Diversity Through the Prism of Newsrooms: an Insight Into the News Production Process

DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS: AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS

res DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS: res AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS

Publishers: School of Journalism and Public Relations and the Institute for Communication Studies Jurij Gagarin 17/1-1 1000 Skopje, Macedonia www.vs.edu.mk www.iks.edu.mk

For the publishers: Zaneta Trajkoska, MA Editor: Ljubomir Jakimovski, PhD Translation: Sami Bushi Design: Ljuben Dimanovski

This publication is supported by a grant by Open Society Foindations. DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS

Contents

FOREWORD ...... 7

DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS: AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS Zaneta Trajkoska and Snezana Trpevska ...... 9

MEDIA REPRESENTATION AND INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION Ljubomir Jakimovski ...... 15

EUROPEAN STANDARDS, LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND ETHICAL PRINCIPLES FOR DIVERSITY REPORTING Snezana Trpevska ...... 33

REPORTING ON DELICATE ETHNIC ISSUES Sefer Tahiri ...... 45

CONTEXT AND FACTORS OF INFLUENCE IN MEDIA REPORTING IN MACEDONIA Snezana Trpevska ...... 55

ORGANIZATIONAL PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES IN THE PROCESS OF NEWS PRODUCTION Elena Petreska ...... 69

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SOCIAL NETWORKS AND DIVERSITY Eleonora Seraﬁ movska ...... 83

NOTE FOR THE PUBLISHERS ...... 103

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6 DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS

Foreword

esearch ac vi es of the high educa on ins tu ons have a crucial Rrole in the economic and social development in socie es based on knowledge. The School of Journalism and Public Rela ons since its forma on is commi ed to a concept of a high educa on that relates study ac vi es to research and to building new knowledge. Having this objec ve, the School of Journalism and Public Rela ons decisided to establish the Ins tute for Commu- nica on Studies in May 2012, whose basic ac vity is a development of basic and applied research in the area of journalism, media and communica on. With this publica on, the School and the Ins tute for Communica on Studies begin the joint research edi on Res Public, within which the results of diff erent research projects will be published. The research published in this study was conducted as part of the ac vi es of the UNESCO Chair on Media, Dialogue and Mutual Understanding, established at the School of Journalism and Public Rela ons in June 2011. This research is part of a wider project implemented with the technical support of the UNESCO Offi ce in Venice, within the Joint United Na ons Program on “Enhancing Inter-Ethnic Dialogue and Collabora on”. This program was implemented by UNDP, UNICEF and UNESCO with the fi nancial support of the Government of Spain, through the Millenium Development Goals Achievement Fund (MDG-F). As part of this project the web pla orm www.respublic.edu.mk was developed, where educa onal content on the standards of professional diversity repor ng is being published, as well as research results, debates and other informa on for the media and their role in promo ng dialogue, understanding, tolerance and co-existence of diff erent communi es in the Macedonian society. The prin ng of this study was made possible with the fi nancial support from the Open Society Founda on, London.

7 DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS

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8 DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS

DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS: AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS

Zaneta Trajkoska and Snezana Trpevska1

The School of Journalism and Public Rela ons started a Project in February 2011 whose objec ve is to qualita vely improve the professional standards in the media reporting on diversity and to enhance media role in the improvement of inter-ethnic and intercultural dialogue and coopera on of the diff erent communi es and groups in Macedonia. Macedonian media found it self in a deep professional and ethical crisis in the last couple of years. The infl uence of Government, poli cs, adver sers or the owners led to a situa on in which the professional standards and ethical journalism have become forgo en and outdated concepts which no one believes inor calls upon. This condi on also had a nega veimpact on the role of the media in promo on of social cohesion and dialogue among diff erent communi es - there are various examples of reckless or inte- na onal repor ng that encourages stereotypes, prejudices, divisions and intolerance. Journalists need support, help and encouragement to resist all kinds of pressures that tend to convert or retain them to service one’s poli cal or economic interests. Jour- nalists do not work in isola on, they are part of newsrooms and media, which are o en complex organiza onal structures and without whose support it is impossible to enforce professional and ethical standards. Many journalists that refuse to be part of someone’s poli cal agenda or to serve someone’s economic interests cannot stand alone against without the support of the newsroom, editors and colleagues and especially without the support of the wider journalis c community.

1 Zaneta Trajkoska has an MA degree in interna onal management of cultural policies, Director of the School of Journalism and Public Rela ons. Areas of interest: media and cultural diversity, cultural policies, strategic communica ons. Snezana Trpevska has a PhD in Sociological Sciences. She is a docent at the School of Journalism and Public Rela ons. Areas of interest: media policy and regula on, media and human rights, methodology of social and communica on research. 9 DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS

The School of Journalism and Public Rela ons aims at helping all media outlets res and the journalists who s ll believe and try to preserve ethical and professional principles and values. The Project consists of establishing an online educa onal resource (www.respublic.edu.mk), which will have mul ple objec ves: • To help media in repor ng on issues related to diversity in the Macedonian society, by publishing various documents and standards interna onally and na onally; • To eneble the establishment of links between media outlets from Macedonia with regional, European or global organiza ons which have similar mechanisms and ini a ves; • To encourage interest and par cipa on of ci zens in the crea on of media content related to diversity, cohesion and dialogue; • To establish links with exis ng ini a ves at local and na onal level that aim to improve dialogue and collabora on among communi es; • To ini ate research on topics related to diversity repor ng • To work on awareness rising on the importance of diversity in the Macedonian society.

This research is conducted as part of the ﬁ rst (preparatory) phase for establishment of an online – educa onal resource and its primary objec ve is to iden fy the problem- a c issues in the newsrooms, as well as the a tudes and percep ons of editors, journalists and part of the owners on topics related to diversity repor ng.

1. The need for research on diversity reporting

Republic of Macedonia is a democra c mul cultural society. The actual posi ve emana ons of its ethnic, religious, cultural and linguis c diversity are in many ways a unique feature in the region of Southeast Europe and beyond. The basic research challenge of this study is the dilemma whether the Macedonian people as a majority and the other communi es that live in Macedonia perceive this feature, both in the past and today, as a threat to society’s integra on or as a common – and new regional and European – value. The way in which diff erent communi es and groups are represented in the media, the opportuni es and channels they have at their grasp to express their opinions and at- tudes through the media content and be part of the media newsrooms is of enormous signifi cance for the development of mutual understanding, coexistence, coopera on, tolerance and for the overall development of the Macedonian society. Diversity in this society is all-encompassing : young and elderly, people of diff erent economic and social status, employed and unemployed and socially marginalized, people of diff erent religions or beliefs, individuals with diff erent sexual orienta on or gender iden ty, people of diff erent na onal, ethnic or racial origin. All of them expect and deserve to be represented and presented in a fair and sensi ve manner in the social, poli cal and cultural life and through all forms of its media refl ec on. In the European media policy, the issue of media pluralism and content diversity is emphasized as a central aspect in the exercise of the right to receive informa on and

10 DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS: AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS for for ces, onal c and on on on and 11 the ng to vely vely pro- ons in the ect cultural cultural ect es. fl ve prac ve tudes, prac- on, play a cen- on, play on_society/media_task- fy the media that phenomena and ve ciently represented represented ciently ons, a ffi . 2 posi empt to is as if there ons , as well as as well tudes and beliefs, erent cultural, linguis cultural, erent mulate internal mechanisms internal mulate erent social groups and cul- social groups erent ff ff posi ng the most es. The cultural pluralism and pluralism The cultural es. which media are to fy the level p://ec.europa.eu/informa ng, and reac monitoring : h на AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS PRODUCTION NEWS THE INTO INSIGHT AN

cle 10 of the European Conven 10 of the European cle mula ce and experience aims to help establish help establish aims to ce and experience ng about di достапна ng and nourishing cultural diversity in the diversity ng and nourishing cultural onal minori ected when di ected ff ec erent dimensions, one of which is to provide provide to one of which is dimensions, erent fl ff erent ethnic groups and to ‘mark’ them on that ‘mark’ them on that and to groups ethnic erent ff organiza in the media ve prac ve ff fy the manner in which the media covered two latest latest two fy the manner in which the media covered ves that were (or are) an a (or are) were that ves c and na c a ves are as follows: (1) to provide an overview of the re- provide (1) to as follows: are ves of a uence the development fl ng, as well as what are their percep are ng, as what as well cultural sta cultural onally encourage stereotypes, intolerance, bad or hate speech, bad or hate intolerance, stereotypes, onally encourage s mechanism for cient ffi was and a half in Macedonia, in which there decade ed in the last fi uence does not always happen in the desired or expected fashion. fashion. or expected desired happen in the not always uence does

fl in the media. This dimension is related to the fair presenta the fair to is related This dimension in the media. the minority groups for aimed t media outlets fi ons for the other social and cultural groups and communi groups the other social and cultural ons for ve and passive approach) of the various cultural and social groups in the groups and social cultural of the various approach) and passive ve vity for the inter-ethnic, intercultural and inter-religious rela and inter-religious intercultural the inter-ethnic, vity for vely reported about the di reported vely and an e ve on as well as the risks for the cultural pluralism are drawn from a study commissioned by the European Commission „Indicators by the European commissioned a study from drawn are pluralism the cultural for as the risks well on as iden ng were ni fi Rather, the goal is to discover, to understand and to s and to understand to discover, is to the goal Rather, It is important to point out that this research does not aim to iden does not aim to this research out that point to It is important The basic research objec The basic research 2. Research objectives and research questions 2. Research Cultural pluralism is also under risk if the media sector itself does not re is also under risk if the media sector pluralism Cultural However, this in However, The mass media, especially those that publish news and informa publish news those that The mass media, especially iden (3) to ces and experiences; an innova most nega most media. and irresponsible unprofessional basis as ethically and the speech of diversity the cultural reproduce help to can that in the newsrooms by indica the media content, and through into tolerance This posi and experiences. examples mote cultural diversity in the media. diversity cultural mote events with an emphasize on inter-etnic/inter-religious/intercultural dimension; and (4) dimension; on inter-etnic/inter-religious/intercultural with an emphasize events ini the concrete summarize to tures that live in the Republic of Macedonia; (2) to iden of Macedonia; (2) to in the Republic live that tures repor of diversity informed search and texts published on media repor and texts search society. society. a lack of sensi social groups would not have access to the media or would be insu the media or would access to not have would social groups in the coverage. of mul in terms diversity a lack of non-pro processes, may uninten may processes, or inten of negligent number of examples them. A large against than argue rather repor diversity in the media sphere would be a would in the media sphere diversity The manner in which the media outlets represent and provide voice/visibility of various of various voice/visibility and provide represent The manner in which the media outlets the nega or frame focus i.e. the manner in which they social actors, Macedonian society. They in They Macedonian society. percep people’s Human Rights. Media pluralism has di Media pluralism Human Rights. cultural pluralism media, including ethnic, linguis media, including ethnic, expression (ac expression tral role, especially when it comes to re to especially when it comes role, tral the freedom of expression, guaranteed by Ar guaranteed of expression, the freedom Media Pluralism in the Member States – Towards a Risk-Based Approach“, Approach“, a Risk-Based – Towards in the Member States Media Pluralism force/pluralism/study/index_en.htm force/pluralism/study/index_en.htm 2 The de DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS

media repor ng related to diversity and intercultural issues in the Macedonian society, res which is part of the Project supported by the UNESCO Oﬃ ce in Venice within the Joint UN Programme for enhancing inter-ethnic community dialogue and collabora on.

In order to reach the objec ves iden ﬁ ed, the research was designed to answer the following research ques ons: 1. What research data are available on the representa on of ethnic and cultural diversity in the media, or on the way the media in Macedonia report about various social groups? 2. In what way do previous research and published papers describe or explain the situa on with respect to diversity repor ng? 3. What is the level to which news rooms are informed about diversity repor ng - what are their percep ons and a tudes? 4. What is the prac ce and experience of newsrooms (of editors and journalists) in terms of diversity repor ng? 5. In what way the media included in the analysis covered two recent events that may have a major impact on intercultural, inter-religious or inter-ethnic rela- ons in the country? 6. What ini a ves have been launched in the media sector aimed at accomplish- ing posi ve inﬂ uence to the cultural diversity in the media? 7. What kind of regulatory framework exists on interna onal and na onal level and what are the basic professional and ethical standards for diversity repor ng?

3. Methodological framework

The research will largely rely on analysis of reports, publica ons, documents, as well as analysis of secondary data from previously conducted research on the media coverage of diff erent groups and communi es. With an objec ve to collect primary data, 28 qualita ve (semi-structured) interviews were conducted with editors and journalists, in order to iden fy their a tudes, percep- ons and beliefs about the current state of the journalis c profession and the internal prac ces and experiences in the newsrooms in terms of diversity repor ng. The star ng point is the approach that explores the process of news produc on, as a process that consists of a number of phases, procedures, rou nes and prac ces and organiza onal or ownership and corporate restric ons that aff ect the contents and the form of presenta on of ar cles/news items in the press, television and radio programs. The journalis c rou nes and techniques of data collec on, selec on and edi ng determine the contents and the angle of view in the news, hence the picture of the “others” produced in them. The approach in the news produc on starts from the assump on that the selec on and presenta on of the topics, actors and events are limited by several factors: values of the news; scenarios for the news and the genres; ownership, control and poli cal affi lia on; origin, socializa on and ethnic background of the journalist, the diff erent approach (of the sources of informa on and the actors in the news); the rela- ons between the press and poli cs and editorial policy, including the rela ons between

12 DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS: AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS , the l the 13 cal cal sam- theory professional journal- professional ve interviews is deter- interviews ve when a new empiri- l the moment journalists Some of the c) analysis. ons referred to the extent to which to extent the to referred ons AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS PRODUCTION NEWS THE INTO INSIGHT AN ng. on of the so-called theore on of the so-called ons were made from them, they where where they them, made from ons were or un on ve (thema ve ng, when the researcher realizes that the terms and the terms that realizes ng, when the researcher cal satura cal ng data. At the start of the study at least 20 interviews were were 20 interviews least at of the study the start At ng data. theore related to diversity repor diversity to related ned, i.e. an empirical theory on the research problem is developed, is developed, problem research theory on the i.e. an empirical ned, ﬁ At the start of the study the minimum number of qualita of the study the start At The in-depth interviews entailed the applica entailed The in-depth interviews 4. Sampling Each interview was recorded and transcrip and recorded was interview Each rules and standards c cal theory is completed. completed. theory is cal mined, and during their conduc re are categories moment of the so-called of the so-called moment he decides to stop collec stop he decides to planned, and by the end a total of 28 were conducted. of 28 were planned, and by the end a total and editors that were interviewed asked to remain anonymous; hence their names were were hence their names anonymous; remain to asked interviewed were that and editors in the study. not released the grounded to According theory’. ‘the grounded pling, which arises from un documents) collects interviews, conducts (observes, data collects researcher then analyzed with the method of qualita with the method then analyzed journalists and editors are aware of, understand and implement the and implement understand of, aware are and editors journalists is journalists and editors. Some of the interview ques Some of the interview editors. and journalists DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS

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14 DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS

MEDIA REPRESENTATION AND INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION

Ljubomir Jakimovski3

1. Introduction

The fall of the Berlin wall, and thus the physical borders between the former Western and Eastern Europe, is probably the most signifi cant event in the XX century, as it provided a new poli cal, social and cultural energy of the integra on process at the con nent. With the joining of 10 new members in 2004 followed by Romania and Bul- garia, as well as with the new reforms aimed at establishing new “suprana onal bodies”, the European Union increasingly grows in the highest and most comprehensive integra- on process/model in history ever. However, the idea of a Europe without borders recently encounters barriers because of the “fa gue of enlargement”, which are further mul plied due to the fi nancial crisis in the south of the EU (Greece, Portugal, Spain, Italy plus Ireland) and the crisis of the Euro as one of the greatest achievements of the Union and its anchor and “amalgam”. On the other hand, the “Internet revolu ons” in 2011/12 from the Maghreb (Atlan- c) to Yemen (Indian Ocean) caused serious proposals for modifi ca on of the Schengen system as a preven on of the poten ally large number of new Muslim (Arab) immigrants in the EU countries. In early 2011, the former French president Nicolas Sarkozy fi rst, and then the Ger- man Chancellor Angela Merkel announced that the idea/model of mul culturalism in these countries experienced a failure. Several member states of the EU have adopted restric ve laws which banned some of the symbols (“burkas”) of the individual and the collec ve iden ty of the Muslim women.

3 Ljubomir Jakimovski has a PhD in poli cal sciences. He is a Professor at the Law Facutly and at the Ins tute for Sociological and Poli cal and Juridical Research in Skopje. Areas of interest: poli cal culture, media and communica ons and poli cal communica on. 15 DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS

How should these processes be understood in the context of the previous intensive res eﬀ orts for a construc on of the so-called unique and/or common European iden ty and what is the place of the “Western Balkan” countries, which in the poli cal and media discourse of the EU member states acquires a symbol status for recogni on of “otherness” that is not compa ble (or it needs a long me to achieve it) with that iden ty?

