Concerning Rise in Violations of the Journalists’ Code of Ethics

Daily newspapers in Serbia committed 30 percent more violations of the Journalists’ Code of Ethics in July than in the same month last year, according to the results of the July daily press monitoring.

In the first month of the regular six-month monitoring, which the Press Council has been conducting for 10 years, nine daily newspapers (Politika, Novosti, Danas, Blic, Nova, Alo, Kurir, Informer, and Srpski telegraf) violated the ethical code a total of 1,361 times. In the same period in 2024, the same newspapers recorded 959 violations.

The largest number of breaches of the Code, incomparably more than last year, relate to the first point of the first chapter of the Code – Truthfulness of Reporting.

The Press Council reminds all journalists and editors of the importance of adhering to the professional and ethical standards of journalism and points out the dangers of media content that is contrary to the basic principles set out in the Journalists’ Code of Ethics. Inaccurate and unprofessional reporting can lead to further escalation of tensions, the spread of hate speech and aggressive behavior, as well as the violation of the dignity and privacy of the people being written about – which is especially dangerous in times of social crisis.

Belgrade, 12 August 2025
                                                                                             Press Council