(2016) PRESS COUNCIL ANNUAL REPORT

WORK OF THE COMPLAINTS COMMISSION

From January to December 2016, a total of 126 complaints were sent to the Press Council, which is slightly higher than in the previous year, when the Council received 109 complaints.

The highest number of complaints were submitted by citizens, individuals (49), then NGOs 38 (15 more than in 2015), 16 complaints were filed by media against each other, six by public enterprises and state institutions, four by political parties, two by companies, while 11 complaints were filed by members of the Complaints Commission.

Fifteen complaints were resolved by mediation, which is slightly higher than in the previous years, when this was the case for up to five percent of the total number of complaints.

By the end of the year, the Commission decided on 82 complains, 30 complaints were rejected for not meeting the formal requirements for review, most often because the complaint was filed by a person who was not personally damaged by the published text. Of the total number of resolved complaints, the Code violation was established in 62 cases, out of which 27 public warnings were issued to media that do not accept the full authority of the Press Council. The number of cases in which the Code was violated was somewhat higher than in the previous year, and the decision that the Code was not violated was made only nine times, which is considerably less than last year when such a decision was made for 21 of the 93 complaints considered.

Even 19 times during the year the Commission failed to agree on the decision, which is higher than in all previous years. Some of the reasons certainly need to be sought in the changes to the Statute of the Council, which now require the decision to vote by eight of the 11 members of the Commission, but also in the fact that a number of Commission members consistently did not want to participate in decision-making in cases of “media conflicts”, more precisely when It seemed to them that the media abused the Commission for mutual quarrels.

Regarding the violation, most of them were (71) from the chapter The truthfulness of reporting, then Respect for privacy -26. The discrimination involved 11 offenses, violation of ethics and culture of public speech 11, violation of the presumption of innocence 8… Very rare are cases when it was decided that the text violated only one chapter of the Code.

Some media still do not respect the obligation to publish the decisions of the Commission, so in 2016 this obligation was avoided by “Vecernje novosti” (which did not publish any of the four decisions), “Blic” (four decisions), “Alo” (three), “Courier” (two), and “Telegraf.rs” one decision.

In 2016, the Commission held two sessions outside the premises of the Press Council – in Novi Sad in March and in Novi Pazar in May, within the framework of the project funded by the Open Society Foundation. Both sessions were filmed, and the recordings were placed on the YouTube site of the Council.

This year, the Complaints Commission also held regular quarterly press conferences that featured the most interesting cases that were decided on in the previous period. Media conferences, representatives of media associations and associations, as well as representatives of domestic NGOs and international organizations, are invited to these meetings. Recordings and reports from the session can be found on the Press Council website, as well as on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

COMPLAINTS FROM JANUARY TO DECEMBER 2016

“The public company Elektromreža Srbije – Kurir – the Commission did not agree on a decision
Gay lesbian info center – Vecernje novosti – Code violated – paper did not announce decision
Suzana Alar – Alo – Code violated
Suzana Alar- Kurir – Code violated
Jelena Kodić – Srbijadanas.net – complaint dismissed – the applicant was not personally injured
Southern News – Politika – Code violated
Independent Association of Journalists of Vojvodina – Politika – Code violated
Aleksandar Rodić – Politika -Commission did not agree on a decision
Zoran Radovanovic – Blic – has not violated the Code