2. Intercultural communication and recognition of „otherness”

The visualiza ons of socie es or cultures about themselves or the world are embodied in specifi cally established symbols that help recognize or iden fy pictures, emblems, signs, etc. A par cular society or a culture understands or creates itself through symbols and these symbols at the same me shape themselves through the structure and ac vi es of that society or culture. The cultural history of the world evolved and it is s ll evolving in the context of symbols, which refl ect the socio-poli cal reality. At the same me these symbols enter this reality, in order to transform its confusing nature in an acceptable order. The recogni on and iden fi ca on of “otherness” is not only a construc on of meanings and categoriza on of people, their styles, every day prac ces and ways of organizing life, but also a unity in the search for a dynamic equilibrium. In this context, what are the reasons that in Macedonia everyday life con nues as if there is an existence of “parallel worlds”, when that par cular “otherness” is not only recognized but it is also cons tu onally and legally sanc oned as such, while being poli cally expressed through the language not only as a communica on tool, but as a complex symbolic system also that includes psychological, social and cultural dimensions and meanings? The distance between ethnic communi es or social groups that set boundaries or ways of dis nguishing from each other most o en does not depend on those groups themselves, but on the “signifi cant others” and, therefore, on the environment which is not immune to the established rela ons of domina on and distribu on of economic, poli cal and cultural, i.e. communica on power. Not only poli ans but journalists also fall into the category of “signifi cant other” – the one who infl uences the decision whether those rela ons will be harmonized, whether they will remain unchanged, whether the introduc on of new values is going to be inhibited or whether mental barriers (including fear) would be something that people cannot overcome. One way of breaking or at least minimizing mental barriers between communi es or groups is intercultural communica on and understanding, which allows public legi - miza on of interests. It leads to the establishment of an open dialogue, less burdened with prejudices and stereotypes – to the extent possible at least. This dialogue should certainly not be conceived only in terms of “understanding the other culture”, as o en defi ned in the theories of cultural management. It should primarily be understood as an a empt to understand the society in the ways it usies and assimilates meanings and the ethical (or religious) codes that its members encounter, as well as the parallel development of an emo onal empathy in that par cular culture. One should also keep in mind that in the process of intercultural communica on some cultural elements may be mediated, while others associated with the so-called

16 MEDIA REPRESENTATION AND INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION on ll in ed as ed fi 17 sfactory sfactory and the zens on, the num- on society is on society on and break- onal companies companies onal quali on are not only from zens onal unsa na plied, as the eminent or symbolic c rhetorical fi ed with the fact that so- that ed with the fact es or feel it is almost im- it is almost es or feel fi by the me- supported vely s cul ffi nkers”. on on Human Rights (ECHR: 16) in (ECHR: on on Human Rights AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS PRODUCTION NEWS THE INTO INSIGHT AN ons of the older ci on on Internet. cal inclusion, when the events at the Skopje the Skopje at inclusion, when the events cal on. misconcep- due to misunderstanding al or complete on arises on the most appropriate manner of applying manner of applying appropriate on arises on the most on, already face all the dangers of a new “electronic illit- of a new “electronic all the dangers face on, already on, but also from the ways of organizing the economy, the economy, of organizing the ways on, but also from onal media, eventhough there are many examples in the examples many are there onal media, eventhough onal media can create editorial agendas, produce content content produce agendas, editorial create onal media can erent purchasing ability for possession and use of all infor- ability for purchasing erent ff nguish itself in excellence with sentences that would sanc would that with sentences nguish itself in excellence on the market. tools and/or on products ve or judicial proceedings. Namely, the Macedonian judicial sys- Namely, or judicial proceedings. ve on, such as the Macedonian, besides tradi on, cle 10 of the European Conven cle 10 of the European ac being elites, and academic cultural cal, on almost always takes place under the pressure of unequal distribu- place under the pressure takes always on almost on of the reality if the “other”. the “other”. if on of the reality on because of lack of knowledge, i.e. misunderstanding of the context of a of the context i.e. misunderstanding of lack of knowledge, on because es in transi es cial” one. cial” ffi ve, administra ve, popula of the onal level c propor c fi rm that new social networks can be also abused for an uncontrolled spreading of spreading an uncontrolled be also abused for can new social networks rm that On the other hand, a ques Things get even more complicated given that all types of elimina that given complicated more even Things get In what way then tradi way In what Nevertheless, the example of the Skopje Kale, in some further deeper analyses, will in some further deeper analyses, Kale, of the Skopje the example Nevertheless, The number is growing of those who believe that it is good for the ci for it is good that believe of those who The number is growing Socie Furthermore, as a surrogate of weakness, vulnerability to manipula to vulnerability of weakness, as a surrogate Furthermore, On the other hand, the number of those who are dissa who are On the other hand, the number of those In this sense, the individual or social groups meet di meet or social groups In this sense, the individual These examples may cause par cause may These examples Communica on and communica fi on of material goods and power, which in the contemporary informa which in the contemporary and power, goods on of material ons about the meaning of an expression, just as it can cause a complete stands a complete cause as it can just meaning of an expression, ons about the hate speech from the tradi speech from hate tem is cannot exactly dis exactly is cannot tem preven Fortress (Kale) proved that the new electronic networks may mobilize people by spread- mobilize may networks the new electronic that proved (Kale) Fortress speech? ing hate 2 of Ar paragraph that (will) lead to a cultural, social and poli a cultural, (will) lead to that work, social forms of life and educa of life social forms work, the processes of communica the processes of communica freedom on the intrusion a state democracy that an “autonomous” public sphere in cyberspace is established as opposed is established in cyberspace public sphere an “autonomous” that democracy the “o to con educa por large excludes and which marginalizes eracy”, down of the senses and/or ability of the individual to self (responsible) ac self (responsible) ability of the individual to down of the senses and/or mul and other abusers “analysts” “experts”, ber of self-proclaimed them “fast- once named Bourdieu P. sociologist French hate speech, to basically promote organizing a crowd and not groups of self-conscious, of self-conscious, and not groups a crowd organizing promote basically speech, to hate they even impose upon us the so called “Coca Cola culture “ increases. Cola culture “Coca so called impose upon us the even they ma in Strasbourg. Court of Human Rights of the European law case communica the di through manifested speci poli cioeconomic, culture of the everyday life (behavior, diet ...) humour and speci ...) humour diet (behavior, life the everyday of culture dia, abuse the public sphere in a way that through the powerful mul the powerful through that in a way dia, abuse the public sphere forms, are almost impossible to mediat. to impossible almost are forms, reality” of “their a “traitor” the Rubicon and not risk being declared cross possible to “renegade”. a and/or DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS

socially responsible and actors that act on their own. Ul mately, since the 2006 cam- res paign of the US President Barack Obama, the social networks (Facebook, YouTube and Twi er) became very signifi cant poli cal and effi cient propaganda tools. The new paradigm of intercultural communica on, which was shaped by the contemporary communica on theory under the infl uence of the expansive/mul plying digital technologies and globaliza on of communica on, stems from the thesis that it cannot be analyzed solely as a peaceful and non-confl ictual mee ngs of diff erent cultural en es. Basically it refers to an interac on between two or more communica on channels/ systems which cause tension and incorporate latent intercultural confl icts because of the some mes divergent interests, quan fi ca ons poli cal, economic, social, cultural, technological, social and even civiliza onal goals. Therefore, it is sounder to understand intercultural communica on as a contradic- tory process of converging cultural diversi es, but also of distrust, and, at the same me, of iden ty preserva on. This understanding of intercultural communica on at the level of rela ons between Western and Eastern Europe would represent one of the signifi cant or necessary steps on the way to establishing a diverse and inclusive symbolic geography. In this type of a common European cultural space, there is no ci zen of any country in the “Western Balkans” that would fi nd himself frustrated of being “frozen in the past.” We have always been convinced that people from the West are assessed on the basis of their individual values, but this is not the case. You would be asked where you are from and as soon as you answer Bosnia, Macedonia or Albania, people o en become inaccessible and do not want to get to know you be er as a person. The phrase used in the past: “Yugoslav cultural space” suggests that the boundaries between “us” and “them” were fi rmly fi xed. Hence workers and other ci zens from the underdeveloped countries were known as “Southerners” in Slovenia and were perceived in a typically nega ve way, as less capable, lazy, aggressive, and were pejora vely called “chefurji” (Stankovič, 2005:351). During the mass protests of the so called “Invisibles” that took place in early June 2011 in Ljubljana, there were shocking documentary television programs of the Slovenian public broadcaster on the “forgo en workers” that indicated a neo-colonial discourse – the argument went that they have such a fate only because they are not “ours” and they are such because they come from areas of the former Yugoslavia (Petrović, 2010). The neighbouring environment, one hundred years a er the Bucharest Peace Trea- ty (1913), which devided Macedonia between Greece, Bulgaria and Albania, strongly echoes a poli cal and media neo-imperial Balkan discourse. Not only that the individual and collec ve human rights of self-iden fi ca on of Macedonians in these three countries are not recognized, but also the offi cial poli cs in these countries does not allow them to be sta s cally “recognized”. The con nued policy of rejec on towards the Macedonian minori es in these countries as those who are “strange” and who should be assimilated and melted in the name of the “one-na on policy” excludes, s gma zes and discriminates all those who declare a “ diff erent” na- onal, linguis c , cultural or religious iden ty.

18 MEDIA REPRESENTATION AND INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION es cal cal cal cal ictual fl 19 sfactory, sfactory, ng econo- on directly the orts for es in these ff as they cance, ca fi fi tudes towards towards tudes

on. The barom- ce in The Hague, mate mate theore self- ons of socialist . ictness ﬂ cal a cal er the 1980’s and the er the 1980’s with these onal status revo- c – technological ﬁ sit- the general on form

onal minori tu sfac icts between the republics and the republics icts between fl ons of socialist self-management self-management ons of socialist on and self-iden on and ed with the situa onal Court of Jus fi led by using such a model have ons AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS PRODUCTION NEWS THE INTO INSIGHT AN s on, communal and other serviceson, communal show 31,08%. to of 77,48% decreased trends ve area. neocolonialist as a tuted onal changes in 1974 were not an appropriate not an appropriate in 1974 were changes onal ons in Yugoslavia was even more unsa more even was ons in Yugoslavia on. tu sfac c principle. c a wider cons acquired unites cal ty, on the one hand, and the model of “contrac ty, cularly emphasizes the fact that the cri that the fact cularly emphasizes erent interests, their imannence and con interests, erent on on health, educa ff cal – cultural topography in the mid 1980’s both in Macedonia in the mid 1980’s topography – cultural cal the 29,53% from ons in Macedonia (bad, mainly bad) climbed up to cal en cal zens’ dissa zens’ sfac century. The cons century. th of the new scien the advantages assimilate me to zen’s sa zen’s mate poli mate 20 es of The economic and social crisis in former Yugoslavia deepened between the 70 deepened between Yugoslavia and social crisis in former The economic 3. Political - cultural topography and a public opinion climate - cultural topography and a 3. Political before the transition However, the emergence of the E. Kardelj’s book “Pluralism of the self-managing of the self-managing book “Pluralism of the E. Kardelj’s the emergence However, the „dissa 1986 determines A public opinion poll from Indeed, despite the dominant ideology in Eastern Europe about the non-con Europe ideology in Eastern the dominant Indeed, despite a all segments The deepening of the global crisis in almost The countries of the “third world” also pay an incomparably greater respect and re- respect greater an incomparably also pay world” of the “third The countries Studies of the poli The fact that the UN, EU, Council of Europe and NATO allowed to be used as tools tools be used as to allowed and NATO Council of Europe EU, the UN, that The fact The a priory avant-gardism and the monopoly of the Union of communists as the and the monopoly of the Union of communists The a priory avant-gardism The treatment of “others”, i.e. the Macedonians as na the Macedonians i.e. of “others”, The treatment par on” The research on and the development of the market and other economic laws. laws. and other economic of the market on and the development ect the “Western Balkans” to be cons to Balkans” “Western ect the ff because 47,49% of the respondents were not sa were 47,49% of the respondents because The assessment of the inter-ethnic rela of the inter-ethnic The assessment negligible 3,15 in the previous year.: The posi year.: negligible 3,15 in the previous the inter-ethnic rela the inter-ethnic and 80 ua interests” in the early 1970’s , these debates lost their intensity and signi their intensity lost , these debates in the early 1970’s interests” discussions about the di rule of law as a basic democra rule of law lu varia stereotyped towards directed exclusively were system. and the delegate and contradic social problems key solve inability to to an increase of ci an increase to nature of the socialist society, in former Yugoslavia there were legi were there Yugoslavia in former society, of the socialist nature in comparison to NATO, EU and Council of Europe that promote advocacy e advocacy promote that of Europe EU and Council NATO, to in comparison my” on the other hand, sharpened the inconsistency and the inability of the poli my” hand, sharpened the inconsistency on the other that at elites and in former Yugoslavia also showed that contrary to the expecta to contrary that also showed Yugoslavia and in former sponsibility concerning the decisions by the Interna sponsibility concerning a a downside trend in the assessing of their quality (Petrovic and Kimov, 1988: 160-198). and Kimov, quality (Petrovic in the assessing of their a downside trend countries is associated with the mechanisms of opression from the colonialist period in the colonialist from of opression with the mechanisms associated is countries Europe. Western self-determina of Macedonians to the rights against changes. changes. only legi response to the more apparent disagreements and con disagreements apparent the more to response of ci eter the provinces. , These poli0 the provinces. DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS

management to create new emancipatory culture, s ll the models of submissive poli cal res culture remain (Jakimovski, 1986: 204; Podunavac, 1983). In his brilliant essay, D.Vujoshevic isolated 35 cults of the so called “nomenclatura”: the cult of boundaries and divisions, the cult of power, the cult of non-working, cult of celebra on and parade, cult of discussion and indolence, the cult of silence and blur- ring, cult of “fi nding your way “and links, to the cult of the state appropria on, cult of errors (and forgiveness of errors), the cult of irresponsibility and incompetence, etc. (Vujoshevic in Jakimovski, 1986: 205). These “an -values” have shown their real “mercan list value” in a ma er of just ten years, with the beginning of the transi on and priva za on. Those individuals who were formerly socially indis nguishable, but knew how to “fi nd their way in the system”, created and implemented a model of priva za on that helped them grab such a large por on of the material wealth to be able to really feel that they are enough to themselves. The social property always seemed to be something “alien” to the former formal ‘ tulars’ even thought they were in charge of its management –in the mean me with the priva za on, social property was no longer formally “theirs”/”ours” - a ‘legal’ rob- bery and misuse was happening in front of our eyes. The “philosophy of silence” as a kind of an endemic poli cal and cultural, but also a social and individual mode of survival and possibly advancement in the social ladder, inhibited theirs, but as well every other ci zen’s awareness of the need of resistance. Thus the new condi ons made possible the triumph of the “cult of mistakes”. Judging by past and current poli cal memoir literature in Macedonia, almost all key poli cal, scien fi c and expert actors recognize that the priva za on in the country was done unfairly and, therefore, it subsequently generated many and great diffi cul es in the moderniza on and development of society. However, no one is willing to claim responsibility for the faulty process. Does this mean that the ‘cult of errors’ and especially the forgiving of mistakes triumph in the new social system? Polls from this period refl ect the public opinion climate in the society, the social condi ons of individuals and groups, as well as their a tudes, opinions, beliefs and expecta ons. The agenda analysis and the frequency of ques ons and answers/data indicate clearly observable trends and their situa onal determina on and me variability. In general, four dis nc ve phases could be iden fi ed: (1) up un l the 1970’s there was a stagnant poli cal cultural and public opinion climate, (2) the conformity of public opinion, acceptance and monitoring of key social tenets prevail in the period between the 1970’s and 1980’2; (3) a er 1980’s due to the deepening of the poli cal, economic and social crisis, public opinion becomes more cri cal in view of the nature of the socialist self-management system and its stakeholders; (4) late 1980’s are characterized by the process of cri cal evalua on, de-dogma za on of not only poli cs, but also of other spheres of society. There was also the process of radicaliza on of cri c and seek- ing alterna ves. The early 1990’s marked the inaugura on of a new poli cal system: private property, poli cal pluralism, human rights and freedoms, valuing personality and its autonomy, etc.

20 MEDIA REPRESENTATION AND INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION ty ck me zen zen oning. on and 21 cipated in cipated rst part of rst nally open nally fi fi miza c. Geographically, Geographically, c. cit of relevant and cit of relevant fi onship of the EU to- vulner- for ce and care mis cs and values of liberal of liberal values cs and on in which the society on in which the society c rela on the a public debate ated cal concept called “Western “Western called concept cal of civil society. the role on of dosing a process on, but rather AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS PRODUCTION NEWS THE INTO INSIGHT AN “partner” devel- aimed at mate status miza on is also not op c, we had a sort of a “tycoon capitalism”, capitalism”, a “tycoon had a sort of c, we me, ranging from medical treatment of ho- treatment medical from me, ranging cal and cultural processes within the so-called within the so-called processes cultural and cal nite legi nite fi poli ideological vely er more than twenty years? In fact, the In fact, years? than twenty er more nc on what the Western Balkans is can only be obtained if only be obtained is can Balkans the Western on what ces, the media and their “gatekeepers” could could “gatekeepers” ces, the media and their mulate a debate about the direc a debate mulate ned geographical group marked as Western Balkan. The Balkan. as Western marked group ned geographical on, it is quickly transformed into a threat and condi a threat into on, it is quickly transformed fi ng, even on topics that were treated as taboo for a long for as taboo treated were that ng, on topics even when a con- in joining, occasion but in every assistance er for ff on and we ask what the Western Balkans is not. And the answer And the answer is not. Balkans the Western ask what we on and on” there is a serious - almost historical - de historical is a serious - almost on” there al in the prospect of the membership in NATO and EU, which was which was and EU, in NATO of the membership al in the prospect za on from socialism to capitalism, which in an oxymoronic fashion was called called was fashion which in an oxymoronic capitalism, to socialism on from is now the “Old major part of the public held the opinion that pluralism, cal on’. Instead of liberal and democra of liberal Instead on’. on in broader economic, poli economic, on in broader ve democracy, as well as a de as well democracy, ve The answer to the second part of the ques the second to The answer So where is Macedonia now a is Macedonia So where 4. The identity politics in Europe and „Western Balkans” in Europe and „Western 4. The identity politics The image for the states in the region as “being childish” and the frequent use of a “s as “being childish” and the frequent in the region the states for The image The moment when civil society acquired a legi acquired when civil society The moment At one point it is an o one point At It was expected that the new liberal capitalism will lead to an open space for ci for an open space lead to will capitalism the new liberal that expected It was Some authors consider that this term refers more to Western Europe and its iden Europe Western to more refers this term that consider Some authors cipa ques say that the strategy of the European Union towards this region is hegemonic: is hegemonic: this region Union towards of the European the strategy that ques say onality “benchmark” is not met or when there is some unresolved issue under the is some unresolved or when there onality “benchmark” is not met on of poli nished and the New is coming.” However, nobody has ini However, nished and the New is coming.” it is turned into a nega it is turned into Balkans”. This neologism is created in the EU and is one of the key terms of the accession terms in the EU and is one of the key created This neologism is Balkans”. the ques to The answer process. a process that also went on in other countries in this region. However, since the late since the late However, this region. in on in other countries also went that a process (minus Slo- Yugoslavia out of former coming Macedonia, along with the countries 1990’s plus Albania) is part of a dis venia as part of Souteast Europe, Macedonia perceived a strong – and strategically unique – – and strategically a strong perceived Macedonia Europe, as part of Souteast poten emancipator was headed. was credible actors that would s would that actors credible the “corrupt priva the “corrupt ‘the transi which basically destroys the idea of a society of greater social jus of greater a society the idea of destroys which basically par based intelligentsia much of the University that Given able social groups. social transi fi wards the Balkans. The prospect of EU membership became a means of legi became of EU membership prospect The the Balkans. wards capitalism in Macedonia have never been opened. In the early years of the introduc- been opened. In the early years never have in Macedonia capitalism the answer is that a real debate on the substance, characteris on the substance, debate a real is that the answer oping good management prac management oping good and some were even criminalized for a long for criminalized even and some were 5-7). delict’ ‘verbal the so called to Toš, (Jakimovski, 2003, pgs.113; mosexuality and a carrot” logic to development reproduces the paternalis reproduces and a carrot” development logic to delibera repor of diversity the range it is neither a complete exclusion, nor a rapid integra nor a rapid exclusion, it is neither a complete of patronage. of patronage. di of EU administra standards par unravels itself: “It is not the European Union”. itself: “It is not the European unravels some de than to problems cri DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS

