New Code of Journalists: Respect for Dignity, Gender-Sensitive Language, and No Reporting from Funerals

(Source: Euronews) Journalist associations have adopted the new Code of Journalists of Serbia, which introduces a new chapter titled Respect for Dignity. This chapter includes guidelines for reporting on minors and groups such as persons with disabilities, national minorities, and the LGBTQ community.
The code also introduces a provision stating that “journalists should not report from funerals, except in cases of high-profile public figures.” Other updates include the right to be forgotten, provisions for the use of artificial intelligence, and guidance on social media usage.

The new code encourages journalists to use gender-sensitive language—terms like “female journalist,” “psychologist,” or “playwright” are suggested to reflect gender distinctions. However, these are merely guidelines, and no penalties will be imposed for non-compliance.

“The Code is not a criminal law; it is not a list of prohibited actions and their penalties. It’s a document that represents and protects certain values and principles. For example, if I request to be referred to as ‘general secretary’ in the feminine form, you are not obliged to comply, but that would be the principled thing for a journalist to do,” explained Gordana Novaković, General Secretary of the Press Council, in an interview with Euronews Serbia.

The controversy over the use of gender-sensitive language has been active from the adoption of the Gender Equality Law, which was later suspended by the Constitutional Court. Some in the media community remain opposed to implementing such politically correct language.

“I’m personally very skeptical about gender-sensitive language. It’s cumbersome, as evident from this very title. The Serbian Language Institute of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, the most authoritative body on language in Serbia, has deemed it inappropriate and harmful to the Serbian language,” said journalist Filip Rodić.

Unlike the previous code, the new code emphasizes that journalists must not prioritize publishers’ interests over their responsibility to the public. This provision reflects concerns that media face increasing pressure from owners, whose demands often conflict with professional standards.

“We believe that there is growing pressure from media owners to adapt content to their interests, so we felt the need to strengthen these provisions,” Novaković added.

The Right to Be Forgotten

The code now includes the right to be forgotten, allowing individuals to request the removal of specific personal information if their rights have been violated. Editors are instructed to consider the significance and social standing of the individual when deciding.

However, this provision raises concerns about potential misuse.
“This opens the door to selective erasure of the past. It reminds me of the publication of the Panama Papers, where selective disclosures were made based on preferences. I think something similar could happen here,” Rodić commented.

Another new provision states that journalists should not report from funerals unless they involve high-profile public figures. This is another new provision in the code that, according to the Press Council, aims to prevent the practice, especially when it comes to children, that has taken over the domestic media. Although the Code is not a binding document, the Press Council will be guided by it when making a decisions.

“Although this provision has existed in our guidelines under the term ‘right to be forgotten’ since 2016, we have never received a single complaint about it. It’s meant to protect victims, ensuring that certain details can be erased from public memory,” Novaković concluded.

We’ve had media coverage of children whose grandchildren will know what happened to them. I really think that they should be allowed to simply erase a part of it,” Novakovic concluded.

Author: Pavle Kosić