News
TROLL OF THE MONTH: Magazine Stav
The Balkan Troll of the Month is an individual, group of individuals, or a media outlet that spread hate based on gender, ethnicity, religion, or other diversity categories. The Balkan Troll is selected based on hate speech incidents identified across the Western Balkans region. The month of June is typically dedicated to LGBTQ+ Pride Month …
GOVERNMENT AND MEDIA FAILURES IN REPORTING MASS SHOOTINGS IN SERBIA
Why did the media and officials get it so wrong when it came to reporting the mass shooting that occurred on May 3rd at the “Vladislav Ribnikar” Elementary School in Belgrade and have they learned any lessons? The media debacle started a few hours after a student shot and killed nine of his classmates and …
MEDIA DISCOURSE ANALYSIS AROUND PRIDE PARADES
Why is the fight for human rights a trigger for hate speech in the Western Balkans? KOSOVO The patriarchal society in Kosovo does not accept the LGBTQ+ community, considering them as sick individuals, mentally ill, destroyers of families and humanity, and deeming them unfit to be part of Kosovar society. Comments reflecting these views can …
Nedopustivo objavljivanje medicinskih podataka povređenih u masovnim pucnjavama: apel organizacija civilnog društva
Ministarka zdravlja Danica Grujičić u nedavnoj izjavi za medije iznela je poverljive lične podatke o zdravstvenom stanju povređenih u masovnim pucnjavama koje su se dogodile početkom prethodnog meseca u Beogradu i Mladenovcu. Između ostalog, Grujičić je u javnost iznela detalje o trenutnom zdravstvenom stanju povređenog deteta u pucnjavi u OŠ “Vladislav Ribnikar” kao i svoja …
COUNTERING HOMOPHOBIA IN THE MEDIA
KOSOVAR MEDIA OUTLETS ARE DISCRIMINATING AGAINST THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY. The Kosovar public, especially lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) individuals were shocked by the news of the death of Anna Kolukaj, a transgender woman, who ended her life on July 22, 2022. The sudden death of Anna, who was an activist and drag performer, was …
MALICIOUS MEDDLING IN KOSOVO’S MEDIA SPHERE
On November 2, 2022, a video from a private care home for the elderly in Peja appeared online. The video showed a young nurse beating an elderly woman, slapping her and pushing her against the wall. The video showed that as the nurse taunted, slapped and humiliated the old woman she was supposed to be …
Monthly Monitoring Highlights – a range of hateful narratives and discourse
Throughout the month of May, the RDN monitoring team has detected a range of hateful narratives and discourse. This month, we have seen hatred against political opponents and individuals as well as gender discrimination. Hatred against political opponents in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and North Macedonia. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, to mark the International Day …
TROLL OF THE MONTH: Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Porfirije
The Balkan Troll of the Month is an individual, a group of individuals or a media outlet that spreads hate based on gender, ethnicity, religion, or other diversity categories. The Balkan Troll is selected based on hate speech incidents identified across the Western Balkans region. In May, journalist Biljana Lukić tweeted a video in which …
HOW THE MEDIA AND INSTITUTIONS FAILED: The harmful effects of sensationalist reporting on mass shootings in Serbia
It only took a few hours for a tragedy to become mired in sensationalism, disinformation, and unethical reporting. In the early hours of the morning of 3 May, eight students and a security guard were killed and six students and a teacher injured during a school shooting in Belgrade, Serbia. This was not only a …