those that are already in the EU exclude and include, while those which strive for membership res are on the “road to Europe” and therefoe they are excluded (T. Petrovic, 2010). The model of “exclusion” which was once theorised by Michel Foucault perhaps paradigma cally refers specifi cally to the example of Macedonia, of which certain con- cessions are required for the European integra on that cannot be accepted, and they are imposed just because the country is “outside”. The paradox goes as far as the point that the “exclusion” of Macedonia is considered the “democra c right” to those “inside” where the “culture of compromise” is interpreted in a way that it represents a total deg- rada on of the exis ng system of the interna onal law! The representa on of the Western Balkans in the poli cal and the media discourse in Western Europe shows that the no on of Europeanness is prac cally equated with belonging to the European Union. This founda on of a European iden ty tes fi es the existence of a large intercultural gap between the European West and East. The metaphorical contrast between the West and the East is vividly described in the book “Europe without Europeans” by the Slovenian philosopher A. Debeljak as a “terrible asymmetry of the European iden ty”: “If at fi rst glance you may not recognize that I am from the East,’ a Slav ‘,’ Balkan’ and my physiognomy is silent about my ethnic background, s ll I can be recognized by the insecure movement on the fl oor. Namely, the poli cal economy of insecurity can be even found in the niest movements and the play of the facial muscles. It can be recognized in the nearly insecure movements of the body and the reac ons of automa sm. My cau on does not only contain the experience from the socialist poverty, (…), but the bi er experience of non-recogni on is primarily hidden into it. This is not the same as being unno ced, (…). Simply it refers to something that it is invisible and to the very present feeling that my place is not actually close to the saloon table where you sit with today’s issue of ‘Espresso’ and ‘Interna onal Herald Tri- bune’, but at its best it is somewhere outside, at the boundary of the acceptable public space, at a terrace, not the street, but certainly not in the arms of air-condi oned conve- nience for which I should be thankful. (...) (...)Slovenia, or rather the en re Eastern and Central Europe cannot be found in the dic onary of recognizable cultural topography of the West. This is because it is s ll not recognized for its language and it cannot hope to be civilized. It is s ll too unknown, alien, diff erent “(Debeljak,2004:24-25). The term Western Balkans in the media and poli cal discourse is almost accepted without remarks, although the states of this region have been treated like “children” who need a guardian. Some of those who are “inside”, meaning in the European Union, are allowed to form a kind of colonialist discourse when it comes to the use of the historical heritage or for appropria on of material and other resources, and in the case of Macedonia Greece abuses the posi on of member to forcefully change the na onal, linguis c and cultural iden ty of the Macedonians. Out of the countries in the region, Bulgaria and Romania could be seen as a paradigm shi from a “communist repression” to a “depression a er accession.” Macedonia, however, could be a classic example of “pre-accession depression” when 5 years a er comple on of the required condi ons to start nego a ons for accession to the Union, an addi onal requirement of iden ty character was asked for.

22 MEDIA REPRESENTATION AND INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION - er- ff on in cially ffi cal and cal 23 oned. lingual society. lingual society. on”. That would would That on”. cial throughout throughout cial ffi -ethnic and mul -ethnic onal amendments onally incorporated incorporated onally c social poverty and c social poverty tu tu etc. social layers, re lines, divi- on along ethnic ve ve mul cal actors who have a stake a stake have who actors cal tude towards these events, these events, tude towards on and emancipatory forces, forces, on and emancipatory ec is that and media discourse cal ff ciza ned them as the “majority com- ned tuent people’. On the other hand, On the other people’. tuent cal a cal fi -religious and mul -religious cally and discursively in the media. in the media. and discursively cally on campaign hate, intolerance and intolerance hate, on campaign AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS PRODUCTION NEWS THE INTO INSIGHT AN on. onal cause”, thus would risk becoming “trai- risk becoming thus would onal cause”, ces to create e create ces to -ethnic, mul -ethnic, c terms from a factor of inclusion. a factor from c terms cal and media discourse through occasional erup- occasional through and media discourse cal poli ll dominate i.e. cons its inclusiveness, ned, ng in “free will”, therefore the schizophrenia in the me- schizophrenia the therefore will”, ng in “free cular concern that the civil society becomes divided in becomes the civil society that cular concern fi ves -not even the actors who are its creators. On the one On creators. its who are the actors -not even ves poli more on in it produces cultural, mul cultural, the “na for ghters fi es (Roma) or vulnerable and marginalized groups with various types of with various groups and marginalized or vulnerable es (Roma) from the previous status of a ‘cons status the previous from en “eradicated” due to the interests of poli the interests to due en “eradicated” crises or in elec disputes, party cal er 12 years of the Ohrid Framework Agreement there is a condi there Agreement of the Ohrid Framework er 12 years on in groups, which behave as “forced” to tolerate. tolerate. to as “forced” which behave on in groups, cal system is de system cal an o become would the Albanian language onal so that cal and media mimicry is not accidental at all: journalists and media could and media could all: journalists at and media mimicry is not accidental cal parts of the popula on of vital cal discourse becomes complete. complete. becomes discourse cal mately join “their camp” if they do not want to be isolated or sanc be isolated to do not want if they join “their camp” mately icts, “ethnic narcissism” only, but also as a space for “bulldozer diplomacy” “bulldozer a space for but also as only, narcissism” icts, “ethnic fl ca fi es remain “unrecognized”. The focus on ethnic themes enables the poli on ethnic The focus “unrecognized”. es remain deriva on or its related Intolerance persists in the poli persists Intolerance This poli Because of this there is a lack of public debate in the media in Macedonia on the di is a lack of public debate of this there Because The main and most serious consequence of this poli serious consequence The main and most Even those individuals or groups that have a cri have that or groups those individuals Even The society is not able to “produce” joint integra joint “produce” is not able to The society It shows that the EU does not perceive the Western Balkans as a region of poverty, of poverty, as a region Balkans the Western not perceive the EU does that It shows Macedonia is a mul 5. Media representation, discourses and stereotypes discourses and stereotypes 5. Media representation, mes of poli ni fi os, the gap between the urban and rural development, poverty of persons or families that or families of persons poverty development, the urban and rural between os, the gap er the Ohrid Framework Agreement of 2001, de Agreement er the Ohrid Framework o are ons that in the “power pie”. It is of par pie”. in the “power threats would obviously and openly manifest. obviously and openly would threats In which the category “we” and “they,” “ours” and “theirs,” and therefore “our heroes” and heroes” “our and therefore and “theirs,” “ours” and “they,” “we” which the category s vice versa “and not “their heroes jeopardize the status of the status jeopardize could live decently of their labour in the past, disappearance of en disappearance of their labour in the past, decently live could the state. So a the state. tors” if they show some “understanding” for the others around them. Because of this them. Because around the others show some “understanding” for if they tors” ences in economic and social power, expressed through the employment or unemployment the employment through expressed and social power, ences in economic ra become bi-na become hand, this is the case with the Macedonians, because the cons with the Macedonians, because hand, this is the case munity” – a shi o the state make which would a contract is a need of there Albanians think that cultural democracy is emphasized. However, it seems that not everyone agrees with this agrees not everyone it seems that However, is emphasized. democracy cultural de a business ellites to calmly build their “empires” in terms of drama in terms build their “empires” calmly to business ellites de-classi mechanisms for society’s diversity prac diversity society’s mechanisms for larger communi larger disabili have to ul to have sions and isola therefore the overall condi the overall therefore When the poli ethnical, religious, cultural and linguis cultural religious, ethnical, wars, con wars, depersonaliza “voluntary which implies of compromise”, and a “culture be, of course, interpreted as ac as interpreted be, of course, dia and poli DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS

the division between the “patriots” and the “traitors” dominates media and poli cal res discourse both on the side of the Macedonians and the Albanians, as the two largest ethnic communi es in the country, even though it looks paradoxical. The main characteris cs of the poli cal and media discourse in the leading print and electronic media will be analyzed through the analysis of the representa on. It is used in the area of cultural analyses as a research op cs (F. Saussure), but it is reaffi rmed in the last two or three decades. To understand this concept it is necessary to possess knowledge – at least roughly – about the theore cal elements of the so-called structuralism. In simple terms, this is what is called epistemological twist in the works by the French poststructuralists. Namely, they decisively ended with the prevailing humanis c and largely objec vis c – view of the world, where social scien sts see the society either as a sum of ra onal, crea ve and moral beings or they interpret it in terms of the individual and independent logic system (Giddens, 1977, 1989). The poststructuralists (M. Foucault, J. Lacan, J. Derrida and others) found a range of arguments that fl ow into the claim that the society is essen ally composed of a mul- tude of discourses that are constructed by individuals (as ra onal, moral, etc actors), which brings into ques on not only humanis c claims for the individual as an en re, refl ected and a single being, but also those views (named as objec vis c) that see the society as some kind of impersonal structure. Therefore, from a construc vist (i.e. post-structural) perspec ve the society is not an objec ve fact (even if it comes to real, self-suffi cient individuals/actors or objec ve social structures), but emerges as a complex texture that is produced by diff erent discourses on diff erent levels. According to the poststructuralists, the discourses represent an array of statements/ events or a medium and speak about certain issues in a certain historical moment - on the other hand, they shape/construct the topics in that way. Thus, discourses (statements as one of the manifesta ons of language) do not refl ect something that is “out there” (in “reality”), they rather construct it through various procedures of storytelling, classifi ca on, presenta on and so on. Therefore, language and discourse do not “determine” the world, but they shape it, construct it, thus bringing individuals in some specifi c rela onship to the world, people around us and alike. This, certainly, does not mean that construc vism assumes that in “reality” there are no “true” things, but insists that things (objects, people, phenomena, events, etc..) always become available through various discourses that shape (interpret) it to us in a meaningful way.In this light the ques on of representa on in the Macedonian media could be set as follows: if discourses do (not) refl ect reality but always represent it in cul- turally specifi c ways, then the interest should be directed to request answers to the following: how they do it, what kind of references they, sub-tones or associa ons they use? Given that the processes of discursive construc on of truth (reality) are mainly real- ized through texts and media in the contemporary popular culture as very specifi c representa ons of society, iden es etc.., we will try to expose this to a cri cal observa on. The goal is twofold: to fi nd the elements of problema c legi miza on of the exis ng rela ons of power, or to fi nd the possible emancipatory moments of their treatment as an issue.

24 MEDIA REPRESENTATION AND INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION al ng vely vely with erent erent erent erent ff ff erent) erent) ff en (re) (re) en 25 types y clear po- on of power in on of power ciently ciently explain erent races (Af- races erent ffi ff zing of the current zing of the current on and there is a new on and there ve feelings building up feelings ve on in which the stereo- rst place in the analysis of place in the analysis rst fi erns / networks of di erns / networks city of stereotypes? Stereotypes Stereotypes stereotypes? city of (Dyer in Hall, 2000a: 257). (Dyer fi cal discourse burdened by stereo- burdened discourse cal vated analysis never ends solely on never analysis vated some sort of are me they AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS PRODUCTION NEWS THE INTO INSIGHT AN cal discourse, and they very o very and they discourse, cal cal power, does not su power, cal mizing or problema cally mo cally fi

cs. The term “Nigger”cs. The term pejora the U.S. in unchangeable erent groups. Namely, power is always directed directed is always power Namely, groups. erent ﬀ and erent) are excluded in a way that (the other/di that in a way excluded are erent) ﬀ Most complex. actually much more es, but the things are on is a very important point of interven point important on is a very

natural se, or anywhere else, almost always have a pre have always else, almost se, or anywhere ons in terms of legi ons in terms on and events. This means that the overall complexity in di complexity the overall This means that on and events. mize the social or historical process. There are texts that analyze analyze that texts are There process. the social or historical mize x the boundaries between “us” and “them” as something essen “us” and “them” as something between x the boundaries ons between di ons between fi ons appearing in songs, stories, jokes, anecdotes, legends, dances, legends, anecdotes, jokes, ons appearing in songs, stories, on, exper on of stereotypes that normalize always privileges to certain individuals individuals certain to privileges always normalize that on of stereotypes cal and cultural topography shows that Macedonian media in the repor Macedonian that shows topography and cultural cal as x something on of property, economic and poli economic property, on of fi miza the same individuals, while at to ributed ed and exaggerated moves (Lippmann , 1999: 86 -90). Even more: these reduced these reduced more: , 1999: 86 -90). Even (Lippmann moves ed and exaggerated fi on in the society. There is no complex research on stereotypes conducted in Macedonia, although conducted on stereotypes research is no complex There For example, in Europe, white people have a stereotype for the di for a stereotype people have white in Europe, example, For This looks somewhat complicated, but in fact it is a situa it is but in fact complicated, somewhat This looks Stereotypes do not occur just anywhere, but usually where there are large inequali- large are there but usually where anywhere, just do not occur Stereotypes In accordance with their intertwining in the network of social power, stereotypes are are stereotypes of social power, in the network with their intertwining In accordance Stereotypical representa Stereotypical Our poli cal or cultural implica or cultural cal es in power rela es in power books, informa books, of the representa individual fragments or iden individual fragments refers to a Black person as a dirty, degraded creature – and even a “coon” (Bogle: 1973). a “coon” even – and creature degraded as a dirty, a Black person to refers the media and poli seriously contaminate they direct and (de) legi direct and unchangeable, and then they conclude that there are nega are there that conclude and then they and unchangeable, “ours”. is not that about something types symbolically types symbolically as percieved stereotypically who are Hispano-American), Arab, Asian, American, rican fana less smart or religious dirty, lazy, processes, interpreta processes, this level. Also, as much as the analysis of what and how something is represented is is represented and how something of what as much as the analysis Also, this level. at not represented are other aspects things that are also equally important important, pa of complex is composed the social reality all.Namely, they are delegated in the dark space of the dangerous, dirty and something considered considered dirty and something in the dark space of the dangerous, delegated are they as a taboo. the key approaches, although the scien approaches, the key the processes of labelling and, as such, we mark it at the the mark it at of labelling and, as such, we the processes or groups and marginalize others. What is the speci What others. marginalize and or groups are very simple, clear, universally recognized, easily remembered and understood fea- and understood remembered easily recognized, universally simple, clear, very are a tures those few to of individuals or social groups complexity the overall reduce the ability to simpli to images against those who are submissive, i.e. excluded, and stereotypes are one of the key one of the key are stereotypes and i.e. excluded, submissive, those who are against occurs. this exclusion places where and abnormal on one side, the normal and acceptable some kind of a landmark between on the op- all things which are that This is done in a way on the other. and unacceptable side (as abnormal and di posite situa on diversity not only accept, but also nurture poli but also nurture not only accept, on diversity in a transi decades than two more are we that fact types. The redistribu the legi li DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS

text is reduced to more or less simplifi ed and a rac ve narra ves / stories, which should res be understood that the reduc on of complexity to coherent and a rac ve narra ves is not problema c itself and it is probably even necessary to some extent in the processes of devising reality. What must be taken into account in the cri cal analysis is the fact that while some events (subjects, interpreta ons, etc…) are in principle covered (recorded, represented, interpreted, used in representa ons), while others drop off from the agenda of relevance in the very beginning. Usually those that drop off from the agenda are either the ones that are irrelevant or harmful to the holders of power in society. When analysing representa on it is essen al to fi nd out and be a en ve to the ques on what is represented, and to the ques on what is absent in the system of representa ons (interpreta vely disappears or is deliber- ately concealed). It seems not surprising that F. Tonnies almost 100 years ago asked the ques on “Is it possible to have fair and reasonable daily press” (Tonnies, F., 1998:145). The next important feature of the research on media representa on is the issue of polysemy. Whether producers like it or not, it is a fact that a large number of representa- ons, in this way or another, do not off er completely monochrome (poli cal) interpreta- ons of the society and the world. The meaning they place (or “discover” in the so-called inves ga ve journalism), in diff erent informa ve (and other) texts usually support or legi mate the forces of social hegemony. Diff erent modes of representa on in the media and in popular culture by represen ng the world in a very specifi c (hegemonic) way mostly support the exis ng social hierarchy of power. But because of the slippery nature of the text as such, its meaning is never en rely fi xed (Derrida). And, fi nally, because the ideological constructs of reality are never en rely completed in some group and without having residues in some completely coherent ideological images of the world, they are never unequivocal (Južnič, 1973: 15-60). And, fi nally, as there are hegemonic so there are explicit (poli cally) ar culated an - hegemonic representa ons. Therefore, there are systems of representa ons that very explicitly and consciously problema ze the dominant models and off er some clearly developed alterna ve events, images and interpreta ons. The specifi c analyses cannot, certainly, cover all plural aspects of representa ons simultaneously. Since in reality things are quite complex and intertwined, the most insigh ul analyses are those that cover more elements. Most of the representa ons, either appearing in architectural or monumental buildings, artworks (pain ngs and sculptures), photographs, stamps, fl y- ers, fi lm or video, songs, jokes, anecdotes, legends, dances, novels, comics, magazines or CDs, scien fi c studies or exper ses, usually always have very clear prac cal / poli cal implica ons in terms of legi miza on or problema za on of the exis ng social system.

