Respecting the Journalistic Code in Reporting: A Case Study of EuroPride

Abstract

The Code of Journalists of Serbia prescribes the appropriate manner that is necessary to report on particularly sensitive social groups, while respecting ethical principles and professional norms (Article V, paragraph 4). Relying on the Code, the aim of this paper is to answer the research questions dealing with the way daily newspapers in Serbia report on EuroPride 2022 and the differences in reporting on sensitive social groups in relation to the quality of newspapers (serious daily, semi-tabloid and tabloid). A total of 23 texts were analyzed, the subject of which was EuroPride, published in the daily newspapers Danas, Večernje novosti and Informer during the manifestation, from September 12 to 18, 2022. The results of the analysis showed that the newspapers Danas and Večernje novosti adhered to the Code of ethics, while Informer violated the Code of Journalists in 100% of published articles (N = 4) and reported discriminatorily about the LGBT+ community.