Analysis of the Application of the New Code of Journalists of Serbia through the Practice of the Appeals Commission

The analysis, among other things, shows that the Press Council received an unusually high number of complaints in 2025 – one hundred percent more compared to the previous year, and that two-thirds of the total number of complaints related to the reporting on the actors of student and civic protests, which began in November 2024, following the demolition of the canopy at the Novi Sad railway station.

During the decision-making process regarding the complaints, serious debates, which remained unresolved to the end, were held at the Commission meetings about doubts regarding the subordination of the public interest to other interests and about biased reporting through the lens of only one or only some of the event's actors.

The authors of this analysis, Tamara Skrozza, Vera Didanović, and Gordana Novaković, also point to new trends in the media, such as the simultaneous publication of identical content in multiple media outlets, which often lack informational value and serve to discredit certain individuals.

In addition to analyzing the issues, the document also offers recommendations for improving journalistic practice, highlights the need for greater accountability to the public, respect for the dignity of interlocutors, and a clear separation of facts from commentary.

The aim of the publication is to assist journalists and editors in the application of the Code, as well as to encourage broader professional discussion on standards and accountability in the contemporary media environment.

You can view the analysis HERE.