6. The future of multiculturalism in the Balkans and in Macedonia

The prevailing media thema c focus in our society is s ll collec vist. Thus, in texts in Albanian language on the events of 2001 are dominantly interpreted as a struggle of the “bare handed people” for equality, while for those in Macedonian language this is dominantly “an a ack on the state.” Although 12 years have passed there is s ll no

26 MEDIA REPRESENTATION AND INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION ve ict ng fl cally cally on of on on of ons of cultur- 27 ect” the ff icts” and fl ected, but ected, cipa ff on of power. st movement) movement) st cal elites. cal the common culate ng! cal actors and it ap- actors cal ict, either as “defenders ict, either as “defenders fl es). The American author es). The American fy / ar culturalism: surmounted or surmounted culturalism: er the “spill-over e “spill-over er the about mul views erent ff ethical and rm the professional ffi onalism in distribu The Ohrid Framework ict occurred. fl on of a foreign author is indica on of a foreign ve power-sharing involves crea involves power-sharing ve AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS PRODUCTION NEWS THE INTO INSIGHT AN part (repre- also took onal community tled “Mul tled onal and foreign authors search for an- for search authors onal and foreign on of journalists and editors who have at- who have and editors on of journalists cal con cal on rm the picture that is generally recognizable: the recognizable: is generally that rm the picture on of the Albanian par on of the Albanian fi repor on diversity onal training in reality. not exist would oned they on and development of local self-government, there is there self-government, of local on and development ve exchange” between ethnic elites as one of the causes one of the causes as elites ethnic between exchange” ve on – opposi culturalism is not immanently Macedonian, but it is very impor- Macedonian, but it is very is not immanently culturalism ict social groups with ethnic background are equally a are background with ethnic ict social groups iden will together they that expect c to fl er the events of 2001, rather than having greater par greater than having of 2001, rather er the events ng on diversity in the Macedonian journalism. The interviews with The interviews in the Macedonian journalism. ng on diversity or “Shiptari”), “Slavs” equality” as the so called for (or vice versa ghters onal and interna “ethnic- dominant two Consequently principles. on ethnic power on of fi cal: cal: posi tle says that in Western Europe there are di are there Europe in Western that tle says services. And it is a ques on as parallel ple points of power, which should have been allowed with the decentraliza been allowed which should have of power, ple points cal blocs” were established. The Ohrid Framework Agreement, according to Mc- to according Agreement, Ohrid Framework The established. blocs” were cal However, the internally displaced people are the most marginalized post-con marginalized the most are displaced people the internally However, This project has a noble mission to explore and rea explore has a noble mission to This project However, according to Horowitz, the integra Horowitz, to according However, The topic of mul The topic Twelve years a years Twelve zens through decentraliza through zens 2004. He believes that it is a mistake that local government rather than being ethnically than being ethnically rather government local that it is a mistake that 2004. He believes ethnic greater achieve as to in such a way constructed as possible, it was as colourful in the con actors (Ilievski, 2008:182). The direct homogeneity the media and poli to so unrecognizable are and they social group not men are if they that pears of the state” or “ of the state” undefeatable concept,” some competent na some competent concept,” undefeatable 2007). The posi (Forum, the dilemma set to swers 2007: (Rossig, experience and the Balkan Yugoslav learn from could Europe Western that 80-90). The mul “our” to / “their” deliver would they poli of the requirements points remain less and less socially recognizable with each new division of power, while the with each new division of power, less and less socially recognizable remain of their and the status status as the personal as well of health consequences addressing not be over- could the divisions of “us” and “them” that due to prolonged was families post-con Two come. tant for our society. In the referent publica In the referent our society. for tant although they are actually a big marginalized group, due to the divisions and prejudices, the divisions and prejudices, due to group, actually a big marginalized are although they be unrealis it would Garry and O’Leary falls into the category of consocia the category into Garry and O’Leary falls poli the “trans-boundary network of ETSM (Albanian ethno-territorial separa of ETSM (Albanian ethno-territorial network the “trans-boundary ci only a redistribu for the events in 2001 (Hislope, 2005). However, L. Mincheva, regards the ac regards L. Mincheva, in 2001 (Hislope, 2005). However, the events for R. Hislope sees the “corrup R. Hislope sees the this. A for factor 2001) as a key (Mincheva, Kosovo from func much na tended standards in repor in standards journalists and editors in MRT con in MRT and editors journalists sented by EU, USA and NATO). and NATO). USA by EU, sented do that not only in Macedonian and Albanian language and television on radio programs realis but they agenda, and editorial of professional elements common not have consensus on whether a war or military-poli war a whether on consensus Ohrid Framework Agreement followed and the phase of “overcoming con of “overcoming and the phase followed Agreement Ohrid Framework the interna where “building trust” reached, was Agreement, which appeared as some modus, is variously interpreted and instrumen- interpreted is variously as some modus, which appeared Agreement, (poli talized DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS

alism, and when Russia is added here, as a country that represents the East, the specifi c res historical, religious, linguis c and cultural contexts, it gets even more specifi c meaning. What is the future of mul culturalism in Macedonia then? First, Macedonia will con nue to develop as a democra c mul cultural society because the provisions from the Ohrid Framework Agreement are refl ected in amendments to the Cons tu on. The implementa on of this agreement is a condi on for Macedo- nia’s accession to NATO and the EU. These two organiza ons, failing to handle with care the bloody denouement of former Yugoslavia, consider the post-framework Macedo- nia as their most successful project. The expansion of the confl ict in 2001 is prevented, Macedonia transformed from a user to a security service provider and mul culturalism is considered as part of the successful Euro-American Balkan story. Second, Macedonia is expected to con nue working on strengthening the trust between the Macedonian people as a majority and other ethnic communi es, mostly the Albanian. EU and its member states would not invest new addi onal major sources on training or projects, but they will be wary of the danger of compromising some projects, such as the OSCE’s project on early learning of Macedonian language in the fi rst class of primary educa on and the withdrawal of the “interna onal factor “ from it. Integra on solu ons are, of course, necessary, because the system of secondary and higher educa on in mother Albanian tongue without a good knowledge of the Macedo- nian language would be a real barrier to mobility in business and employment, fl ow of ideas, goods and services, joint projects in culture, science and research, etc. The insuffi cient knowledge of the Macedonian language would be one of the most serious threats for a reduc on of the already low level of integra on into society on a long term. Of course, the least what is needed in Macedonia is con nued specifi c informa ve ghe oiza on specifi c informa on, as a fer le soil to nourish or strengthen prejudices and stereotypes that would further contaminate and make the intercultural communica on diffi cult. Third, the future of mul culturalism in Macedonia will largely depend on the im- pulses it receives from the wider regional environment. Mul culturalism cannot be implemented exclusively in Macedonia, but its future must be seen as generally accepted and implemented regional model and prac ce. Regardless of the offi cial (state) concept of “monona onal states,” there are minori es in Albania, Bulgaria, Greece and Serbia, they speak their own language – even then when the state prohibits it - and they have a special ethno-cultural iden ty. Macedonians living in neighboring countries have the status and rights that correspond to democra c Europe only in Serbia: ins tu onally organized through a form provided by the law, they have their own Member of Parliament, and the Macedonian language is in offi cial use in some communi es, newspapers and publica ons are printed and radio and television programs of local public services are broadcasted in Macedonian. The Macedonian minority has a certain kind of poli cal and educa onal rights only in the municipality of Pustec in Mala Prespa region in Albania, although it inhabits Golo Brdo and Gora as well. In 2011 due to the omission of the fi eld for na onal background, the Macedonian minority did not par cipate in the census in Albania. The topic of mul - culturalism in Greece and Bulgaria cannot be set at a public debate at all. These member states of the EU do not even enforce the decisions of the European Court of Human

28 MEDIA REPRESENTATION AND INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION ve on dence fi 29 cally hard hard cally veness. ec dence, solidar- dence, ff fi ng the mosaic of all ve repercussions of the repercussions ve onary ideologies. onary on, the building of con c weight in the EU and in the in the EU and in the c weight fi ve experience from the past, the the the past, from experience ve ve meaning and a synonym for wars, wars, for meaning and a synonym ve AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS PRODUCTION NEWS THE INTO INSIGHT AN ca, stereotypes and hatred, of slavery of slavery and hatred, stereotypes ca, on how long it will emanate a posi on how long it will emanate the recommenda- nor are on of Macedonians, of the Albanians in Mace- elite and economic cal onally. Its example could serve as an inspira serve could Its example onally. tu ve legacies of the past. Their European path and fu- path Their European of the past. legacies ve culturalism in Macedonia will depend on the existence existence will depend on the in Macedonia culturalism es in the Balkans. vism and retrograde and reac vism and retrograde

cal organiza cal vely small space, where the nega small space, where vely onal iden onal onal community in an integral and complex way if they set free from from free set if they way and complex in an integral onal community nega with an exclusively on” as a term ve Balkans Sea of pseudologia fantas Balkans ve icts and the other nega ﬂ ons and countries in the Balkans should have a comprehensive regional coopera- regional a comprehensive should have in the Balkans ons and countries con more need far on the Balkan the countries h, the people and ll circling like a ghost over the Balkans. In the countries of the Middle East major of the Middle East In the countries the Balkans. over a ghost like ll circling Sixth, Macedonia has made great steps towards those needs and challenges of the those needs and challenges towards steps Sixth, Macedonia has made great Fi Fourth, the future of mul future the Fourth, ering and divisions, primi ﬀ on. They would assess their special and regional speci assess their special and regional would on. They applied. the UN and OSCE of Human Rights for of the Commissioners ons su to the ideology of “blood and soil”, it is a ques the ideology of “blood and soil”, to climate in the region. In fact, it is necessary for the Balkans to release faster from the from faster release to the Balkans it is necessary for In fact, in the region. climate “balkaniza to other countries in the region. However, if Macedonia remains lonesome lighthouse lonesome lighthouse if Macedonia remains However, in the region. other countries to in the res new era and this was solved cons solved and this was new era the con and respec by recognizing connected become will increasingly ture equally worth na equally worth immature ethnocentric ideas for “great states” of the Albanians, Greeks and Bulgarians Bulgarians and of the Albanians, Greeks states” “great ideas for ethnocentric immature s are and geopoli is strategically in this moment whose outcome occurred, events with these parts of the world link of Europe is the The Balkans this point. at predict to rich in oil. But, it is a rela be dealt with by any cannot of its edges movements physical radical cause that events and other performances, their economic strengthen to want If they individually. country the na modern interna ity and a sense of connectedness. The burden of nega The burden ity and a sense of connectedness. and empathy increasing not only towards the “ours”, but also towards the “others”. the “others”. but also towards the “ours”, not only towards increasing and empathy when the poli the moment Therefore, donia and the media in Albanian language begin to openly advocate for the rights of the rights for openly advocate begin to in Albanian language donia and the media their viola and publicly condemn Macedonians in Albania e and commitment by much greater accomplished in Macedonia will be Rights for cultural and poli and cultural for Rights DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS

Bibliography: res Bamburac, N.M. et al. (eds) (2006) Stеreotyping: Representa on of Women in print media in South East Europe, Sarajevo. Avail- able at h p://www.media.ba/mcsonline/fi les/shared/sterotyping_adla_isanovic.pdf Barthes.R., and Sontag, S. (ed) (2000) Myth Today: A Roland Barthes Reader, London: Routledge Bogle, D., (1973) Toms, Coons, Mulatos, Mamies and Bucks: An Interpreta ve History of Blacks in American Films, New York: Viking Press Bozeva, K. and Bossanyi, M. (2006) Achieving media responsibility in mul cultural socie es, Sofi a: King Baudouin Fonda on and Inter Ethnic Ini a ve for Human Rights Founda on (Bulgaria) Debeljak, A. (2004) Evropa brez Evropejcev, Ljubljana: Zalozba Sophia Dragomir, M. and Thompson, M. (2008) Television Across Europe: Follow Up Reports – 2008, Budapest: Open Society Ins tute Foucault, M. (2001) Arheologija vednos , Ljubljana: Studia Humanita s Giddens, A. (1989) Nova pravila sociološke metode, Ljubljana: Studia Humanita s Hall, S. (2000), The work of representa on, London: Sage Publica ons Horovitz, D. (2000) Ethnic Groups in Confl ict, Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press Hardt, H. (2004) ‘Predstavljanje osamosvojitve: Podoba-tekst slovenskega fotožurnalizma’, in Teorija in praksa 40 4, Ljubljana. Available at h p://dk.fdv.uni-lj.si/db/pdfs/ p20034hardt.pdf Hislope, R. (2001) The Calm Before the Storm? The Infl uence of Cross Border Networks, Corrup on and Contraband on Mace- donian Stability and Regional Security, New York. Available at h p: an korupcija.org.mk/priracnici, 4 Hrva n, S.B et al. (2008) Razjedinjeni propadaju - Javni radio - televizijski servisi u mul etničkim državama, Sarajevo: Media- centar Južnič, S. (1973), Poli čna kultura, Maribor: Obzorja Kashumov, A. (ed) (2006): Freedom of Speech in Sout East Europe: Media Independence and Self-Regula on, Sofi a: Media Development Centre Lippmann. W (1922/1999) Javno mnenje, Ljubljana: Zalozba FDV Mincheva, Ly. (2005) ‘Dissolving Boundaries Between Domes c and Regional/Interna onal Confl ict’, in New Balkan Poli cs, issue 9. Available at www. newbalkanpoli cs.org.mk Petrič, E. (2010), Zunanja poli ka, Ljubljana: Center za evropsko prihodnost in Znanstveno-raziskovalni center Slovenske aka- demije znanos in umetnos Petrović, T. (2010), Zahodni Balkan je južno,Ljubljana: Mirovni inš tut Podunavac, M. (1989) Poli čka kultura i poli čki procesi, Beograd: Radnicka Stampa Toš,N. (2002) Vrednote v menjavi, Ljubljana: FDV Vreg, F. (2000) Poli čno komuniciranje in prepričevanje,Ljubljana: FDV *** Георгиев, Г. (уредник) (2007) Мултикултурализам: Надминат или ненадминлив концепт, Скопје: Форум. Илиевски, З. (2008) Интегративната теорија на Доналд Хоровиц и нејзината примена во Република Македонија (докторска дисертација), Правен факултет УКИМ, Скопје Јакимовски, Љ. (1986) Социјализмот и политичката култура, Скопје:Макeдонска книга Јакимовски, Љ. (2003), Јавно мислење, масовно комуницирање, информациско општество, Правен факултет УКИМ, Скопје Петровиќ, З. и Кимов, Ѓ. (уредници) (1988) Јавното мислење во СРМ, Скопје: Институт за социолошки и политичко правни истражувања (ИСППИ).

Росиг, Р. (2007) ’Беше еднаш во Европа’, во Мултикултурализам: Надминат или ненадминлив концепт, Гордан Георгиев (уредник), Скопје: Форум. Тунева, М. и Камењарова, Е. (2010), Медиумите, граѓаните и интеркултурните комуникации, Скопје: Висока школа за новинарство и односи со јавноста

30 MEDIA REPRESENTATION AND INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION 31 AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS PRODUCTION NEWS THE INTO INSIGHT AN DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS

res

32 DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS

EUROPEAN STANDARDS, LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND ETHICAL PRINCIPLES FOR DIVERSITY REPORTING

Snezana Trpevska

1. Introduction

The term diversity repor ng covers a wide range of issues related to the way the media should report on various social and cultural groups in a democra c society. These issues are equally subject to legal norms as they are to ethical rules and standards accepted in the journalis c profession. This topic is present in the documents of all interna onal and European organiza ons that have media and freedom of expression as the focus of their a en on. In diff erent ways, all their documents emphasize the role of media in improving dialogue, tolerance and solidarity among people. Herea er we focus on the standards specifi ed in the documents of the Council of Europe, which has been very ac ve in the fi eld of human rights, especially regarding the issue of balance between freedom of expression and other human rights in the past three decades. The key document that sets out the basic principles regarding these issues is the European Conven on on Human Rights, together with the interpreta ons of the Euro- pean Court of Human Rights set in its decisions. Relevant resolu ons, declara ons and recommenda ons of the Council of Europe relate to this document. The document also explains the fundamental principles contained in the Conven on and in the interpreta- on of the European Court of Human Rights decisions.. In this review we focus at some of the more signifi cant documents of the Parliamentary Assembly and the Commi ee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.

33 DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS

As a member of the Council of Europe, the Republic of Macedonia has ra ﬁ ed the res European Conven on on Human Rights, now an integral part of the na onal legisla on. This means that courts in Macedonia are obliged to apply or to refer to its provisions. The standards set forth in the documents of the Council of Europe have been incorporated in the na onal Cons tu on - he legisla ve and legal system reforms are aimed at their full implementa on and eﬀ ec veness of the case law in the country.. The most relevant provisions of the Cons tu on and the domes c legisla on concerning the media repor ng on diversity will be presented in this review. Finally, we shall review the professional standards and ethical norms established by the Code of Journalists of Macedonia.

