are controlled by Beba Popovic, Ceda or Vesic. Today it's all about PR agencies and media advisers who call us all the time. They call me every day from Tadic's office and complain about something. It is no secret that they are pissed of with B92 and G17 Plus because they gave them money and now believe they can do whatever they like.” (Editor, 12 years as a journalist, daily newspaper)

When you report on statements of political parties or politicians, do you check validity of news, information and facts or do you believe that responsibility lies on the person who made the statement?

“I do check, but I think it's their responsibility too.” (Journalist, 12 years experience, private TV station)

“I can't imagine how a journalist can be held accountable for reporting on something some politician said. If he/she had lied, it is not the journalist's fault. Of course, we should not publish statements that incite hatred or lynch. I try to avoid that, but it does happen in the media.” (Journalist, 13 years experience, private TV station)

Do you remember any interview or a statement published in your media outlet which was not justified by public significance or a principle of attractiveness to audience, but fall under disguised propaganda?

“There has been some open propaganda and we were criticized by a press council, the one that works within Media Center, I think. On two occasions we had published open or covert advertisement and paid commercials which were not labelled as such. It's mostly from economic sector. We don't fare well.” (Journalist, working as journalist from 1996, daily newspaper)

“I Even myself wrote an article which I've been ashamed of later. I wrote it unintentionally about Tadic. When I slept over it I was ashamed of writing it. There's a wide range political propaganda in journalism.” (Journalist, 2 years experience, daily newspaper)

“My paper published an interview with a bank director and I couldn't exactly understand why we published it. I think it was covert propaganda. In other words, that was our advertiser...” (Journalist, 5 years in journalism, weekly newspaper)

“No, but sometimes a company wants some PR material to be published. It seems like a part of our content, but in fact it's a story about their project or something like that...” (Editor, 15 years in journalism, weekly newspaper)
“It happens. I did an interview with someone from the medical field without any particular reason except that he was a fried of the editor. He just wanted his viewpoints to be published.” (Journalist, 10 years experience, weekly magazine)

Why haven’t you published the article even though we gave you a present?

Have you ever accepted a gift or a paid tour (lunches, travels, usual marketing accessories of small values, modest gifts)?

“I get small gifts all the time. On several occasions I got a bottle of whiskey, attended lunches and dinners. I've always refused anything bigger than that, and they tried to bribe me a few times to get better coverage. They've offered me a flat, better job, job for my wife, directorial position, but I've always turned them down, although it was sometimes very hard for me to do so.” (Journalist, 14 years experience, weekly magazine)

“No. I have never received anything of substantial value – T shirts, hats. I know that journalists who report on economy always carry bags with them. I worked on economy for a while, but it hadn't affected my work. Once I attended the opening of a floor panel shop. I don't know why I was sent to do that or why would anyone do it. I thought it must be some advertisement. I wrote an article which was not published. They were calling me for five days to ask me why it hadn't been published even though they gave me a present. I was embarrassed a little, but I couldn't write these were the best floor panels because I didn't even know if they were.” (Journalist, 2 years experience, daily newspaper)

Have you ever published unconfirmed reports, rumours or assumptions and have you labelled them as such?

“Yes, something like “as we have learned from sources close to the government”. I bet that nobody abides by the rule of two independent sources. Everyone wants to publish information as soon as possible and they are all fighting for the audience... The market is hungry, crazed for information, scandals and gossip and journalists deliver it. Journalists are mostly uneducated and don't even know what questions they should ask and how many sources they should use to make a story...” (Editor, 10 years experience, radio)

Have you ever been fed wrong information, especially those concerning someone? Have you ever published a correction or a denial? Have you ever published true facts in some other way?

“Probably, but it has never been proved. I have Beba (former government official) and Ljiljana Nedeljkovic (former adviser to the President of FRY) on mind; they were my picks in political reporting... I haven't even published some lunatic stuff – I just pretended I didn't hear them... The media usually play dumb when it comes to publishing corrections, denials and such.” (Journalist, 10 years of experience, weekly magazine)

“Here we have another problem. We publish information we got officially from the police or courts and then people deny it. I wrote an apology once, although I still believe I was right.” (Journalist, 14 years of experience, weekly magazine)

Insulting each other: 'Your brother is disabled’ - 'You've got a fat neck'

Have you ever published articles, reports or other content aimed at someone?”

