News
WOMEN AND NATIONAL MINORITIES STILL THE MOST FREQUENT TARGETS OF HATE SPEECH – Results of media monitoring in the Western Balkans
Reporting Diversity Conference 15-16 February 2024 Podgorica, Montenegro Reporting Diversity Network organised a two-day conference on hateful and harmful narratives in the Western Balkans where the Network presented preliminary results of the media monitoring reports, which will be published in March. The conference brought together over 40 media experts, activists, civil society representatives from …
STRENGHTENING MEDIA CAMPAIGNING AND ADVOCACY SKILLS: Reporting Diversity Advanced Training
Podgorica, Montenegro; 13-16 February 2024 Reporting Diversity Network organised a three-day Reporting Diversity training for CSOs, grassroots activists, and human rights defenders in Podgorica, Montenegro. The training took place between 13-16 February 2024 and gathered 34 participants from across the Western Balkans. The participants gained skills that will help them recognise hate speech and divisive …
A HUMAN TRAFFICKING CASE IN ALBANIA: Media must do better
NOTE: TV Klan was initially selected as Troll of the Month, but after additional internal consultations, the RDN team has recognised the following: The coverage of TV Klan, even though still sensationalistic, misleading and unprofessional in the headline and deserves to be treated as harmful speech, does not meet the criteria for the Troll of …
COMMENTS THAT LEAVE A MARK
ONLINE ABUSE IS JUST AS SERIOUS AS OFFLINE ABUSE. In September 2022, MP Daorsa Kica Xhelili announced that she was leaving Lista Guxo for the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK). Kica Xhelili initially was a member of Vetëvendosje (VV), and was elected to the Assembly of Kosovo in the 2021 general election. Her election was …
VIOLENCE IS NOT A MEDIA SPECTACLE
K2.0’S EDITORIAL STANCE REGARDING RECENT MEDIA COVERAGE. On January 20, it was reported that 18-year-old Lulzim Fejzullahu died at the University Clinical Center of Kosovo from injuries he received after two boys hit him with a car and then brutally beat him. When covering this event, some Kosovar media outlets were quick to reveal details …
Troll of the Year 2023: Glorification of War Criminals
The Balkan Troll of the Month is an individual, a group of individuals or a media outlet that spreads hate based on gender, ethnicity, religion, or other diversity categories. The Balkan Troll is selected based on hate speech incidents identified across the Western Balkans region. The Balkan Troll of the Month is selected on a monthly …
Monthly Highlights December: disinformation, sexism and anti-LGBTQI+ rhetoric
Throughout December, the RDN monitoring team has detected a range of hateful narratives and discourse. This month, we have seen hatred based on gender, religion, and sexual orientation, as well as the spread of discrediting campaigns against political opponents. Sexism in Montenegro and Albania Five Montenegrin female journalists, Danica Nikolic, Tamara Nikcevic, Bojana Dabovic, Mirka …
SOCIAL MEDIA UNDER THE LENS OF FACT-CHECKERS
FACT CHECKERS’ FIGHT TO COMBAT DISINFORMATION. “Even Vlora Çitaku has a Serbian passport!” “Mega scandal, Srpska Lista leader Goran Rakić has an intimate meeting on a yacht,” “Business loans up to 50,000 euros.” These are just a few examples of the disinformation shared on Facebook this year. Disinformation published in the media spreads false information about …
REPORTING DIVERSITY Advanced Training: Call for Participants
WHEN: 13-16 February 2024 WHERE: Podgorica, Montenegro Reporting Diversity Network – The New Agenda is inviting CSOs, grassroots activists, human rights defenders to attend the Reporting Diversity training of trainers. The training will take place in Podgorica, between 13-16 February 2024 and will gather 30 participants from across the Western Balkans. The participants will gain …