2. Documents and standards of the Council of Europe

The legal instruments on freedom of expression and the role of media in the fi ght against xenophobia, racism, an -Semi sm and other forms of discrimina on are established within the Council of Europe with the European Conven on on Human Rights and Freedoms, which is closely related to, and inspired by, the UN Universal Declara on of Human Rights. The provisions of the European Conven on are supplemented with the interpreta ons in the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg and with other referent conven ons, resolu ons and recommenda ons adopted by the Council of Europe. Ar cle 10 (paragraph 1) of the European Conven on on Human Rights promotes the right to freedom of expression as a complex right which is consisted of three components: freedom to hold opinions and freedom to receive and impart informa on. The right to request informa on is not explicitly stated in Ar cle 10 (unlike Ar cle 19 of the Interna onal Covenant on Civil and Poli cal Rights). However, its importance is clearly emphasized in the prac ce of the European Court of Human Rights and in the documents of the Council of Europe, especially in the context of journalis c freedoms and rights: the freedom to report and comment on ma ers of public interest, freedom of editorial policy (including the right to rough speech), the protec on of sources of informa on, intellectual property, protec on from physical violence and a acks in the workplace and protec on from seizure of materials. Furthermore, paragraph 2 of Ar cle 10 of the ECHR lists the legi mate restric ons to the freedom of expression - provided that they are clearly prescribed by law, that they are protec ve of legi mate goals and they are instated as a democra c necessity. . Any restric on should be set only is case of real necessity and should be interpreted very narrowly. This means that the freedom of expression is a basic norm and the restric on should be an excep on. Of all men oned limita ons, the most relevant is the one related to the protec on of the rights of others. This means that the protec on of freedom of expression provided for in Ar cle 10 does extend to publishing racist, xeno- phobic, an -Semi c or other discriminatory speech. The European Court of Human Rights and the Council of Europe stress that the freedom of expression, pluralism and tolerance are very important for the democracy and free poli cal debate. But equally important for the democracy are the promo on of tolerance, understanding and preven on of confl icts, because the more diff erent groups

34 EUROPEAN STANDARDS, LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND ETHICAL PRINCIPLES FOR DIVERSITY REPORTING c on on on and on 35 on is the ve impact ve ve criteria criteria ve onalism and ve ve approach c society (McG- c society rec- key ned in two ve role that media that role ve on, prohibi on, fi its limita ons for a culture of tolerance. on of of the ee of Ministers c pluralis in by the Council of Ministers ons adopted es, migrants and people of es, migrants ng hatred, racist statements, statements, racist ng hatred, sm or other forms of hatred of hatred sm or other forms ng/media/Doc/CM/ the risk of social lower ons, the in the tolerance and ng pluralism the nega highlight cally , the Commi ve legal framework that takes into into takes that framework legal ve fi 5 on of human dignity in the context the context on of human dignity in -Semi AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS PRODUCTION NEWS THE INTO INSIGHT AN ec ff on and they serve as a space for exchange exchange as a space for serve on and they 21 on the media and the promo on (97) rst one refers to the nega to one refers rst lity against minori lity against fi on or even prevent all forms of expression which of expression all forms prevent on or even on on Human Rights does not explicitly men does not explicitly on on Human Rights ons cover similar issues, they are adopted as two as two adopted are issues, they similar ons cover on, which speci p://www.coe.int/t/dghl/standardse h

why of human dignity is the reason on of the concept ng informa ng Recommenda fy hatred based on intolerance (including religious intol- (including religious based on intolerance fy hatred ni and fi on 97 (20) advises member states to take appropriate mea- appropriate take to states on 97 (20) advises member basis of objec should be applied on the ned, they on and hos fi Available at Available speech (97) 20 on hate on ons of one’s dignity. dignity. ons of one’s nes hate speech as “all forms of expression which spread, incite, incite, which spread, expression of forms speech as “all nes hate fi on of tolerance, understanding and intergroup and intercultural dia- and intercultural and intergroup understanding on of tolerance, ng tolerance, understanding and dialogue. understanding ng tolerance, fy racial hatred, xenophobia, an xenophobia, hatred, fy racial speech” 20 on „hate on (97) on towards certain forms of expression (inci of expression forms certain on towards main aspects: (1) preven of two consists ons in the area, (2003), § 40. on (97) 20 on „hate speech“, speech“, 20 on „hate on (97) . 6 in the media can released or reports which types of statements determine cult to . Although both recommenda sanc be necessary to es it may ffi 4 ve ac The approach of the Council of Europe on this issue, which is de on of the Council of Europe The approach The absence of a clear de The absence of a clear The European Court of Human Rights held the view that “... in some democra “... that held the view Court of Human Rights The European Although the European Conven Although the European In the Recommenda This, in other words, means that hate speech should not be tolerated in a demo- speech should not be tolerated hate means that This, in other words, Recommenda Recommenda c society. Recommenda Gündüz v. Turkey Turkey Gündüz v. logue etc.) and (2) promo etc.) puni ommenda be considered as viola be considered of “hate speech”. of “hate it is di erance) of various provisions of the Conven provisions of various onagle, 2009: 18). The Court has reviewed the no the Court has reviewed onagle, 2009: 18). The spread, incite, promote or jus promote incite, spread, respect for human dignity and freedom of people, as well as tolerance and respect for for and respect as tolerance of people, as well and freedom human dignity for respect beings as a basis of the democra the dignity of all human immigrant origin.” immigrant socie of views and dialogue. of views the right to human dignity as a separate right, the European Court of Human Rights, by Rights, Court of Human the European right, human dignity as a separate to the right of the Conven essence the very that emphasizes law, its rulings and its case should be very narrowly de narrowly should be very based on intolerance, including: intolerance expressed by aggressive na by aggressive expressed including: intolerance based on intolerance, ethnocentrism, discrimina ethnocentrism, public debate by widely distribu public debate tensions is. The media play an important role in promo role an important is. The media play tensions and be subject to a subsequent judicial review. a subsequent and be subject to account the balance between freedom of expression and the right not to be discrimi- not to and the right of expression freedom the balance between account the condi of expression, freedom protect to In order against. nated separate documents, out of which the out documents, separate the posi on speech, while the other focuses hate in spreading have may promo aimed at Council of Europe de Council of Europe promote or jus promote 1997: in society know each other and enter into mutual rela into and enter know each other in society cra the media, so that through speech spread hate speech, including hate combat to sures and an e a comprehensive introduce would they Rec%281997%29020&ExpMem_en.asp#TopOfPage 5 4 recommenda key in the two consolidated are of the Council of Europe The principles and standards 6 DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS

Also, the authori es need to be extremely careful when assessing whether to im- res pose restric ons to the freedom of expression, because not every cri cal and rough speech is hate speech at the same me7. Recommenda on (97) 21 on the media and the promo on of a culture of tolerance8 which highlights the posi ve approach of the Council of Europe urges media to adopt measures and good prac ces to ensure media professionals to become more sensi ve to issues of mul culturalism and tolerance. Such measures include organizing of training programs, facilita ng access to media for diff erent social groups, promo ng of intercultural programs and avoiding nega ve repor ng and dissemina on of stereotypes for certain groups. The Council of Europe also discussed the issue of hate speech in me of social tensions and confl icts, when free expression can easily be threatened and when media and journalists suff er the most. This is the main issue that is discussed in Recommenda on (96) 4 on the protec on of journalists in situa ons of confl ict and tension9 where member states are advised to develop policies and take ac ons that focus on preven on, such as: appropriate insurance, aff ordable and safe working condi ons for journalists, protec- on measures and physical safety of journalists and others. These issues are also covered in the Guidelines of the Commi ee of Ministers on Pro- tec ng Freedom of Expression and Informa on in Times of Crisis adopted in 200710, which state that in all emergency situa ons and circumstances, such as wars, terrorist a acks, natural disasters and so on, it is of vital importance that the media inform the public on the viola ons of human rights. In addi on, the Guidelines the Council of Europe call on the media to observe professional standards with accurate, mely and comprehensive informa on and to provide a posi ve contribu on to the preven on and resolu on of crises, by encouraging a culture of tolerance and understanding among diff erent groups. The right to freedom of expression as defi ned in Ar cle 10 of the European Con- ven on on Human Rights should be exercised along with other freedoms and rights defi ned in the Conven on, such as freedom of religion, as well as educa onal, cultural and linguis c rights. The Council of Europe has par cularly emphasized the need to balance freedom of expression and freedom of religion, as two poten ally confl ic ng rights (Zankova, 2009: 23). This issue is covered in the Resolu on 1510 (2006) of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on freedom of expression and respect for religious belief11, which emphasizes that hate speech toward religious groups does not correspond to the objec ves of the European Conven on and the case law of the European Court of Human Rights. Documents adopted in the last decade by the Council of Europe pay much a en on to the protec on of human dignity in the changing technological environment. Among the fi rst documents relevant to this issue are the Declara on on a European Policy for

7 See more on hate speech: Steering Commi ee for Human Rights (CDDH), Commi ee of Experts for the Development of Human Rights (DH-DEV), Report: Human Rights in a Mul cultural Society – Hate Speech, h p://www.coe.int/t/e/human_rights/cddh/3._commi ees/ 8 Recommenda on (97) 21 on the media and the promo on of a culture of tolerance. Available at: h p://www.coe.int/t/dghl/standardse ng/media/Doc/CM_en.asp 9 Recommenda on (96) 4 on the protec on of journalists in situa ons of conﬂ ict and tension. Available at: h p://www.coe.int/t/dghl/standardse ng/media/Doc/CM_en.asp 10 Guidelines of the Commi ee of Ministers on protec ng freedom of expression and informa on in mes of crisis (2007). Available at: h p://www.coe.int/t/dc/ﬁ les/events/2011_terrorisme_onu/crisis_en.pdf 11 Resolu on 1510 (2006) on freedom of expression and respect for religious belief. Available at: h p://assembly.coe.int/Main.asp?link=/Documents/AdoptedText/ta06/ERes1510.htm 36 EUROPEAN STANDARDS, LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND ETHICAL PRINCIPLES FOR DIVERSITY REPORTING Dec-

37 nuously me, this me, c debate debate c . Available at: at: Available 13 al factors in a al factors Available at: Available ng on ee of Ministers Available at: at: Available uen orms to encourage encourage orms to fl on and communica- ng. es for spreading false false spreading es for on society. society. on on of social cohesion, of social cohesion, on and ng their problems , the Council of Europe , the Council of Europe (2005). Available at: at: (2005). Available 15 9 on measures on (2003) ec and the need to on society fl c society. c es are directly related to the to related directly es are on society society on including minor- es and groups, sup- ng whose main mission is to broadcas digital on of . AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS PRODUCTION NEWS THE INTO INSIGHT AN and Human Rights on ee of Ministers 14 Recommenda c processes. But, at the same But, at c processes. broadcas of digital on ng_280503_tcm6-5032.pdf Available at: at: Available . es for individuals to produce and distribute and distribute produce individuals to es for and 12 Commi on (2007) 16 of the pla services and digital ve (1999) and integra- of social cohesion on) and a factor social contribu c and es. Public service broadcaster need to promote promote need to es. Public service broadcaster cipa on of the Commi (2005) on Society on technologies technologies on c par c al, the Internet is a new technology that encourages com- encourages that technology is a new al, the Internet points of Europe The Council technologies. by the new ered of informa of the use consequences ve ff ty, to integrate all communi integrate to ty, Recommenda the public service value of the Internet. promote on measures to ee of Ministers of Public Service Infor- Media in the Remit on (2007) 3 on the and social contribu c on the remit of public service media in the informa ee of Ministers cipate in social networks and to acquire new knowledge and and new knowledge acquire and to in social networks cipate Declara es o es and democra on sharing erent types of media for pluralism and diversity in the society: in the society: and diversity pluralism types of media for erent ff cal, legal and social values in a democra and social values legal cal, re poten re it is stressed again that the public service broadcaster is expected to to is expected the public service that broadcaster again it is stressed and the rule of law in the informa on human rights ee of Ministers c debate. c 16 ers tremendous opportuni tremendous ers vely vely par ff and nega ve on Technologies since 1999 since on Technologies c society, because their mission and responsibili because c society, on of pluralism and diversity, and through the promo and through and diversity, of pluralism on 3 of the Commi on (2007) 16 of the Commi on (2007) the democra promote 9 on measures to on (2003) on, reducing professional standards in journalism and limited access of certain access of certain limited in journalism and standards professional on, reducing on, informa on, emanate. they ng the messages the Commi on of informa new policy for a European on on The Council of Europe adopted two important documents in 2007 that emphasize emphasize in 2007 that documents important two adopted The Council of Europe Such diversity in the programs of the public media reinforces the sense of mutual of the public media reinforces in the programs Such diversity In the Recommenda Public service broadcasters are considered one of the most in one of the most considered are Public servicebroadcasters On the other hand, in On the other hand, Internet o Internet on Society ps://wcd.coe.int/wcd/ViewDoc.jsp?id=1089759 ps://wcd.coe.int/wcd/ViewDoc.jsp?id=1207291 ps://wcd.coe.int/wcd/ViewDoc.jsp?id=849061 p://www.ebu.ch/CMSimages/en/leg_ref_coe_r2003_9_digital_broadcas ps://wcd.coe.int/wcd/ViewDoc.jsp?id=448133 in its on technologies on among individuals and communi Recommenda Recommenda Declara Recommenda Declara the importance of di the importance inclusion of all groups and individuals (especially young people and marginalized groups) groups) people and marginalized and individuals (especially young inclusion of all groups in the democra the Rule of Law in the Informa the Rule of Law in the trust and shared responsibility among all groups in society. The public service broadcast- in society. among all groups responsibility and shared trust interac er should use new technologies, promo out to all posi out to brings many risks to privacy and human dignity, many opportuni many and human dignity, privacy to risks brings many informa the possibili to groups ity groups, young and old, privileged and underprivileged, re and underprivileged, and old, privileged young ity groups, munica ma cultural diversity and iden diversity cultural skills. With its en port the basic poli stresses the importance and value of public broadcas of public and value the importance stresses preserva con documents in its many The Council of Europe and understanding. tolerance Measures to Promote the Public Service value of the Internet Promote Measures to content, to ac to content, democra promote a culture of dialogue and mutual respect of all groups and individuals through and individuals through of all groups and mutual respect of dialogue a culture promote new technologies. be a reference point for all individuals in society, to be a forum for a democra for be a forum to in society, all individuals for point be a reference emphasizes the social and ethical dimensions of the informa the social and ethical emphasizes a democra (thus reinforcing to promote the democra promote to New Informa New h h 16 h 15 14 h h 13 12 DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS

lara on on protec ng the role of the media in democracy in the context of media con- 17 18 res centra on and Recommenda on on media pluralism and diversity of media content . Both of these documents emphasize the role of non-profi t, local, minority and social media in opening space for dialogue, in mee ng specifi c needs of par cular groups in the civil society and promo on of social cohesion and integra on. In 2009, the Commi ee of Ministers adopted a special Declara on on the role of community media in promo ng social cohesion and intercultural dialogue19. This Declara on defi nes community media as a diff erent sector, which complements public and commercial broadcast media. They are non-profi t, rely on voluntary par cipa on of members of civil society, and their ac- ons are intended to achieve a social idea that is good for the community. Audiovisual media were subject to special considera on both in the case law of the Euro- pean Court of Human Rights and in the documents of the Council of Europe, mainly because they have a great infl uence in shaping public opinion and in shaping the cultural values. A key document of the Council of Europe for the broadcast media is the European Conven on on Transfron er Television20. The Ar cle 10 of the European Conven on on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms is referred to in Ar cle 7, paragraph 1 of the Conven on on Transfron- er Television, which states that all elements of program services, in terms of presen ng the content, shall respect human dignity and fundamental rights of others. In this context it is important to men on two other documents of the Council of Europe, which are of great importance for exercising of the linguis c and other rights of the communi es and their access to the media. The fi rst document is the Framework Conven on for the Protec on of Na onal Minori es of 199521, where Ar cle 9 states that member states are obliged to recognize the right to freedom of expression of na onal minori es in their language and that they will not be discriminated against in the access to the media. In accordance with the legal framework rela ng to the broadcast media, states should introduce criteria and mechanisms for the na onal minori es to be enabled to establish media outlets of their own, to have access to media contents and to take other measures to preserve cultural pluralism and promote tolerance. The second document is the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in 199522, where Ar cle 11 states that member states are obliged to ensure the establishment of media outlets (radio, television), i.e. broadcas ng of programs in the regional or minority languages, both within the public broadcaster and the commercial broadcast sector. This obliga on applies to the introduc on of general condi ons and the provision of fi nancial support (wherever possible) for prin ng daily newspapers, as well as produc on and distribu on of audiovisual programs in the regional and minority languages. States should also support educa on and training of journalists and other professionals who work in the media that publish contents in the regional and minority languages in their country.

17 Declara on on protec ng the role of the media in democracy in the context of media concentra on (31 January 2007). Available at: h ps://wcd.coe.int/wcd/ViewDoc.jsp?id=1089615 18 Recommenda on CM/Rec (2007)2 on media pluralism and diversity of media content. Available at: h ps://wcd.coe.int/wcd/ViewDoc.jsp?id=1089699 19 Declara on on the role of community media in promo ng social cohesion and intercultural dialogue, Available at: h ps://wcd.coe.int/wcd/ViewDoc.jsp?id=1409919 20 European Conven on on Transfron er Television, Available at h p://conven ons.coe.int/Treaty/en/Trea es/Html/132.htm 21 Framework Conven on for the Protec on of Na onal Minori es, Available at: h p://conven ons.coe.int/Treaty/en/Trea es/html/157.htm 22 European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, Available at h p://conven ons.coe.int/treaty/en/Trea es/Html/148.htm 38 EUROPEAN STANDARDS, LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND ETHICAL PRINCIPLES FOR DIVERSITY REPORTING on en ense ense ff ff ed by ed 39 cular group cular group ense of Hatred and ff incorpo- on are the ons through on of the Repub- onal, ethnic or reli- onal, ethnic on of human rights rights on of human tu on, while paragraph on, while paragraph ons have adopted several several adopted ons have ve years.” ve fi honour and repu- enses against ff AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS PRODUCTION NEWS THE INTO INSIGHT AN censorship prohibits on, which explicitly on that promotes or encourages hatred, hatred, or encourages promotes on that Legal Analysis of the Concept of Punishable O Legal Analysis of the Concept onal organiza on. tu o cular malicious act) and punishable onal, racial or religious hatred, discord or intol- discord hatred, or religious onal, racial of of Macedonia, the provisions on of Journalists Conven cle 10 of the European . The term “hate speech” is usually associated with speech” is usually associated “hate . The term on of Human Rights and the European Conven and the European on of Human Rights 23 on. This provision also applies to acts commi also applies to on. This provision such act is i.e. that on and insult in the criminal laws, cally treated criminal o treated cally on) fi ons which require from the member states to abolish the to the member states from ons which require lia ffi cally prohibits spreading of ideas about the “superiority about the “superiority of ideas spreading prohibits cally fi individual (o or group of a certain on, insult or slander of six months by criminal imprisonment accompanied ons are puni- criminal law: in the modern basic concepts two on between by the Associa ve on, hatred or intolerance towards members of a par members towards or intolerance on, hatred cle 394, hate speech also involves “the spreading of racist and xe- of racist “the spreading speech also involves cle 394, hate cle speci a nc p://www.jpacademy.gov.mk/upload/PDF%20Files/Pravna%20analiza.pdf or other landmark. religious onal, racial, cle 319 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Macedonia: “A person person of Macedonia: “A 319 of the Criminal Code of the Republic cle cular group or endangers the safety of an individual member of the group individual member of the group of an the safety or endangers cular group ac on. Such Cons cle 16 of the Macedonian on or violence against individual or group on the basis of race, skin colour, skin colour, on the basis of race, or group individual on or violence against on, racism or xenophobia and mainly refers to calling on or incitement to to on or incitement calling to refers and mainly or xenophobia on, racism Available at h at Available cle 417 of the Criminal Code prohibits racial discrimina racial cle 417 of the Criminal Code prohibits ense that is consisted of verbal or other expression which encourages violence which encourages or other expression of verbal is consisted ense that na ed by fi ff