10. Juvenile Vesti – Gradski portal 018 – the applicant withdrew the complaint

11. The South News – Official Gazette – The applicant withdrew the complaint

12. Ljiljana Milicanović – Blic- Code violated

13. Lokal pres – Politika – Code violated

14. Južne vesti – Official Gazette – The applicant withdrew the appeal

15. Autonomous Women’s Center – Blic – Code violated – the paper did not announce the decision

16. Gay lesbian info center – Afera – Code violated – public warning

17. Gay lesbian info center – Informer – appeal rejected – the applicant was not personally damaged

18. Gay lesbian info center – Blic – rejected appeal – the applicant was not personally damaged

19. Gay lesbian info center – Alo – rejected appeal – the applicant was not personally damaged

20. BIRN – Politika – the applicant withdrew his appeal

21. Jelena Popadić – Cenzolovka – has not violated the Codex

22. Slavisa Lekic – Politika – Commission did not agree on the decision

23. Pištaljka – Kurir – Commission did not agree on the decision

24. Gay lesbian info center – Srbininfo.rs – Code violated – public warning

25. Vlado Mareš – Večernje novosti – Code violated – the paper did not announce the decision

26. Regional Center for Minorities – Vecernje Novosti – Code violated – paper did not announce decision

27. Zoran Radovanovic – Kurir – The Commission did not agree on the decision

28. YUCOM – Magyar Szo – The Commission did not agree on the decision

29. Stevan Dojčinović – Informer – Code violated – public warning

30. Stevan Dojčinović – Politika – The Commission did not agree on the decision

31. Slaviša Lekić – Politika – has not violated the Code

32. Doors – Informer – Code violated – public warning

33. Dragan Andrejević – Kurir – Code violated

34. Dragan Andrejević – Telegraf.rs – the applicant has given up his appeal

35. Dragan Andrejevic – Pink – rejected appeal – the media is not under the authority of the Council

36. Zoran Živković – Alo – Code violated – the paper did not announce the decision

37. Stevan Dojčinović – Informer – Code violated – public warning

38. Jovanka Todorovic – Informer – rejected appeal – no consent of the persons to whom the text refers

39. Roma word – Informer – mediation – comments removed

40. Slobodan Kostadinovic – Srpski telegraf – rejected appeal – the applicant was not personally damaged

41. UG Pride Parade – Srpski telegraf – Code violated – Public Warning

42. Zlatko Cobovic – Politika – violated Code

43. Stefan Radović – Srpski telegraf – violated Code – public warning

44. Rastislav Durman – Blic – violated Code

45. GA – Kurir – the Commission did not agree on the decision

46. Novi Sad School of Journalism – Sandžakpress – violated Code – public warning

47. Gay lesbian info center – Danas – the Code has not been violated

48. Gay lesbian info center – Newsweek – rejected appeal – the applicant was not personally damaged

49. RTV Vranje – Novine Vranjske – the commission did not agree on the decision

50. YuRom Center – Politika – Mediation – published new text

51. Dimitrije Vojnov – Večernje novosti – Code violated – paper did not announce the decision

52. Dušica Kostić – Alo – the applicant withdrew the appeal

53. Dušica Kostic – Vecernje novosti – The commission did not agree on the decision

54. Dušica Kostic – Kurir – the commission did not agree on the decision

55. Dušica Kostic – Srpski telegraf – Commission did not agree on the decision

56. Zoran Ivošević – Informer – Code violated – public warning

57. UG Egal – Kruševac.info – Code violated – public warning

58. Branko Žujović – Kurir- complaint resolved by mediation – apology published

59. Sole Azur – Srpski telegraf – Code violated – public warning

60. Expres – Informer – rejected complaint – subject text not submitted

61. Ivona Stojanović – Teleprompter – Code violated – public warning

62. Ivona Stojanović – Informer – Code violated – public warning

63. Predrag Azdejković – Srpski telegraf – Code violated – public warning

64. Predrag Azdejković – Srpski telegraf – Commission did not agree on the decision

65. Petar Jeremić – Informer – Code violated – public warning

66. Petar Jeremic – Alo – Code violated – paper did not announce the decision

67. Petar Jeremic – Srpski telegraf – Code violated – public warning

68. Petar Jeremic – Kurir – Code violated

69. JP Kikinda – Blic – dismissed complaint – unclear complaint