“No, not here. Pink TV attacked Cedomir Cupic who is a great man and his students describe him as totally objective and uncompromised. Their story was really weird. He denied it later, but it was a weak story. Pink attacked him because he had said their building should be pulled down and that their parcel of land hadn't been bought properly. I think that BK TV has also attacked some people in that way.” (Editor, ten years of experience, radio)

“For example, I remember that the media made a big deal out of the fact that Goran Svilanovic's mother is Albanian. That's maybe true, but so what? Things like that have happened so many times that I can't even come up with another example...” (Journalist, 5 years of experience, weekly newspaper)

“Talking about politicians, they are not affected by anything personally, but politically. I've done a story about Dragan Marsicanin (President of the Parliament) and his mistress. I published her name and the hotel bill. I've found out later that the story caused great problems in his family, that his son, then a teenager, had some psychological crisis, but I don't think of it as a personal attack. He's a politician and he must be aware of the fact that he's going to be a target sooner or later. They are not ordinary people. They are politicians and as such agreed to fight in the political arena. Someone will dig out something about them. Politicians mostly believe that they are attacked personally, not realizing that they are above all politicians and that there's nothing personal about that.” (Journalist, 6 years of experience, daily newspaper)

Do you remember any instances when someone's rights were abused – people who were arrested, prosecuted etc?

“One of my colleagues wrote in the article that the father whose child had drowned was negligent. He came to her office and shouted at her. He sued us – and won.” (Journalist, 14 years of experience, weekly magazine)

“In Serbia it is common to treat suspects as indicted, the indicted as already convicted. The convicted are – paradoxically – protected.” (Editor, 31 year of experience, private TV station)

“It happens every day in the press... I remember a recent when four members of a family have been murdered in Zemun. That was a scandal. On the first day, papers published the information that the father had killed his wife and two children and then committed suicide. On the second day, they ran a story that the wife killed her husband and two children. After that, papers said that the parents in fact killed their children and then each other. Even the police reacted and asked the media not to speculate any more. Nobody paid attention to the fact that these people had families, friends. That's sensationalism. On the other side, publication of the so called transcripts of Ceda Jovanovic's telephone conversations was done for no other reason than to discredit him.” (Journalist, 3 years of experience, radio)

Do you remember any examples when victims of crimes or accidents were exposed without caution? Do you know of any instances when victims or minors were unnecessarily identified?

“Yes, I remember doctor Stajkovac. The media picked up the story of sexual abuse of a baby. The family should have been protected. That was awful. There were pictures, names... we reported from Stajkovac's press conference...” (Journalist, 2 years of experience, news agency)

“Yes, it happens all the time, but we're doing our best to avoid it... I see it mostly in daily papers. They publish names of people, their pictures. For example, the child who got infected with AIDS in a hospital – journalists photographed him. That's not only unethical, but inhuman. And nobody reacted, not a single journalistic association, all those NGOs fighting for human rights, nobody...” (Editor, 8 years of experience, weekly newspaper)

“They are constantly identified, either their names are published or so many details that everyone can identify them, especially in small towns like Kragujevac. For example that girl who made a porn movie...” (Journalist, 6 years of experience, daily newspaper)

“Legendary Kurir has just published children's names after some family tragedy. I still can't understand why.” (Journalist, national radio, 10 years of experience)

“We are very careful about minors, but the police often makes mistakes, such as mentioning the father's name in their statements.” (Journalist, 13 years of experience, radio)

“Those unfortunate parents have denied many times that their son had killed himself because he was a drug addict and allegedly owed some money... As it came out, the kid had nothing to do with that.” (Editor, 12 years of experience, daily newspaper)

Have you ever revealed information about people (addresses, hospitals, medical documentation) gathered during your research?

“Yes. A local politician harassed my godparents. I gave them everything I had on him, his dirty laundry. My godmother went to him, dropped the documentation on his desk and told him: 'If you keep harassing me, it will be published'. I would do it again, especially for them, although it isn't ethical.” (Journalist, 14 years of experience, weekly magazine)

“No, it is all in my archive. Once, UBPOK (Department for Fighting Organized Crime) took my documentation from Nacional and I've never got it back.” (Journalist, 6 years of experience, daily newspaper)

Do you know of any cases when someone's physical or mental shortcomings were mentioned?