There is a dis There The Council of Europe and other interna The Council of Europe According to Ar to According Ar The fuelling of ethnic, racial or religious hatred and intolerance is a punishable of- and intolerance hatred or religious racial The fuelling of ethnic, All fundamental values associated with ensuring and protec with ensuring associated values All fundamental 3. Constitution and legislation of the Republic of Macedonia of Macedonia Republic legislation of the and 3. Constitution onal, religious or other a onal, religious ense of endangerment related to a par to related ense of endangerment on, involving libel, insult and exposure of personal and family condi and family of personal libel, insult and exposure on, involving ﬀ ve o of injury to dignity and reputa of injury to (o humilia to which is related the Criminal Code which speci ta against a par against provisions for the acts of defama for provisions these guidelines, and Following only. misdemeanour proceedings as subject to treated of the ini as result and guarantees freedom of expression in all its dimensions, the freedom to establish establish to dimensions, the freedom in all its expression of freedom and guarantees informa access to of media and the freedom documents and recommenda documents rated in Ar rated other types of mass media. na materials, images or other forms of presenta or other forms images materials, discrimina nophobic materials through the computer systems”, which involves spreading of wri spreading which involves systems”, the computer through nophobic materials erance, shall be punished with imprisonment of one to of one to with imprisonment shall be punished erance, lic of Macedonia. The provisions of Ar provisions lic of Macedonia. The who uses force, harassment, endangerment of safety, exposes na exposes of safety, endangerment harassment, who uses force, to three years. years. three to gious symbols to disrespect, damages someone else’s items, desecrates monuments, monuments, desecrates items, someone else’s damages disrespect, to gious symbols na or incites or otherwise causes graves 3 of the same ar racial to or incitement another” hatred over of racial of one race the advocacy and discrimina contained in the Universal Declara in the Universal contained Cons built in the are Freedoms and Fundamental on Human Rights violence, discrimina discrimina iden under Ar fense Hate Speech. Hate 23 (2012) Trajkovska and M.Lazarova 48-50 in: V.Kambovski on pages See more DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS

“press, radio, television or other means of public informa on or at a public gathering” 24 res were li ed in November 2012 . At the same me the Law on Civil Liability for Defama on and Libel was adopted, which regulates the procedure for compensa on of damage a er detec ng liability for acts of insult and defama on, including off enses commi ed through the mass media.25 The implementa on of the Law on Preven on and Protec on from Discrimina on (Offi cial Gaze e No. 50/2010) began on 1 January 2011. It is the fi rst law in the country that a empts to treat discrimina on and it envisages new protec on mechanisms. Ar- cle 7 of the Law states that “harassment and humilia on is a viola on of the dignity of a person or group arising from a discriminatory basis and which has the purpose or result of viola ng the dignity of a person or introducing of a threatening, hos le, humilia ng or in mida ng environment, access or prac ce. “ The Law on Broadcas ng contains provisions concerning the guiding principles for the programs, and it places a special emphasis to the respect for human rights. There- fore, Ar cle 68 s pulates that the broadcas ng programs are based on the following principles: “... nurturing and developing human and moral values of the person and the protec on of privacy and dignity, equality of freedoms and rights regardless of sex, race, na onal, ethnic or social origin, poli cal and religious beliefs, property and social status of people, encouraging of a spirit of tolerance, mutual respect and understanding among individuals of diff erent ethnic and cultural backgrounds, ... openness of programs for presenta on of the various cultures that are part of the society, preserving and fostering na onal iden ty, language culture and na onal artwork ... “. The respect of human rights, human dignity and values also refers to the adver sing contents. Hence, Ar cle 89 of the Law on Broadcas ng s pulates that adver sing and teleshopping must not jeopardize human dignity, be based on the emphasis of na onal, ethnic, religious, sexual, racial or other diff erences, encourage behaviour that is dangerous to the health or a behaviour that undermines security, as well as to encourage behaviour that endangers the environment and off ends religious or poli cal beliefs. The Law on Broadcas ng also contains an explicit prohibi on of hate speech broadcast by broadcasters’ programs arising from the grounds for limita on of freedom of expression provided for in paragraph 2 of Ar cle 10 of the European Con- ven on. In fact, Ar cle 69 of the Law states that “in the broadcasters’ programs, as well as programs that are re-broadcasted through public communica on networks, programs that aim at violent overthrowing of the cons tu onal order of the Re- public of Macedonia and at encouraging or calling for military aggression or s r- ring of ethnic, racial, sexual or religious hatred and intolerance”, are not permi ed. In this context we will only men on the provisions of the Law on Personal Data Protec- on, which regulates certain issues related to the protec on of privacy of the persons, which are indirectly related to the respect of rights of various groups and communi es in the Macedonian society.

24 Law on changes and amendments to the Criminal Code, Offi cial Gaze e of the Republic of Macedonia, number 142 from 13.11.2012. Available at: h p://www.pravo.org.mk/documentDetail.php?id=233 25 Mass media means “newspapers, magazines and other print media, radio programs and television, electronic publica ons, teletext and other forms of editorially shaped content published or broadcasted daily or periodically in wri en, audio or image form in a fashion accessible to the general public. “Law on Civil Liability for Defama on and Libel, Offi cial Gaze e of the Republic of Macedonia, number142 from 13.11.2012. Available at: h p://www.pravo.org.mk/documentDetail.php?id=6426 40 EUROPEAN STANDARDS, LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND ETHICAL PRINCIPLES FOR DIVERSITY REPORTING cle 11 41 ons and on of the de- ons that the television the television in this di- empt ve, there is no there ve, on the c standards cal ...).” Ar ...).” cal ec ng, some interview interview some ng, ff . rst a rst 27 fi Handbook, published ng they ng Code of journalists onally produce or process or process onally produce on on any grounds (ethnic, (ethnic, grounds on on any on, poli ng. The ng. ng of all topics, including diversity. including diversity. ng of all topics, on of the general provisions of the provisions on of the general AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS PRODUCTION NEWS THE INTO INSIGHT AN enders their ethnic background shall not background their ethnic enders repor ces in diversity ff cular community when it is irrelevant to a to when it is irrelevant cular community 2011 ons in February en recalled. The media should report accu- The media should report en recalled. c elabora cle&id=47&Itemid=62&lang=mk fi communi- between tensions to when it comes ve ng on o ces and experiences from abroad: “... “... abroad: from ces and experiences Repor of the Diversity on ons on this ground in front of the Court of Honour in front ons on this ground onal speci tudes and prac and tudes en guides on the repor c profession. Self-regulatory systems are most appropriate appropriate most are systems Self-regulatory c profession. on=com_content&view=ar achments/799_PRIRACNIK.pdf repor diversity to issues related cal ng but it treats them as a general rule solely. What is missing from is missing from What rule solely. them as a general ng but it treats on of professional standards and, if they are e are and, if they standards on of professional be sensi ally and to erent social groups are o are social groups erent ff on. cle 10 states that “a journalist shall not inten journalist “a that cle 10 states p://www.vs.edu.mk/a on that jeopardize human rights and freedoms, he/she shall not speak with the shall not he/she and freedoms, human rights jeopardize on that oned, unless it is really necessary. necessary. oned, unless it is really on of Journalists of the Republic of Macedonia has adopted a Code of Jour- of Macedonia has adopted of the Republic on of Journalists . Ar es. For instance, when repor instance, es. For 26 ng of di ons were focused on ethical standards and rules. Many journalists and editors in- and editors journalists Many and rules. standards on ethical focused ons were The provisions of the Code of Journalists establish professional conven professional establish of the Code of Journalists The provisions In the research on the a In the research 5. Journalistic ethics and journalistic standards 5. Journalistic ethics and journalistic in the Macedonian media In the documents of the Council of Europe professional journalis professional of the Council of Europe In the documents The freedom of journalists to establish their own professional associa their own professional establish to of journalists The freedom 4. Ethical and professional standards and professional 4. Ethical cular case.” This is especially relevant when it comes to ethnic, cultural and religious and religious cultural ethnic, to when it comes relevant This is especially cular case.” is the produc in the country on on possesses a translated foreign literature aimed for our newsroom. It was the re- our newsroom. aimed for literature foreign on possesses a translated pulates that “the journalist shall observe the generally accepted social standards of social standards accepted the generally shall observe journalist “the that pulates p://www.znm.org.mk/index.php?op es in society. They should avoid encouraging stereotyping and treat individuals as equal individuals and treat stereotyping encouraging should avoid They es in society. by the School of Journalism and Public Rela by the School of Journalism and Public rec sta the overall picture is an addi is an picture the overall prac Code on several Only part of the media applied prac principles of repor ques the exis for except purposes said that research for terviewed do not follow any other wri any do not follow of the Associa be men decency and respect for ethnic, cultural and religious diversity in Macedonia.” Journal- in Macedonia.” diversity and religious cultural ethnic, for decency and respect the viola for bear responsibility ists nalists minori par s need to introduce special legal rules. They can be a useful tool to prevent unprofessional unprofessional prevent to tool a useful be can rules. They special legal introduce need to The media content. of produced the quality raising as for as well informing, and harmful Associa repor and impar rately a par with without “linking their behaviour informa violence and discrimina and encourage of hatred language orienta sexual , social, language, gender racial, religious, velop and adopt self-regulatory documents and codes of ethics allows promo allows of ethics and codes documents and adopt self-regulatory velop of the journalis standards means for promo means for 27 h at: Available 26 at: of Macedonia is available The Code of Journalists h DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS

sult of training a ended by one of the editors abroad; therefore he shared his experience 28 res with the colleagues in the newsroom.” Unlike this prac ce in the Western media, the Macedonian newsrooms do not have internal ombudsman, whose role would be to maintain honesty and accountability with the public. The ombudsman, ac ng as some sort of “public editor,” usually mediates the confl icts that are caused by external or internal pressures, encourages the use of professional and ethical standards, as well as self-cri cism among journalists. Besides the Council of Honour of the Associa on of Journalists, there is no other form of self-regula on of the en re media industry in Macedonia. In other countries such bodies are made up of journalists’ associa ons, media owners and members of the public. Individual a empts of self-regula on are iden fi ed in a small number of media outlets, which is usually implemented in the form of a review of the content published: “Journalists, selected reviewers say ... This is a good front page. It is a bad picture at the front page. This and that comment missed the objec ve. This and that is well placed...”29 When it comes to the public service broadcaster, by defi ni on it is supposed to be an example of highest standards, professionalism and quality in repor ng. There were gross viola ons of journalis c ethics observed in the public service broadcaster in the past twenty years. Many examples have been iden fi ed: editors directly involved in poli cal ac vi es30, or internal rules adopted which “mo vate” journalists to provide adver se- ments in the program, and this was severely cri cized in the public in the last ten years31.

6. Conclusion

The Council of Europe has adopted a series of charters, conven ons and recommenda ons that provide basic guidelines on the ways and means whose applica on guarantees the freedom of expression and at the same me ensures cohesion, tolerance and mutual respect for diff erent groups and communi es is preserved. These documents provide clear guidance on how to balance the exercise of freedom of expression with other rights and democra c values : dignity and privacy, protec on of na onal security, promo on of tolerance and preven on of confl icts etc. Issues of cultural diversity and media repor ng on diversity are discussed in more documents related to: preven on of hate speech and promo on of tolerance, protec on of minors, public service broadcast- ing, media pluralism and preven on of concentra on, the role of community media, new informa on services and protec on of human rights etc. The documents of the Council of Europe o en call for an intercultural dialogue - exchange of views among individuals and groups from diverse ethnic, cultural, religious and linguis c backgrounds. Intercultural dialogue is essen al to building a Europe without borders, because it promotes the exchange of knowledge without prejudices and based on mutual respect, trust and reciprocity. Along with the promo on of intercultural dialogue, the Council of Europe was dedicated to fi gh ng hate speech, discrimina on,

28 Quote from an interview with Ljubica Mangovska, programme editor of Tera TV in Bitola, conducted on April 18th 2011. 29 Quote from an interview conducted with Dimitar Culev, Utrinski Vesnik, April 9th 2011. 30 „MRTV editor led a rally of DUI in Cair“, an ar cle published in Vest on 21.3.2009. See more at: h p://www.vest.com.mk/?ItemID=CDD320A96BF0C148AFDBA7C02B075DC6 31 „Reality show and public service“, an ar cle published in Utrinski Vesnik on 16.10.2006 година. See more at: h p://217.16.70.245/?pBroj=1697&stID=30046&pR=20 42 EUROPEAN STANDARDS, LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND ETHICAL PRINCIPLES FOR DIVERSITY REPORTING

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ng. Living Together: a handbook on Council of Europe standards standards a handbook on Council of Europe Living Together: on ombudsman would be posi on ombudsman would on of Na er Television, Television, er * * * анализа Speech – Hate cultural Society – Challenges and Perspec cultural Society

ons regarding the balance between freedom of freedom the balance between ons regarding policy and the on ng, some which p://www.jpacademy.gov.mk/upload/PDF%20Files/Pravna%20analiza.pdf ve framework of the Republic of Macedonia incor- the Republic of framework ve Правна on in the media are rare, almost do not exist, which do not exist, almost rare, in the media are on the Protec on for ng/media/Doc/livingtogether_en.pdf on on Transfron Strasbourg: Council of Europe. Available at h at Available Council of Europe. Strasbourg: . (2012) М

, Available at: h at: , Available onal regula c and professional community for their detailed review and for and for review their detailed for community c and professional -discrimina on to social cohesion, intercultural dialogue, understanding, tolerance and democra tolerance dialogue, understanding, intercultural social cohesion, on to (Ed.), Strasbourg: Council of Europe. Available at h at Available Council of Europe. Strasbourg: (Ed.), Скопје

: Трајковска on to social cohesion, intercultural dialogue, understanding, tolerance and democra tolerance dialogue, understanding, intercultural social cohesion, on to

European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages Regional for Charter European Framework Conven Framework European Conven European Report: Human Rights in a Mul Human Rights Report: Report: Human Rights in a Mul Human Rights Report: onal and legisla en on ombudsman as an independent (Ed.), Strasbourg: Council of Europe. Available at: Available Council of Europe. Strasbourg: (Ed.),

tu Manual on hate speech, Manual on hate Yasha Lange, Yasha Лазарова

Полиестердеј и ects the manner of repor (DH-DEV). Rights of Human the Development ee of Experts for , ﬀ . on, В is sanc or other background, religious ethnic, on on the basis of

Yasha Lange, Yasha by the journalis ve p://www.coe.int/t/dghl/standardse on, cipa In this context it should be pointed out that Slovenia has a very posi has a very Slovenia out that it should be pointed In this context Bibliography: Bibliography: media/Doc/livingtogether_en.pdf The examples of self-regula The examples dards on media’s contribu dards on media’s on media’s contribu on media’s In regard to the print media, and more recently for the online media, the rules of the for recently media, and more print the to In regard омраза The cons an the regarding ons a would encourage the use of professional and ethical standards, and self-cri standards, and ethical the use of professional encourage would journalists. with the informa create some social reality. Establishing of an ins Establishing some social reality. create in the media or informa ethics for a council directly a directly h Weber, A. (2009) Weber, Камбовски an improvement of the quality of news repor of the quality of news an improvement Zankova, B. (2009) ‘Dialogue, Understanding and Social Cohesion’, in Social Cohesion’, and B. (2009) ‘Dialogue, Understanding Zankova, Council of Europe (1992) Council of Europe McGonagle, T. (2009) ‘Free expression and respect for others’, in others’, for and respect expression (2009) ‘Free McGonagle, T. expression and “the fundamental rights of others.” In this respect, hate speech and dis- hate respect, In this of others.” rights and “the fundamental expression crimina as the broadcast media are concerned strict rules are applied. are rules strict concerned media are as the broadcast an is a need of There general. too present at be applied, which are should Code of ethics ini Council of Europe (1985) Council of Europe porates all basic interna porates (1989) Council of Europe 2008. The Hague 12-13 November proceedings Conference Council of Europe (2008) Council of Europe Commi Council of Europe (2009) Council of Europe racism and xenophobia. For this purpose, a special European Commission against Rac- Commission against a special European this purpose, For and xenophobia. racism of recommen- itself a number which has adopted established, was ism and Intolerance da DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS

res

44 DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS

REPORTING ON DELICATE ETHNIC ISSUES

Sefer Tahiri*

1. Introduction

During the 1990’s Balkan media have shown that they posses highly eff ec ve power to divide people based on their ethnic background, inci ng and encouraging confl icts. Mass media across the region were fl ooded with content based on propaganda and hatred towards the others, who were considered and/or declared enemies. O en the media, both print and electronic, used to compete in their inten on to spread stereotypes and create the worst possible image of those who they (used to) perceive as “the others”. The role of media in the countries of former Yugoslavia, fi rst in Serbia, Croa a, Bosnia and Herzegovina and later in Kosovo and Macedonia in many cases was directly aiming at inci ng hatred and violence among once peaceful neighbours, in the bloody wars of the last decade of the XX century. Media had a notorious role in inci ng the Balkan bloodshed. A 1990’s journalist from a Croa an television “proudly” stated in front of a camera: “I am ready to lie for the sake of my homeland”. This statement which can be found in the Kemal Kurspahic’s book “Crime at 19:30”, illustrates at its best the extremely problema c role of the journalist during a war confl ict at the me of the bloody dissolu on of former Yugoslavia. There are diverse opinions when it comes to the role of journalists and media in the wars on the territory of former Yugoslavia. If one can accept the widespread opinion that journalists did not incite the wars, it is also hard to dispute the fact that, in many situ- a ons, they were either main ins gators or supporters of the confl icts. Perhaps in this context, as Kurspahic also no ced in the above men oned book, a part of the media in former Yugoslav republics were degraded as tools aimed to ‘produce’ the enemy, and to incite war and jus fying military ac ons. Yet there were individuals in the media that re- fused to be used in the war propaganda, by defending the generally accepted ethical val-