70. Gay lesbian info center – Pravoslavlje – rejected appeal – the applicant was not personally damaged

71. Bosko Lomovic – Glas zapadne Srbije – resolved by mediation – correction published

72. Zorana Mihajlovic – Kurir – Code violated, the paper did not announce the decision

73. Ljupko Mišljenović – Večernje novosti – rejected appeal – the applicant was not personally damaged

74. JP Kikinda – Blic – Code violated

75. Petar Jeremic – Kurir – Code violated – the paper did not announce the decision

76. Petar Jeremić – Alo – Code violated – the paper did not announce the decision

77. Tamara Skrozza – Blic – Code violated – the paper did not announce the decision

78. Tamara Skrozza – Informer – Code violated – paper did not announce the decision

79. House of Human Rights and Democracy – Kurir – Code violated

80. House of Human Rights and Democracy – Blic – Code violated, the paper did not announce the decision

81. House of Human Rights and Democracy – Informer – Code violated – public warning

82. The House of Human First and Democracy – Tanjug – has not violated the Code

83. City radio – Gradski portal 018 – Code violated – public warning

84. Milka Radovanović – Alo – rejected appeal – the applicant was not personally damaged

85. Danica Maksimovic – Kurir – Code violated

86. Gay lesbian info center – Telegraf.rs – Code violated – portal did not announce the decision

87. Gay lesbian info center – Vestionline – rejected appeal – the media is not under the authority of the Council

88. Marko Dragoslavić – Srpski telegraf – rejected appeal – the applicant was not personally damaged

89. Petar Jeremic – Alo – Settled by Mediation – apology published

90. Glas zapadne Srbije – Ozonpress, Čačanska novine – the commission did not agree on the decision

91. Glas zapadne Srbije – Ozonpress – the commission did not agree on the decision

92. Olivera Viktorović – Alo – Code violated

93. Tourist organization Boljevac – Glas zapadne Srbije – the applicant has given up his appeal

94. ZZ Klas – RTV Pančevo – rejected appeal – the media is not under the authority of the Council

95. Ljuban Kovačević – Kurir – The consent of the person to whom the text relates was not provided

96. Network Women Against Violence – Pecat – Code violation – Public Warning

97. Gay lesbian info center – B92.net – Code violation – public warning

98. Tomislav Krsmanović – several media outlets – rejected appeal – does not apply to concrete content

99. Dragoljub Zindović – Glas zapadne Srbije – the commission did not agree on the decision

100. Dragoljub Zindović – Glas zapadne Srbije – the commission did not agree on the decision

101 Gay lesbian info center – Espresso – appeal mediated – text removed

102 Gay lesbian info center – Pančevac – has not violated the Code

103 Autonomous Women’s Center – Evening News – rejected appeal – no consent of the person to whom the text applies

104.Glas zapadne Srbije – Ozonpress – the commission did not agree on the decision

105.Gay lesbian info center – Kurir – appeal mediated – text removed

106.League of Social Democrats of Vojvodina, Nenad Canak – Kurir – Code violated

107.The League of Social Democrats of Vojvodina Nenad Canak – Informer – has not violated the Code

108.The League of Social Democrats of Vojvodina, Nenad Canak – Alo – has not violated the Code

109.Gay lesbian info center – Srpski telegraf – Code violated – public warning

110.Regional Center for Minorities – Kurir – resolved by mediation – apology published

111.Nataša Mijušković – Informer – Code violated – public warning

112.Nataša Mijušković – Informer – Code violated – public warning

113.Nataša Mijušković – Informer – Code violated – public warning

114.Adria Media Group – Srpski telegraf – Commission did not agree on the decision

115.Tamara Skrozza – Kurir- solved by mediation – apology published

116.Network of children’s organizations – Kurir – rejected appeal – no consent of the persons to whom the text refers

117.Network of children’s organizations – Blic – rejected appeal – no consent of the persons to whom the text refers

118.Network of children’s organizations – Vecernje novosti – rejected appeal – no consent of the persons to whom the appeal relates

119.Leonid Ristev – Kurir – rejected appeal – the applicant was not personally damaged

120.Gay lesbian info center – Politika – Mediation – comments removed (January 2017)