“Of course, but it's justified by the story. Every single journalist wrote about Slobodan Milosevic's genetic predisposition for suicide. In some cases it is justifiable – if it helps one to defend someone. It is important if a deranged person has a license to carry a firearm, or if mentally ill people perform political duties. One is obliged to publish such things because it's in public interest. If someone is insane, he/she can't be a judge or a chief of general staff, no discussion about that.” (Journalist, 14 years of experience, weekly magazine)

“Except that thing when K... has been named a homosexual, I can't think of anything else.” (Editor, 31 years of experience, private TV station)

“Yes. Especially if someone has a medical history or there are people who claim so. It happens all the time in other media outlets, especially in their commentaries. There is phenomenon in Serbian journalism, namely Tijanic. His rival Beba is no better. 'Your brother is disabled', 'you've got a fat neck'. Just as this guy Vucicevic (editor of tabloid Kurir). Even foul language is used more often than ever. It is possible to avoid this kind of writing and still be able to strongly criticize someone or something.” (Editor, 8 years of experience, weekly magazine)

“For example, Dinkic (current minister of finance) in response to Batic's (former minister of justice) accusations said that his grandmother was right when she said that your nose would grow up if you lie. He pointed out Batic's physical shortcoming.” (Journalist, 6 years of experience, daily newspaper)

“There's a newspaper called Scandal – that's their name?! What should I think when I hear my editor praising the work of such journalists...” (Journalist, 10 years of experience, weekly magazine)

“I remember some claims about someone's mental problems (politician V...) during parliamentary session. We've made up some euphemism for that, just to inform the audience about it.” (Journalist, national radio, 10 years of experience)

Do you know of any examples when someone's religious denomination, nationality or sexual orientation has been mentioned while reporting on crime?

“Yes, and it really bothers me. When someone is not Serbian, his nationality is always emphasized – for example, an Albanian or Hungarian has killed a Serb. They always insist on that. His religion and sexual orientation are always accentuated. It happens in all media.” (Journalist, two years experience, daily newspaper)

“Of course it is mentioned if the crime was committed because of their nationality, i.e. hatred. If their nationality is relevant for the crime they committed. Roma are often mentioned in this context... For example, if you're reporting on a fight with skinheads, you must mention if you're talking about Roma, because that was the reason for the conflict.” (Journalist, 10 years experience, radio)

“I know it happened on BK TV and Studio B when a boy was thrown from a bridge by his friends. They've said that they were Roma, which was irrelevant in my opinion.” (Journalist, 3 years experience, private TV station)

“Everybody emphasized the nationality of bullies who violated that poor man with a broomstick. They were Hungarians, and he was Serb, but nobody pointed out the fact that they were all drunkards. What happened later was irrelevant. In my opinion, it has been put into wider political context and misused.” (Journalist, 6 years of experience, daily newspaper)

“It may be important sometimes, as in this case in Vojvodina when several people were convicted. Their nationality was important because it can happen on a much larger scale. That was not just a fight between young people, but an ethnically motivated crime in Vojvodina, which is full of tensions. In other cases, I don't know why it would matter. In my paper we don't pay much attention to that, we usually just copy it from press statements.” (Journalist, national radio, 10 years of experience)

Do you know of any cases when children, minors or mentally disabled persons were used as sources for journalistic investigation?

“Yes, and that was really horrible, when B92 ran a story about a women who had killed her children, down there in south Serbia, I think. They shouldn't have questioned her like that, that was horrible. It was obvious that she was mentally ill. A completely different problem is that an insane person is free to walk around, so it wasn't just about journalists and the media.” (Journalist, 6 years experience, news agency)

Do you know of any instances when memoirs or narrations of a criminal were cited in your media outlet, and has it been of any use to him? Were there any political implications (were there any politicians or state institutions mentioned)?

“Some of them presented JSO (Special Operations Unit) members as heroes. I remember this captain Dzo from Kurir, former Red Beret who talked about the Hague brotherhood, Djindjic, Legija. There's been a real fuss about that in the public...” (Journalist, 8 years of experience, public city TV station)

“Tabloids are full of fairy tales presenting all criminals as angels. I think these media outlets are trying to improve their public image for them. They are doing PR for them.” (Journalist, 12 years of experience, private TV station)

“Not in my office. But criminals became heroes because of such stories. There were instances when Legija (indicted for the assassination of the prime minister) and Ceda (former deputy prime minister) could be found on the same page and in the same level. Criminals are getting as much space as anybody else. One of them has published a book which could be bought together daily newspapers. What else can you do to glorify them? Some media outlets tend to worship criminals.” (Journalist, 3 years of experience, radio)

“Yes: Kristijan Golubovic, Andrija Draskovic, Cume... It may have improved their standing with young people...” (Editor, 12 years of experience, daily newspaper)

“Stories about criminals sell the papers and people read them. If you publish an interview with Kristijan, for example, every kid will buy them and say: 'Look at this!' That's not some kind of editorial policy, that's just the way it is.” (Editor, 15 years of experience, weekly newspaper)

“Some time ago Vanja Bulic had some guests who said – yes, I did it, I stole that, I did some time in prison... that is somehow OK. Now you can make a nice story about someone like C..., he was a criminal, but run for an office anyway! Who is really a criminal here?” (Journalist, national radio, 10 years of experience)