* Sefer Tahiri, PhD in communica on sciences. Professor at the University of South East Europe in Tetovo. Areas of interest: media and poli cs, media repor ng 45 DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS

ues and professional standards in journalism. Media in Macedonia were also a ributed res evident role in inci ng of the 2001 confl ict in the country. The Bosnian journalist Senad Sla na presents a very nega ve view in the text “The war in Macedonia was `Bosnia light`”. According to him, media were the ones that started the ba le fi rst, both Mace- donian and Albanian. Other par es joined the killings at a later stage“ (Sla na, 2001). The media confl ict preceded the war confl ict. This conclusion can be viewed as a summary drawn from the discussions at the conference on “The history and the apoc- rypha – demythologiza on of the year 2001“, held in January 2011 (www.soros.org.mk). The same is highlighted in the study of Macedonian Ins tute for Media on the coverage of the Macedonian confl ict in 2001 tled „Macedonia – the confl ict and the media“. However, if we try to analyze the genesis of the confl ict, it is not that the media are in- nocent, but one cannot say that they were the main ins gator of the confl ict. During and prior the confl ict, hate speech and intolerance was detected in the poli cal and public discourse as a refl ec on of the divisions, since there are two “parallel worlds” in cultural, religious, and in a broader social aspect living for decades in Macedonia. As for the reasons and factors that contributed to the commencing of the confl ict, wider analysis is in- disputably necessary, where the specifi c role of media, journalists and editors who even before the confl ict used to write and report about “theirs” in the ethnic sense would be recognized, as well as the language used to convey the media content iden fi ed. Before the confl ict, a considerable number of journalists were wri ng and reporting exclusively from the posi on of Macedonians and Albanians and not as professionals. There were stereotypes and prejudices created in the Macedonian language media about Albanians who reportedly are prone to problems only, crime, human traffi cking and drugs, which contributed to deteriora on of the collec ve image about them among the public and the society. The same was happening in some Albanian language media, which reported unilaterally and created prejudice towards Macedonian people, o en in derogatory context calling them “Slav-Macedonians” in commentaries and other forms of uncri cally transferred statements of poli cians. Even the programmes of MRT, a public broadcas ng service, and later the private televisions, radio sta ons and newspapers were repor ng unilaterally and in imbalanced manner in ethnic terms. In a certain way it followed the previous prac ce since there were indica ons and allega ons of tense media atmosphere. While poli cal elites were not surprised by the confl ict, the media were surprised by the military charge and harshness since they were not ready for such a scenario. As the confl ict between NLA and the state military-police forces expanded throughout mountains of Tetovo, Kumanovo region, Radusha, Arachinovo and other crisis regions, the inter-ethnic tensions begun to emerge and rise. The divisions in the poli cal and the media sphere had begun. Due to these and other nega ve experiences in the recent years, it was necessary to invest a great deal in training of journalists and editors and all those decision-makers in the media with regard to their editorial policy. In addi on, eff orts are being made to adopt standards and professional prac ces in the European Union, the USA and other developed democracies. Their professional knowledge and adequate regula on and self-regula on about journalism and the media ethics remain part of our inspira on to

46 REPORTING ON DELICATE ETHNIC ISSUES ng es in es c per- c 47 on. There on. ict, when on, which and af- ve fl mis rst built in the rst fi ng on complex cant tasks faced faced tasks cant ying on all sides. on authori on fi fl one, the repor rst er the con fi cular manifested during cular manifested since the Neolithic led here glance – the impossible: rst fi es”. cal structures and generally in and generally structures cal and stones sts fi es, ideas and their views fully ac- views es, ideas and their of March 2011. At this point, tribute tribute this point, 2011. At of March AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS PRODUCTION NEWS THE INTO INSIGHT AN th sub- them based on several from erent ff ces and to promote understanding and and understanding promote ces and to on. erent ethnic or religious background the background or religious ethnic erent ff er more than a decade a than a decade er more erences are immense, the accomplishment of this the accomplishment immense, are erences ff as Southeastern such run deep. In a region can erences ff reali “parallel on of the two opposi the on to ll ethnic rivalry, examples of stereotypes, hate speech and hate of stereotypes, examples rivalry, ll ethnic on camp Treblinka. Compared to the to Compared Treblinka. on camp at achieve do – to them to al for ” and on the other “Shverceri”. Police could not prevent the close not prevent could Police ” and on the other “Shverceri”. rmed by the event which is subject to analysis: the incident in Sko- the incident analysis: which is subject to rmed by the event fi of February 2011. During this event two fan groups clashed: on one groups fan two During this event 2011. of February th ng can be found in many media. It is in par in many be found ng can erences. Although a Although erences. nuous improvement of journalists’ and the media coverage and report- and media coverage and the journalists’ of nuous improvement ff lements even before the walls of the fortress were built. According to archae- to built. According were of the fortress the walls before even lements me (6th century) with stone walls 121 meter high. According to archaeologists, the archaeologists, to high. According 121 meter walls with stone me (6th century) nitely claimed to be a museum, church-museum or church only. In this event, In this event, only. or church be a museum, church-museum claimed to nitely fi ne al components. If a source is from a di is from If a source al components. arise in the ruling poli or crises that on campaigns on it could be concluded that progress has been achieved in repor has been achieved progress that concluded be on it could This is also con Thus, despite the progress, although to a much lesser extent compared to the pe- to compared a much lesser extent although to the progress, Thus, despite Skopje Fortress - Kale is situated on the high hill called Gradishte, over the central part of the central over Gradishte, on the high hill called is situated - Kale Fortress Skopje 2. Media representation of Kale events One of the biggest professional challenges or one of the most signi of the most or one challenges professional biggest One of the The second event which is also subject to analysis is the solemn opening of the analysis which is also subject to event The second rms key values of the human life and dignity. of the human life values rms key the governmental-party rela the governmental-party pje fortress on 13 pje fortress elec unilateral repor unilateral riod ten years ago, there is s there ago, years riod ten spectrum of issues of ethnic character by the media, however, there are more problems problems more are there by the media, however, character spectrum of issues of ethnic the produc due to remaining stone blocks out of which the fortress has been built, were taken from the ruined city of Skupi. from taken has been built, were out of which the fortress blocks stone fi cep and early Bronze Age, 4000 BC. The Fortress we are seeing today has been seeing today are we 4000 BC. The Fortress Age, and early Bronze Byzan ologists, the earliest known inhabitants of this place have been se of this place have known inhabitants the earliest ologists, context of the media, both in Macedonian and in Albanian language, is posi of the media, both in Macedonian and in Albanian language, context be se used to the city with a view on Vardar River. For centuries, it has been strategically important. Being important. it has been strategically centuries, For River. the city with a view on Vardar popula by the local been appreciated has always Kale in the city, point the highest Macedonia marks 12 years of the Ohrid Framework Agreement, in a real op in a real Agreement, Ohrid Framework of the 12 years Macedonia marks curately, despite the fact that di that the fact despite curately, di social and ethnic where Europe, trust create to want is not impossible. If journalists But, it achieve. to hard ideal is very it is essen then in society, and prac knowledge apply the professional to on di tolerance 1943 in the Nazi concentra role of journalists is to publish opinions of personali publish is to of journalists role side there were “Komi were side there of the building under construc and the opponents of the supporters contact was inde was slaps, were there coverage, the journalists’ to according occupa by the Bulgarian deported 7.418 Macedonian Jews paid to was by journalist is to write about people who are di are about people who write is to by journalist stan endeavour con endeavour issues. ing on ethics Memorial Centre of the Holocaust in Skopje, on 10 on in Skopje, of the Holocaust Memorial Centre DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS

Due to its strategic loca on, the fortress has been built, destroyed, reconstructed and res re-appropriated many mes in history by various invaders. A er the 1963 earthquake the circular and square towers of the fortress were conserved and restored. Kale is one of the most popular places for picnics, recrea on for city residents, as well as for foreign tourist visits in Skopje. The fortress off ers fantas c view of the city, as well as a possibility to reach the old town within few minutes from there. According to the offi cial website of Skopje Kale the latest “archaeological excava ons at Skopje Kale begun on 14 May 2007“. The idea itself for the project on latest archaeological research on Skopje Fortress originated from the undeniable need for fi nal eff ectua on of the great poten als of such a loca on and its remodelling with new content and new adequate urbaniza on. The Government of the Republic of Macedonia and the Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski unre- servedly stood behind this ini a ve, pushed for by the Director of Offi ce for Protec on of Cultural Heritage, Pasko Kuzman. Once the idea for implementa on of the excava on project on Kale was promoted, immediate reac ons and opinions emerged among the public. The project was mainly commended, hoping that fi nally the loca on on Skopje Fortress will be put in the right func on as cultural, historic, tourist and urban centre of the capital. But, at the same me there were some highly poli cised reac ons in favour of earning cheap poli cal points. Thus, for individuals, working on Kale was unacceptable, mostly because of the possibility of hiding and keeping silent any of the items being discovered. Bearers of such extremely unsubstan ated claims were a group of Albanian intellectuals, who were fostering the public with misinforma on (through the media, tribunes, public manifesta ons, etc). Their “key argument” was that the excava on on Kale will contribute to reportedly hiding whole cultural layers which, according to them, existed on this loca- on and it would change the history. They were placing stories and concerns in every possible way about alleged culture of the old Illyrians and Dardanians, whose artefacts should be found on the fortress, and that the excava on would hide those artefacts. The full opera on were con nuing on Kale and there were two new sectors opened for more coverage on the terrain projected for research. Transparency was necessary to introduce the real meaning of the cultural heritage and for developing the necessary care for it, not only among the par cipants in the ac- on but even more among the local popula on which at any me may visit Kale and directly monitor the work of the archaeologists (h p://skopskokale.com.mk/mk/istazu- vanja.php). On the other hand, the President of the Associa on of Albanian Historians in Macedonia, Skender Asani, supported by the NGO “Wake Up”, promoted the view that the archaeological researches should be transparent and not be dictated by daily poli cs, and they should involve other schools of archaeology from the region and the world who are familiar with the Illyrian ethno-culture. There were diff erent opinions among the public in Skopje and the wider society for the archaeological excava ons and for the construc on of a new building on Kale. However, it was the media that “ignited” ethnic passions. Specifi cally, the public was not informed about the character of the building that was being built intensively on Kale, un l it was offi cially stated. The start was marked by a statement of the director Pasko Kuzman broadcasted on the Macedonian television and later on Alsat-M saying that a

48 REPORTING ON DELICATE ETHNIC ISSUES

34 ict fl 35 on of on ng on ng uence c texts texts c vely“ fl 49 on in an re to the fi on this ng on of news ons – there cal cal in on towards it. on towards ict about which fl with eld together fi in the correct ous and ng is seen also through erent reac erent ff 2011. th during the repor ous 33 ve repor ve ng, journalists showed interest to to interest ng, showed journalists AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS PRODUCTION NEWS THE INTO INSIGHT AN mated that my presence is necessary, to to is necessary, presence my that mated ng on this event were respected - the self- respected were ng on this event ons. „Frankly of the journalists. part of the role cant fi ng due to the nature of the developments. Gen- of the developments. the nature ng due to

32 ict with ethnic background between two fan groups groups fan two between background ict with ethnic cularly important to represent the members or rep- or the members represent to cularly important fl on and that there is a decision from the Government Government the from is a decision there on and that ons. „When the incident at Kale happened, a common happened, a common Kale at the incident ons. „When tudes and opinions, whereas their presenta tudes and opinions, whereas happened“. really ect what fl nue to be discussed about. Even in my column, I brought it I brought column, in my be discussed about. Even nue to erent a erent ff ve and respected the professional standards and ethical norms. and ethical standards the professional respected and ve ng on this event, actors involved in the media produc involved actors ng on this event, on and contents consider that they had neutral posi had neutral they that consider contents on and c events. First thing I did was my presence on the presence my was thing I did First c events. fi in their lives“. er erent interpreta erent ff ict, ethnic tensions in that period, perhaps we even tried to provide a special provide to tried even period, perhaps we in that tensions ict, ethnic fl in journalis their opinions should be included and that group of that ves is par it on rule being that ng. We wanted to re to wanted ng. We a signi was fashion and accurate ve on to its end; I remained at work, we were extremely cau extremely were we work, at its end; I remained on to During the repor Most journalists and editors interviewed in this project stated that the repor that stated in this project interviewed and editors journalists Most In general, editors in chief claim that they were cau were they claim that in chief editors In general, Most of the interviewees spontaneously agreed that there was poli was there that agreed spontaneously of the interviewees Most In this event, there was a con was there In this event, di es have ve picture about the events. And we did not contribute in any way to fully set fully set to way any in did not contribute And we about the events. picture ve „Basically, we were trying to level it with an issue that should be handled by the police should an issue that it with level to trying were we „Basically, so it does not be- the topic spread trying not to were possible. We and end as soon as will con that a topic come even and who haven’t want they of people who do not know what an incident down to be seen anything and other informa and audio-visual contents. contents. and audio-visual repor resenta regula all to contribute to calming the tensions. „My opinion is that we tried to present an objec- present tried to we „My opinion is that the tensions. calming to contribute all to con ethnic event. „Journalists are mostly young; most of them did not have the opportunity to re- the opportunity to of them did not have most young; mostly „Journalists are event. port on such speci does this but I es Not everyone journalists. my see what is going on and provide guidance on how to proceed further. We monitored the monitored We further. proceed guidance on how to on and provide is going see what situa this event was objec was this event writ- for the rules and media directors, editors journalists, the interviewed to According during the repor groups ing about ethnic objec They on this event. of the journalists by the understanding speaking, astonished I was objec it very treat to want they obvious that It was not biased on this event. were angle of viewing things in order to calm the tensions from the media point of view.“ the media point from the tensions calm to angle of viewing things in order the wider social prism of unambiguous commitment of the media about the obliga commitment the wider social prism of unambiguous Apart from being professional responsibility, the objec responsibility, being professional Apart from were both ethnic and religious manifesta and religious ethnic both were of the Republic of Macedonia on that. That moment caused di caused moment That that. of Macedonia on of the Republic church will be built on that loca be built on that will church and it was very complicated for repor for complicated very and it was had di both sides erally During the repor of this event. in the development social con and generally religious an ethnic, because on Kale the event contextualize does not arise out of the blue. Usually there is a ‘prehistory’ of a con is a ‘prehistory’ does not arise out of the blue. Usually there par 32 31 2011. on March conducted Vest, of the daily newspaper in Chief Mihajlovski, Editor with Goran the interview from Quote 33 29 on March conducted TV, Alsat of in Chief Editor with Muhamed Zekiri, the interview from Quote 34 on April 19th 2011. conducted Zajmi, ALB TV, with Bardhul the interview from Quote 35 on April 25th 2011. conducted TV, in Sitel journalist with Marjan Nikolovski, the interview from Quote DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS

view was to present the event as it really happened. There were two manipulated groups res of very young people who had caused the incident in the interest of certain poli cal purposes. In the repor ng about Kale, besides giving the basic news of what happened, we tried through poli cal analysis, statements of analysts, experts, etc. to capture the poli - cal moment in the whole situa on, respec vely to show that the incident involved a lot of poli cs, poli cal par es. Considering the fact that it was about the involvement of the ruling par es, we presented it as such”. 36 But the main view of the Macedonian radio-television, contrary to the role of a public service, implied a kind of an a empt for poli cal destabiliza on.” „I assume that these media were repor ng on behalf of poli cal goals and wanted to cause destabiliza on.”37 The media in Albanian language has also recognized the involvement of poli cs. Accord- ing to them, the event had poli cal background. „We saw that a poli cal game is taking place in the background, meaning an inten on planned in advance, thus we were very cau ous about it, to show who is the “vic m” and who is the “culprit”, who created the game, in a way we condemned all par cipants in that part, always telling that if historical monuments should be preserved, then they should be kept as they are, and we were not suppor ng construc ons, we were against any kind of construc on there and we presented our view“.38 This event revealed the disunity and the dishonesty among the main par cipants in the execu ve power. „The Government of RM, par cularly the Macedonian partner, once again deceived the Albanian partner in the Government; again they worked behind their back. This was our way of repor ng, i.e. that certain people in Macedonia s ll did not understand that there are Albanians and Macedonians living here and that if they want to build something they have to take into considera on how Albanians feel about that.”39 Although the event was delicate and tense, all journalists and editors said that they did not either bring or determined wri en or unwri en rules in the newsroom about repor ng on it. „In our newspaper (’Dnevnik’) we have no such rules, if you ask me now how would I report on an incident in Old Town, in Struga or in Gos var, we have no rules how to proceed. Regardless of the fact that this is about sensi ve areas, we are being guided by some principles that we have as humans and as a society in general“.40 Many journalists and editors even thought that the Code of Journalists of Macedonia was a suﬃ cient frame for professional behaviour towards this event. „No, there is no need of concrete wri en or verbal rules for this event. It simply ﬁ ts into our daily working rhythm. And we do not measure since in our society every day is more or less intense, in fact, we are such a society, some mes similar tensions are produced, some mes bigger, and other mes smaller than that, some mes they just happen“.41 Repor ng on such events in fact has always been associated with journalis c professionalism. „We do not have either wri en or unwrit- ten rules, it has been reported in a chronological manner, according to the events, all was well-argued and supported by photograph, there was no such tendency of hiding something. We endeavour to objec vely cover the event, regardless of the consequences”.42

36 Quote from the interview with Mladen Chadikovski, Editor in Chief of A1 television, conducted on April 8th 2011. 37 Quote from the interview with Dimce Veljanovski, Editor in the Macedonian radio-television, conducted on April 18th 2011. 38 Quote from the interview with Mevaip Abdiu, Editor in Koha TV, Tetovo, conducted on April 21st 2011. 39 Quote from the interview with Migena Gorenca, Editor in Chief of the Second service of the Macedonian television, conducted on April 19th 2011. 40 Quote from the interview with Branko Gjorgjeski, Editor of the daily newspaper Dnevnik, conducted on April 15th 2011. 41 Quote from the interview with Risto Lazarov, Director of Telma, conducted on April 15th 2011. 42 Quote from the interview with Predrag Petrovik, Editor in A1 television, conducted on April 12th 2011 50 REPORTING ON DELICATE ETHNIC ISSUES

