Press Council: Serbian Telegraph and Republika Violated the Code

(Source: NUNS) Serbian Telegraph and the portal Republika violated the Code of Journalists of Serbia, decided the Complaints Commission of the Press Council at its regular session held yesterday. The Press Council received two more complaints regarding the reporting of the portals of the Association of Journalists of Serbia and the agency Sana, but it was decided that these media did not violate the Code.

Incorrect Reporting on the Complaint Procedure

The Complaints Commission first decided on the complaint filed by the company Emeceta against Serbian Telegraph and the portal Republika. It was unanimously decided that both media outlets violated the Code in parts related to respecting the principles of not damaging the reputation of the individuals mentioned and using exaggerated and sensationalist headlines.

In mid-February, Serbian Telegraph and Republika.rs published an article recounting the experience of a dissatisfied client during furniture purchase at Emeceta’s salon.

Serbian Telegraph highlighted the text on its front page with the headline: “Emeceta Upsets Everyone,” while readers in the newspaper’s supplement, “Consumer Patrol,” were encouraged to boycott this store with the words: “Stay away from Emeceta.” The same text was published on the Republika website.

Serbian Telegraph posed questions to Emeceta and published the company’s response with a comment that representatives of Emeceta did not like “the tone in which the questions were asked.” The article told “gentlemen from Emeceta” not to teach journalists about journalistic communication because they also do not “give them lessons in trade.”
Emeceta doo, through its representative, filed a complaint stating that the article misrepresented the complaint process and harmed their business reputation.

“The complaint process represents standard business practice in trade activities and cannot serve as a basis for damaging the business reputation of the complainant,” the complaint stated.

Attached to the complaint was a judgment from the Higher Court in Belgrade related to an article previously published by Serbian Telegraph about this company, which, according to the complaint, “establishes the continuous publication of untrue information by the said media, along with simultaneous calls to boycott the Emeceta retail chain.”

Journalists from Serbian Telegraph responded to the complaint stating that the published articles represent a “journalistic account of a consumer’s experience, who publicly expressed their opinion and described their personal experience regarding the exercise of rights under the complaint procedure.” Additionally, they emphasized that the controversial article presented the so-called other side, i.e., they conveyed Emeceta’s response.
Regarding the headlines used, they believe that it is “based on reader experience” and does not constitute a call for boycotting the store.
Regarding the disputed article, the Commission members first agreed that it is irrelevant whether media harm physical or legal persons through their reporting. Commission Chair Milena Vasić pointed out that sometimes legal entities may suffer greater harm.

Jelka Jovanović from the Association of Media added that negative marketing in the media aimed at harming competition is a problem. In connection with this, Tamara Skrozza from the Independent Association of Journalists of Serbia recalled similar campaigns in the past. She said that these campaigns are apparent but unfortunately cannot be proven. However, she believes that the Press Council should note such occurrences in the media.

Public representative Rodoljub Šabić stated that the tone of the text is hostile and that the headline cannot be justified by expressing the story told by the consumer, but he is unsure if it is a campaign against Emeceta.
Nadežda Budimović from Local Press, however, had no doubt that it was a campaign.

“If the topic is consumer protection, then the text should have been detailed and really explained how consumer rights are exercised,” said Budimović.

“In the whole text, the editorial office took sides. They took a stance. They did not present two opposing views but took sides and argued with the other side,” she added.

UNS and Sana Did Not Violate the Code

The other two complaints received by the Press Council concerned the portal of the Association of Journalists of Serbia and the agency Sana, filed by journalist Medin Halilović because they reported on the conflict between him and the editor of the portal Indeksonlajn, Eldin Ćorović. The Complaints Commission decided that these portals did not violate the Code.

General Secretary of the Press Council Gordana Novaković first noted that Halilović filed complaints against several media, but other complaints will be discussed at the next session because they were filed later and responses from the editorial offices are awaited.

Sana reported on its portal the news from the Rina agency and then Halilović’s response published by the same agency.

The article stated that Halilović allegedly verbally and physically assaulted Ćorović during a protest in front of the company “Waterworks and Sewerage” in Novi Pazar.

In his complaint, Halilović stated that incorrect and unverified information was published, and his honor and professional credibility were infringed upon without the right to present his stance and opinion in a timely manner. He also mentioned that he sent a rebuttal but it was postdated.
Considering that Halilović’s response was published, Sana responded that they did not understand what the problem was in their response to the complaint; the email Halilović allegedly sent was not received, but they published the rebuttal issued by the Rina agency.

The UNS portal also reported on the same event, but the journalist who wrote the article called Halilović to tell his side of the story.

He accused the UNS journalist of abusing his response to a phone call and a request to call back later, after leaving the police station.

He also stated that he sent a response to the article, but it was published four days later.

UNS President Živojin Rakočević dismissed the allegations in the complaint and explained that an official email received a message from Eldin Ćorović, the editor of the portal, about the incident that occurred in Novi Pazar, after which they called Ćorović and Halilović and published an article about their conflict.

Rakočević also explained that Halilović’s response was delayed because it arrived during Easter holidays when no one was working at UNS.
Regarding these complaints, Milena Vasić stated that she believes the Code was not violated because both media published Halilović’s response.
Other Commission members agreed after which they unanimously decided that there was no violation of the Code of Journalists of Serbia in both cases.