Texts in which Veran Matić is labeled as the “architect of the colored revolution” and accuse ANEM members of “working against Serbia” represent a serious violation of journalistic ethics, the Press Council’s Complaints Commission assessed. The members of the Commission also warned of the danger that such reporting can produce
Appeals Committee Press Council At today’s session, it unanimously assessed that four portals – Večernje novosti, Alo, 24sedam and Užice Oglasna tabla – violated the Code of Journalists of Serbia with texts about Veran Matić and the Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM).
It is about the texts “Phases of the colored revolution with the patronage of the tycoon and ‘militarized’ media: The same patterns and two decades after the Fifth of October”, which the portal Užice Oglasna tabla transferred from the portal Večernje novosti, as well as an identical text under another title – “Propaganda and colored revolutions: How did the militarized ‘media’ create chaos in Serbia on two occasions?” – which Alo transferred from the website 24sedam.
The president of ANEM’s Board of Directors, Veran Matić, stated in a complaint to the Press Council that the texts represent “fabrications, vile language, context manipulation, simultaneous revision and fabrication of his past work, as well as insidious deception of the public about what he does today.”
“Just the description that ANEM members ‘worked day and night against Serbia and Serbian interests’ is a continuation of the targeting campaign aimed at inciting hatred and animosity towards ANEM members, but also towards their members,” Matić stated in the complaint.
He specifically pointed to a part of the text in which he is labeled as “the architect of the colored revolution”, with the claim that ANEM, during the conflict in Kosovo, had a network of stations “that worked day and night against Serbia and Serbian interests”.
Filip Švarm, a member of the Complaints Commission of the Press Council, assessed that these texts “target” Veran Matić and that it is “classic and worrying targeting”.
“I’m afraid that this is the preparation of something that is coming to Veran,” Schwarm said, adding that this is the third case before the Press Council since the beginning of the year.
“Creepy and Dangerous” Texts
Commission member Jelena Petković assessed that the texts are “creepy and dangerous”, not only for Matić, but also for more than 40 ANEM members who are mentioned.
“It affects their safety and there are many reasons for concern,” said Petković.
According to the decision of the Appeals Commission, the contested texts violated the chapter of the Code that refers to the truthfulness of reporting, according to which journalists are obliged to accurately and impartially report on events of public interest, to communicate verified information in the appropriate context and to clearly distinguish facts from assumptions and guesses.
The Commission also assessed that the provision according to which publication of unfounded accusations, slander and rumours, as well as content whose author is unknown, is incompatible with journalism was violated.
It was also concluded that the provisions stipulating that the political and economic interests of the publisher must not influence the editorial policy in a way that leads to inaccurate and biased information to the public were also violated.
The commission also assessed that the texts contain aggressive rhetoric, which violated the obligation of journalists to maintain the ethics of public speech.
Nor were the provisions of the chapter on respect for dignity respected, according to which journalists may not discriminate based on political or other opinions, nor participate in the spread of falsehoods and continuous malicious damage to the reputation of the persons they report on.
Source: Vreme
