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Analysis of the Implementation of the New Journalists Code of Ethics of Serbia through the Practice of the Complaints Commission
The new Handbook of the Press Council and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is an analysis of the implementation of the new Journalists Code of Ethics of Serbia through the practice of the Complaints Commission. The publication includes concrete examples of media reporting, including cases of damage to the reputation of individuals, publication of personal data and dissemination of unverified information.
The analysis shows, among other things, that in 2025, the Press Council received an unusually large number of complaints – one hundred percent more than in the previous year, and that two-thirds of the total number of complaints related to reporting on the participants of student and civic protests, which began in November 2024, after the collapse of the canopy at the Novi Sad railway station.
During the consideration of complaints, the Commission’s sessions were marked by serious, unresolved debates about concerns that the public interest may have been subordinated to other interests, and about biased reporting presented through the perspective of only one—or only some—of the actors involved in the events.
The authors of this analysis, Tamara Skrozza, Vera Didanović and Gordana Novaković, also point to new trends in the media, such as the simultaneous publication of identical content in several media, which often have no informative value but serve to discredit certain people.
In addition to the analysis of the problem, the document also offers recommendations for the improvement of journalistic practice, points to the need for greater responsibility towards the public, respect for the dignity of the interlocutor and a clear separation of facts from comments.
The aim of the publication is to assist journalists and editors in the application of the Code, but also to encourage a wider professional discussion on standards and accountability in the modern media environment.
ABOUT US
The Press Council is an independent, self-regulatory body that brings together publishers, owners of print and online media, news agencies, and media professionals. It has been established for monitoring the observance of the Journalist’s Code of Ethics, solving complaints made by individuals and institutions related to media content. The Press Council is also authorized to mediate between aggrieved individuals, institutions, and editorial staff, and to pronounce public warnings in cases when determined that the violation of ethical standards as defined by the Journalist’s Code of Ethics has occurred. The Press Council is engaged in the education of media professionals to act in accordance with the Journalist’s Code of Ethics and works to strengthen the role of media in Serbia.
We strive for responsible and professional journalism. Our mission is to protect the citizens of Serbia from manipulation in print and online media and to raise the quality of journalism in Serbia. We’ll act in accordance with the Journalist’s Code of Ethics and our own conscience, in compliance with the law, and under the motto: Fast, free, fair!