121.Mikica Ilić – Sremskomitrovački portal – rejected appeal – Applicant sent to the UNS Court of Honor

122.Danilović Family Invest – Kurir – mediation – new text published

123.Autonomous Women’s Center – Alo – Code violated (January 2017) – paper did not announce the decision

124.Autonomous Women’s Center – Informer – Code violated – public warning (January 2017)

125.Center for Social Work Trstenik – Kurir – resolved by mediation – denial published

126.Južne vesti – Kraljevo online – Code violated – public warning (January 2017)

OTHER ACTIVITIES

The new Statute of the Council and the Rules of Procedure of the Complaints Commission have been adopted

The Managing Board of the Press Council adopted the new Statute and Rules of Procedure of the Appeals Commission.
These amendments, among other things, enable the members of the Commission to file complaints against media that, in their opinion, violated the Code. This opportunity was used by Commission members 11 times during 2016, and complaints were submitted as a result of the monitoring of the daily newspapers.

Also, changes in the rules of the Commission’s work, and the voting system was changed, so that eight out of 11 members are required to reach a decision, but without the requirement that at least one representative of each of the founders must vote for the decision. The same rule was abolished in the managing Board, which effectively abolished the possibility of veto.

In addition, it is envisaged that the Council will regularly send statements and periodically inform the public about which media did not publish the decisions of the Complaints Commission.

During 2016, the full authority of the Press Council was accepted by nine online media: GM info, Cenzolovka, CINS, Mingl, Istinomer, Javno.rs (BIRN), Jugmedia, Forum.info and Mediareform.

Monitoring of daily newspapers
With the financial support of the OSCE Mission to Serbia, from March 1 to December 31 this year, monitoring of violation of the Serbian Journalist’s Code of Ethics was conducted for eight daily newspapers with national coverage. The results showed that eight daily newspapers violated the Code 5,477 times, an increase of 49% compared to the same period in 2015. Most violations (1320) had “Srpski telegraf”, “Informer” (1,208), “Kurir” (1,100), “Alo” (810), “Blic” (604). Significantly minor offenses were found in “Vecernje novosti” and the daily “Danas” (94), and the least “Politika” (56). This year, the rule of respect for the presumption of innocence was most violated, but the drastic increase was the practice of present speculations and assumptions as irrefutable facts, especially in the texts of crime sections. It also recorded the number of violations of the right to privacy and unauthorized commercial advertising presented in journalistic form. Monitoring will continue in 2017.

Creation of Guidelines for implementation of the Journalist’s Code of Ethics for the online environment

The Press Council has developed a set of guidelines for the application of the Journalist’s Code of Ethics

for online media. The project was supported by the Ministry of Culture and Information and UNESCO, and several events were organized: an initial meeting with media editors that identified the problems that need to be solved with these guidelines and formation of a working group. The eight-member working group worked for three months, then the text was presented at a new meeting with editors and journalists, after which t a one month public hearing was held. Following the adoption of the final version of the text, training was organized on the application of the guidelines for the members of the Complaints Commission, as well as two seminars for journalists, one in cooperation with the Association of online media.

Advertising campaign

With the financial support of the Open Society Foundations, an online campaign for the promotion of the Press Council was realized. The campaign was directed in two directions – through the Council’s advertising banners in online media and online editions of traditional media, members of the Press Council, and through advertising of the Council’s activities on social networks. Particularly successful was advertising on Facebook, because after that, even 20 percent of visits to the Press Council website were registered through this social network.

International activities

Members of the Press Council Complaints Commission participated as part of the celebration of the International Press Freedom Day on 2 May in Helsinki, in a panel discussion on the challenges of self-regulation and on-the-spot journalism. The event was organized by UNESCO and the Press Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Members of the Commission also participated in the regional meetings in Skopje and Konjic in May and June 2016, as well as at a joint meeting of the networks of self-regulatory bodies of southwestern Europe and the Caucasus countries in Georgia at the end of June. The Secretary General took part at the annual AIPCE meeting held in Stockholm in early October.