By publishing a picture of the deceased Mufti Zukorlić, the media violated the journalism code

(Source: 020media) “The face of the deceased person, anyone at all, simply must not appear in the media,” said for the portal 020 Media Tamara Skrozza journalist and member of the Complaints Commission of the Press Councils. Social networks have been discussing the image in which the face of the deceased mufti Zukorlić appears allegedly before burial at the village of Orlje, which was reported by some media from Sandžak and their front pages of web sites.

“It’s a content that can upset the family and those who are close, but also people who were not linked with the deceased. Also, it is also a violation of the right to the privacy of the family, as well as violating the right to the dignity of the deceased. The media must pay attention to the Code prescribing these rules, and above all report in the public interest. And this and similar photographs do not fall into that domain,“ said Skrozza.

She thinks that the reasons for publishing this content by the media and internet portals are “clicks and sensations”.

“Such a scene automatically, naturally, attracts attention. Just as the body of a deceased man would attract passers-by in the street, although they know themselves that it is inappropriate. Thus, the goal was sensationalism, or the so-called “clkikability”“.

This case certainly represents a serious violation of professional standards and a very difficult “foul” in an ethical sense, says for 020 Media Tamara Skrozza.

Civil activist Teo Taraniš also considers that such content does not have a place on social networks and that it has been disturbing to the public.

“I think the publication of such content was inappropriate and unnecessary. In addition to harassment of the public, this content is contrary to some customary norms in the local community, so as such represented an additional scandalization of the entire event that played out in Novi Pazar.

(Teo Taranis)

Publicly via social network Facebook Taraniš addressed the son of deceased mufti Zukorlić, who also published  the photo in question on social networks, by calling for the stop of „the exposure of absolutely inappropriate content.“ He said the reaction of the public was various because some local portals have carried his announcement and that in the comments, there were various threats and insults, which Taraniš believes represent a threat to his personal safety.

„One part supported the publication of that photograph, while the second part has protested. This somewhere shows us that one part of the public still does not fully understands the role of the media, but expects sensations even at the price of the collapse of every journalistic standard. And local portals are then adjusted to that. Very similar, and my personal review of these events transferred some local portals where numerous threats and insults can be read in the comments on these news. It is a threat to my personal security in a certain way. Such a way of communication shows that there is not only about the attitudes of dissidents, but that it is much greater the problem of attacking freedom of speech and opinions.“

(Teo Taranis)

Emir Tutić / 020Media.info

Objavljivanjem slike rahmetli muftije Zukorlića mediji prekršili novinarski kodeks