How dozens of female journalists in Serbia are building a network of solidarity and highlighting inappropriate reporting.

The Group of Female Journalists Against Violence towards Women has been bringing together dozens of journalists from Serbia since 2017, providing mutual support in the demanding and often emotionally exhausting conditions of journalistic work.

Through the development of guidelines for ethical reporting on violence, media monitoring of coverage related to violence against women, and professional training, the group has been functioning for nine years as a space for learning, solidarity, and a collective response to harmful media practices. It also regularly points out systemic shortcomings in the media and institutions—shortcomings that directly affect public understanding of gender-based violence.

Jovana Gligorijević, a journalist for the weekly Vreme, is one of the founders of the group. She explains that the initiative emerged from a collaboration between the Serbian non-profit organization Fond B92 and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

“Fond B92 has been conducting training for journalists for years, but the quality of reporting has not improved. This showed that the problem was not only with journalists but also with editorial policies, the market, and the race for clicks. Together with UNDP, they decided to connect those of us who were already committed to ethical reporting on gender-based violence. They first invited the three of us. Today we joke that it grew like multi-level marketing—each of us brought in three more female journalists, and eventually, women began to join on their own,” she recalls.

The Network includes freelancers and those working in newsrooms. In practice, it is almost impossible to focus exclusively on one topic, such as violence against women, as journalists also report on politics, social unrest, and other breaking news—often simultaneously and under pressure. Jovana says this creates a constant emotional and professional strain.

“We share the fate of journalists in Serbia. None of us reports solely on gender-based violence; we also report on politics and social issues. At one moment, you are speaking with a woman who has survived sexual or domestic violence, and shortly after, you are at a protest or analyzing political statements. Then you go home and try to function normally. When reporting on gender-based violence, there is always a legal risk if something is reported incorrectly or if the presumption of innocence is violated. Even when careful, journalists often face defamation lawsuits, which are financially and emotionally draining,” she says.

She adds that one of the most challenging systemic issues is institutional silence.

“The worst is when a story is published, the public reacts, demands action, and institutions do nothing. That silence is the hardest thing to deal with,” she says.

 How the Group Functions

The group operates on principles of equality and solidarity, without formal hierarchy.

“There are about 100 women on the mailing list. When something happens, one email is sent, usually with the text: 'I think we should react.' Within minutes, ten of them respond with ready-made strategy proposals for the specific case. And sometimes a miracle happens, and the media removes problematic content, better protects someone’s identity, or replaces a horrifying photo,” explains Jovana.

This collective approach is not limited to quick reactions. It also shapes the annual monitoring and analysis of media reporting on violence against women conducted by the group. The latest analysis, published in 2024, showed that Serbian media rarely address violence against women unless there is a specific event that triggers it.

“About three-quarters of media reporting relates to individual cases of violence. This shows that violence against women is rarely treated as a broader social problem. Editorial priorities and insufficient knowledge on how to contextualize gender-based violence contribute to this,” the analysis states.

Jovana explains that the analysis process itself is also a learning experience.

“All media content related to gender-based violence in Serbia is collected and analyzed. UNDP sends us media clips, and each journalist works on a specific period. Those doing this for the first time are supported by more experienced colleagues. It can be emotionally intense—you go through anger, frustration, even nightmares. The coding sheets include space for qualitative notes, which later become the basis for identifying the best and worst examples of reporting,” she says.

When problematic reporting is identified, the group contacts the editorial office and offers training. According to Jovana, no media outlet has declined. “When we identify good practice, we also reach out and invite colleagues to join us and share experiences,” she adds.

Journalist Mirna Laković, who has participated in several analyses, says that the work has revealed the extent of the media's responsibility.

“Working on analyses of reporting on violence against women, as well as on gun violence in the context of gender-based violence and mass shootings at the school in Belgrade, as well as in Mali Orašje and Dubona, has clearly shown how much power media workers have—and how often it is used irresponsibly. Journalism directly shapes how society perceives victims and survivors,” she says.

From Critique to Concrete Solutions

In addition to analysis, the group develops practical tools. It has created guidelines for ethical reporting on violence against women and a photo database designed to replace harmful visual tropes in media reporting.

Jovana says the guidelines are effective for two reasons.

“First, they were written by active female journalists who understand the realities of newsrooms. Second, they are based on research conducted with women who have survived violence, who were then asked to evaluate media content as empowering or harmful. They were also developed with experts providing psychological support and are based on principles of journalism that ethically addresses trauma,” she explains.

Visual representation is also an important part of reporting. Images such as bruises or crime scenes remain common in some Serbian media, but the group argues that they are harmful and re-traumatizing. As an alternative, they developed a photo database created by photographer Marija Janković with contributions from around twenty female photographers.

“Research has shown that stereotypical images, such as a clenched fist over a woman curled up in a corner, are deeply traumatizing. We wanted to find visual representations that empower. As far as we know, there are no similar initiatives worldwide. Media houses are increasingly using this database,” says Jovana.

Regional Model of Solidarity

Although based in Serbia, the group has developed regional connections with female journalists and activists across the Western Balkans. Inspired by this model, similar initiatives are emerging in the region.

“Our goal is to become a regional network, but that requires significant resources,” Jovana says.

She adds that solidarity among journalists is particularly important in contexts of political and social instability.

“The group provides support that newsrooms often cannot. When I was working on the hardest story of my career, my editors supported me professionally, but only colleagues who do the same kind of work truly understood what that meant. When journalists receive threats, which is common in Serbia, we are there for each other,” she says.

Due to increasing pressure and the complexity of cases journalists are now facing, the group is broadening its focus.

“We are increasingly being asked for advice on reporting not only on gender-based violence but also on mass shootings, disappearances, and tragedies related to corruption, as well as on other situations that reflect the crisis in Serbia. That is why we are moving towards a broader focus on journalism that ethically addresses trauma,” concludes Jovana Gligorijević.

Text reproduced from the portal Lazy Women.

Author: Milica Mihajlović

Translation: ANEM with the help of AI