Exactly one month ago, the news of the double murder that happened in Kosovska Mitrovica resounded throughout the region, when, as it is suspected, the young man killed his twin brother and father. This case was followed by media reports, many of which were based on unverified, and as it turned out, inaccurate information. The Secretary General of NUNS, Tamara Filipović Stevanović, spoke for KoSSev about media reporting and their impact on the lives of citizens, especially if tragic events are reported.
“Reporting on tragic events in our media, we can freely say that it is tragic,” said Filipović Stevanović.
He says that the monitoring of the Press Council testifies to that.
“He showed that in the last six months, the code was violated in 10 national print media 2,129 times under Chapter Seven of the Code of Journalists of Serbia, which refers to the right to privacy, as well as 2,727 times under Chapter four, which refers to the responsibility of journalists.” she said.
He claims that these chapters are most often violated when reporting on tragic events.
She pointed out that this is an indicator that the level of professionalism in reporting on unpleasant events is very low and that it is necessary to improve it urgently.
“We need to somehow convince media workers and journalists that they have the greatest impact on those affected by these tragedies and that it seriously affects their lives and the lives of their families,” said NUNS Secretary General Tamara Filipovic Stevanovic.
Let us remind you, the tragedy that shook Kosovska Mitrovica exactly a month ago, but also the region, when, as it is suspected, 29-year-old BM killed his twin brother in his sleep, BU, and then his father, 66-year-old BM, otherwise known. retired prosecutor and lawyer, filled the columns of local and regional media for two days.
While Serbian tabloids raced through difficult headlines and details, many of which turned out to be inaccurate, or at least unconfirmed and unverified in relation to the official version of the accident, some Kosovo media published a paparazzi video of the young man being taken from hospital accompanied by police and with handcuffs on their hands, as well as groups of young men – mutual friends of the twins, who shouted in shock and ran towards the young man. All these contents violate the code of ethics of reporting, violate the rights and dignity of both the victim and the suspect.
Source: Kossev/Serbia Posts English