43 ict ng fl ons. ons. ect”. ect”. ff on in on in ict”. fl nd the nd fi 51 on as an on as 11. to al compared ons, journalists the mediacs that erent from a reli- from erent ff an ethnic ect them as ve ve connota since it does not erent ff ff on that came out about out about came on that ng interpreta 2011. to ons, when it is hard th reality on, since in principle the ic fl AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS PRODUCTION NEWS THE INTO INSIGHT AN rst rst informa fi a it from - looking at of the past c regime ons that the media incited this con incited the media ons that fi rela inter-ethnic touches al issue, which 44 is di ng on the Holocaust ng on the opening of this centre demonstrated high high demonstrated ng on the opening of this centre a “directly that on is being made about the news ms of a horri nc 45 on is not true, a church is not being built, but a museum but a museum is not being built, on is not true, a church ll dis ll oman period“. oman ng the vic erently“. about the holocaust“. only read it, or have ons do not remember ff ed compared to the previous (event on Kale), in terms of the fact that that of the fact in terms on Kale), (event the previous to ed compared ng few days before it happened. „Otherwise, I heard cri I heard „Otherwise, it happened. before days ng few fi ll something distant for all. All media reported that a museum has been that all. All media reported for distant ll something on of a church probably irritated the other side, another popula the other irritated probably on of a church ve values. That feature associated with this event is substan with this event associated feature That values. ve cians have started it all and then journalists are accused. It does not mean that accused. It does not mean are it all and then journalists started cians have an essen into entered on they ng about delicate topics such as inter-ethnic rela such as inter-ethnic topics ng about delicate Interviewed journalists and editors of news provide highest value about the opening value highest provide of news and editors journalists Interviewed However there was opposing opinion as well. “The media caused it, unaware of “The of opposing opinion as well. was there it, unaware media caused However For our area, which is saturated with many con with many which is saturated our area, For The general conclusion about the coverage on the opening of the Memorial Centre of the Memorial Centre on the opening about the coverage conclusion The general 3. Media coverage of the Memorial Centre of the Holocaust of Centre 3. Media coverage of the Memorial Journalists and editors reject the accusa reject and editors Journalists ect us directly. This is the only reason. That is something that happened in a distant past, past, happened in a distant that is something That This is the only reason. ect us directly. ff that looks like a church or I don’t know, whatever, which is very di is very which whatever, or I don’t know, a church like looks that deal of the found great then be collected, would exhibits where gious object, a space the O from are exhibits According to the statements, “the repor the statements, to According a genera and present showed that this informa that showed Macedonia which considered or probably considers that Kale is a site which belongs which belongs is a site Kale that considers or probably Macedonia which considered placed informa wrongly them. And I think this was to was more uni more was event that is being marked“. that event here occurred that the history „Such an event, of the Holocaust. of the Memorial Centre Although that no doubts about it“. I have such treatment. deserved in our environment be denied, s cannot value the construc If you remember well, you will see that the see that will you well, remember If you level of joint approach. „As far as that event is concerned, I can say that the repor that say I can is concerned, event as that „As far approach. of joint level most media, at least those I have observed, gave a kind of posi gave observed, I have those least media, at most through repor through ac- unfairly the media were that is say and all I can people there, clash between the incited cused. Poli the con and did not provoke not start did certainly but they great, acted journalists the situa angle that highlights mutual values. „The Memorial Centre is related to the tragic events events the tragic to is related Memorial Centre „The mutual values. highlights angle that in is dark event Holocaust the that all agree and Macedonia, and in Skopje in the past but s history, opened commemora repor the that consider and editors repor of the Holocaust in Skopje is that the media jointly – literally like rarely before – pro- before rarely like – literally media jointly the is that in Skopje of the Holocaust posi moted group, they react di react they group, certain historical distance. But, when they report for events that a that events for report But, when they distance. historical certain 45 2011 31st on March conducted Vreme, of the daily newspaper in Chief Cashule, Editor with Kole the interview from Quote 44 on April 25 conducted TV, in Sitel journalist with Marjan Nikolovski, the interview from Quote 43 28th 20 on April conducted service in the Second of Macedonian television, Ahmed, Editor with Erdem the interview from Quote DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS

4. Conclusion res Ethnic divisions have played a major role in Kale events, and journalists and media ins tu ons found themselves in a delicate posi on. Being members of ethnic communi- es, journalists were trying to bring forward the professional standards which require objec vity, but they acknowledge that the event was poli cized and complicated. Overall, with respect to Kale events, journalists were not “defenders” of the interest of the ethnic community they belong to; instead they were observers trying to report on all its complexity. Journalists, editors and managers were trying to avoid prejudices and stereotypes, but did not ignore poli cal roots and reasons for this event. In the repor ng on the second event, the opening of the Memorial Centre of the Ho- locaust, common points related to the historical tragedy of the Jews of Macedonia were highlighted, regardless of the language and the audience to which the media address. They were repor ng on this event uniformly and without prejudice. Also, the sources of informa on were correctly quoted. In this way, the media fulﬁ lled their obliga on to give the audience objec ve informa on and details that promote human values and solidarity with the community that suﬀ ered the worst possible human tragedy throughout the history.

Bibliography

Македонски Институт за Медиуми (2003), Македонија: конфликтот и медиумите, Скопје Курспахиќ К. (2003), Злочин у 19:30, Виена: СЕЕМО

52 REPORTING ON DELICATE ETHNIC ISSUES 53 AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS PRODUCTION NEWS THE INTO INSIGHT AN DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS

res

54 DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS

CONTEXT AND FACTORS OF INFLUENCE IN MEDIA REPORTING IN MACEDONIA

Snezana Trpevska

1. Introduction

Media repor ng (especially in print media) was studied in the past few decades within sociology and the study of communica ons by using diff erent theore cal and research approaches, which among other things have been answering the ques ons as to how and why the imprint about ethnic minori es, foreigners or “other” cultural groups constructed in the news, is o en nega ve. The proponents of the approach that placed emphasis on the news produc on process (Gans, 1979; Cohen, 1980; Cohen & Young, 1981; van Dijk, 1988a; Gordon and Rosenberg, 1989) explained that diversity repor ng is heavily infl uenced by the so-called “frames” of talking about the members of ethnic, religious or other cultural groups, which are induced by the mindset of those who produce the news. Namely, media repor ng is an array of discursive ac ons and decisions consciously situated in the journalis c community and in the community in which media products circulate (Co er, 2009). The produced media content that is a result of diversity repor ng prac ce contain value categories and norms that are a part of a the categories and norms of the wider community – community to which the one who produces the news content belongs to. In other words, each journalis c story or news item itself embodies cultural and discursive complexity of the journalist and the community he/she belongs to (Co er, 2009). However, according to the researchers of the news produc on process, the existence of prejudices and stereotypes among journalists is not suffi cient to comprehen- sively understand and explain all aspects of media repor ng on diversity. The news produc on approach starts from the assump on that many factors infl uence the selec on and manner of presenta on of topics, actors and events in the news: understanding of

55 DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS

journalists and editors about the news value; scenarios and genres of news that report- res ers and editors set out in wri ng about the events; ownership, control and poli cal af- ﬁ lia on of the media, origin, social status and ethnicity of the journalist; editorial policy, rules and rela ons in the newsroom, including rela ons between journalists and editors, and many other factors. Although as part of this and other theore cal models about the factors that inﬂ u- ence the news produc on process many empirical researches have been conducted (Co- hen & Young, 1981; van Dijk, 1988a; Gordon & Rosenberg, 1989, Schudson, 1989; Allan, 1999), s ll most of them analyze only individual factors in more details, especially the selec on of news and the concept of newsworthiness. A smaller number of research studies focus on understanding and describing the whole process of news produc on and on developing theory about diversity repor ng based on empirical data. Hereina er we will try, at least to some extent, to compensate this gap, given the reality in which informa on desks of electronic and print media in the country operate.

2. Method

This research is based on the analysis of 28 qualita ve interviews conducted with journalists and editors in electronic and print media in Macedonia, who have been ac vely focused on diversity repor ng. Transcripts were made of all interviews and a qualita ve thema c analysis was applied in order to extract the concept and terms for the empirical theory that describe the diff erent factors infl uencing diversity repor ng of the media in Macedonia. Four general ques ons were used during the interviews: (1) the manner in which the news produc on process took place in the newsrooms, (2) the manner in which two specifi c events from the recent past were covered, (3) the exis ng rules in newsrooms in rela on to no on of diversity repor ng and (4) the abili- es and knowledge of journalists in this area. The research enabled us to understand and describe the context, processes and the most important factors in diversity reporting. In the following text, the empirical theory on diversity repor ng in Macedonia is presented, which is based on data from the qualita ve interviews. We point out to six most important factors that infl uence the process of diversity repor ng in the media in Macedonia: (1) individual quali es, a tudes and professional beliefs of journalists and editors, (2) professional rules and codes of newsrooms; (3) structural and organiza onal characteris cs of the media outlet, (4) impact of the market and audience, and (5) infl u- ence of the owners, poli cal par es and the Government.

3. Individual characteristics, attitudes and beliefs of journalists

The inﬂ uence of individual quali es, social status, personal experience and a tudes and beliefs of journalists and editors to the media contents are presented in various theore cal texts in details (Shoemaker & Reese, 1996: 72). This includes professional and ethical beliefs and a tudes that journalists and editors have in terms of their personal role in diversity repor ng, such as whether they consider themselves as only neutral

56 CONTEXT AND FACTORS OF INFLUENCE IN MEDIA REPORTING IN MACEDONIA

on Vest ons ons vate ethnic ethnic 57 on, edu- on, Similar ex- ons in the ons in the erent audi- erent ff 48 47 will cular journalists 49 es to each other…the more each other…the more es to ng. For example, mul example, ng. For on these topics work anity…We ng events related to inter-ethnic inter-ethnic to related ng events cians.” 2011. th AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS PRODUCTION NEWS THE INTO INSIGHT AN on…”, because “…the consequences “…the consequences because on…”, ects the content of the newspaper ... of the newspaper ects the content -religious topic… Christan priest who priest Christan topic… -religious 2011. ve and responsible actors in the pro- actors and responsible ve ff st c topics that are not daily events… we were were we not daily events… are that c topics fi cultural newsroom addressing di addressing newsroom cultural ng on these issues “we should not add fuel to not add fuel to should ng on these issues “we vity when repor impose or the editors If the newsroom on process. the sense that in Macedonia, in ons and coexistence ict events are already in the past, and should not and should not in the past, already are ict events fl tude, in the sense that we are losers …” losers are we tude, in the sense that es (gender, ethnic background, sexual orienta sexual background, ethnic es (gender, cipants. cipants. sta ve to introduce the communi introduce to ve cultural newsrooms. “We have an Albanian journalist, a Turkish a Turkish an Albanian journalist, have “We newsrooms. cultural erent par erent ff

. The editors and journalists of the daily Vest emphasize the big emphasize of the daily Vest and journalists . The editors 46 was established as a mul established was oned due to their request for anonymity of some of the respondents. of some of the respondents. anonymity for their request due to oned cians ... primarily of the Albanian poli defea on ... a oned due to the need to protect the anonymity of the respondent the anonymity protect the need to due to oned ve examples in this regard are the newsrooms of the daily newspaper of the daily newspaper the newsrooms are regard in this examples ve es are more easily encouraged and nurtured when the newsroom is com- when the newsroom and nurtured easily encouraged more es are Alsat M TV ers of the actual events or they are ac are or they of the actual events ers rela ons on the inter-ethnic Alsat M ng is also included. ngs discussions on how to report the events related to the building of the mu- the to related the events report ngs discussions on how to re because of publicity and a larger circula of publicity and a larger because re Journalist’s individual quali individual Journalist’s TV However, in a mono-ethnic newsroom the personal views and pre-convic views the personal newsroom in a mono-ethnic However, On the other hand, stereotypes and prejudices towards members of other ethnic of other ethnic members towards prejudices and On the other hand, stereotypes ﬁ on of tolerance, cohesion and dialogue among the groups. Finally, in this group of in this group Finally, the groups. and dialogue among cohesion on of tolerance, ms of poli on, religion) have a crucial impact on diversity repor diversity a crucial impact on have on, religion) Editor….An ethnic Vlach who is an Assistant to the Editor…this is the spirit we cul is the spirit we the Editor…this to is an Assistant Vlach who ethnic Editor….An in the newsroom….“ newsrooms demonstrate larger sensi larger demonstrate newsrooms issues. Posi and the advantages of the mul advantages ca occasionally with an objec occasionally they know about each other the less there will be misunderstandings.” know about each other the less there they “... we are too tolerant ... they go too far ... they demolish our churches ...” or”... we we or”...... ” our churches demolish ... they far too go they ... tolerant too are we “... a federa make want... they us, do whatever now devastate can so they the war, lost or confedera ences since its beginning: “We cover speci cover “We ences since its beginning: about Chris talked about Islam and an Imam that spoke factors competence and professional experience of journalists and editors on diversity on diversity editors and of journalists experience and professional competence factors repor professional values and rules, stereotypes and prejudices of par and prejudices and rules, stereotypes values professional the seum/church at the fortress in Skopje, some journalists expressed their personal pre- their personal expressed some journalists in Skopje, the fortress at seum/church convic only be something that occurs incidentally. In terms of inter-ethnic rela of inter-ethnic terms In incidentally. occurs that only be something and ethics is a dominance of the professional of the media there in most country, the 2001 con that the awareness our beliefs, of the majority of the editorial board, are that in our country Albanians are are Albanians in our country that are board, of the majority of the editorial our beliefs, vic amples can be given for journalists working in the media in Albanian language: “We start start “We in the media in Albanian language: working journalists for be given amples can it a that be denied and it cannot our beliefs from awarded with the Jean Monnet prize for a mul for prize with the Jean Monnet awarded mo transmi come to the fore only when the individual has the power in the media, i.e. when he in the media, i.e. when he only when the individual has the power the fore to come produc in the news role a key plays posed only of journalists from one ethnic community. For example, in the editorial board board in the editorial example, For community. one ethnic from posed only of journalists mee communi in the repor therefore happen again, not men The names are 48 with di the interviews from Excerpts 49 in Albanian language, in a newspaper with an editor Interview who name is not men 46 31 on March conducted of Vest, in Chief Mihajlovski, Editor with Goran Interview 47 29 on March conducted M TV, of Alsat in Chief Editor with Muhamed Zekiri, Interview DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS

might be big”, many things have been changed and “…there is no other choice except 50 res for coexistence and tolerance…” . Most of the respondents in the interviews agree that there are more prejudices among journalists about sexual orienta on, towards some marginalized groups and people with disabili es. There is no suffi cient awareness that people are basically equal and it is refl ected in the repor ng on a more subtle level. There were also examples when par- cular journalists have even nurtured prejudices towards some marginalized groups and the gay community members. Such an example was the repor ng of several newspapers on homosexual rights in Macedonia; however this is also done by some TV sta ons too. Stereotypes in regard to the inter-ethnic issues are not only visible in the repor ng for the two dominant communi es, Macedonian and Albanian. An example for encouraging stereotypes is the coverage of the Interna onal Roma Day in Macedonia in the research period. On this occasion media only published pictures and stories that their life is miser- able and desperate. “No media showed footage of Roma as successful in what he does ... I just heard on a radio that a Roma girl who graduated is employed ... If posi ve examples are infused it will change the a tudes, opinions and stereotypes among people.” 51 The professional experience and competence of journalists shape their professional roles and ethical values. Journalists and editors have explained the professional and ethical crisis of the journalism in Macedonia during the interviews in more details. Despite the awareness on diversity and the complexity of these topics, s ll some of them consider themselves as only “transmi ers” of the events and the facts from the reality. Due to several reasons, newsrooms are not commi ed at proac ve and con nuous repor ng on these topics, there is a lot of pas- siveness, less stories that result from the journalist’s or editor’s ini a ve. In regard to the competencies, there are diff erent assessments. One group of journalists thinks that they are suffi ciently empowered to report on these topics and they do not need addi onal trainings, while other group fi rmly says that “…the journalists in Macedonia are not suffi ciently empowered to report neither for the everyday events nor for diversity…” For all of these es mates, a statement of a journalist from television sta on at state level is very illustra ve: “In general, I think there is no awareness of the professional standards and much less dedica on to the profession. Newsrooms are full of uneducated journalists, easy to buy and biased. There are editors that protect certain views, especially poli cal ones. The more journalism becomes a mercenary profession, the more the standards remain away.” 52

1. Internal professional rules and ethical codes

In the newsrooms with at least some (even unwri en) professional rules and values, the impact of the individual characteris cs and personal a tudes, values and beliefs of journalists on diversity repor ng is less obvious. Only a small por on of media outlets possess internal formally adopted documents which oblige them to respect the legal and ethical norms related to these issues. The public service broadcaster – Macedonian Radio Television – adopted a Declara on of professional and ethical principles in the program in 2003, which, amongst others, states that “the informa on presented by the

50 A tudes of several interviewed par cipants. 51 Interview with Ljubica Mangovska, manager of Tera TV from Bitola, conducted on April 18th 2011. 52 Interview with Ljubisa Arsic, journalist in Alfa TV, conducted on April 3th 2011. 58 CONTEXT AND FACTORS OF INFLUENCE IN MEDIA REPORTING IN MACEDONIA ng ed ﬁ

vate es in es ga mulate mulate on, nei- on, 59

on in the 54 onal law, the onal law, on iden en, while the on, same as living 53

55 ng on diversity. ng on diversity. the in tudes presented appears es…if something , which tries to s , which tries to na onal and cal implementa cal only several ons of this are Vest all.” on at 2011 erent audiences. However, in the audiences. However, erent th ff ...” onal hatred es are ignored, and when there are are and when there ignored, es are erent, as expected by the audience as expected erent, AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS PRODUCTION NEWS THE INTO INSIGHT AN es. Excep es. ff commercial of several lingual newsrooms mulate the social cohesion. The interviewed The interviewed the social cohesion. mulate cance of cohesion and the need to cul and the need to of cohesion cance fi c community, there is a polariza there c community, repor when respected ng are and the mul ict. A daily in Albanian language started inves started A daily in Albanian language ict. fl ve: “…two-three years ago, we decided to make recipes recipes make decided to we ago, years “…two-three ve: na or es, fuel religious er understanding and a dialogue. The topics processed by processed topics and a dialogue. The er understanding re re journalis communi ethnic erent ve program of the public service broadcaster, whose name is not published due to the need to the need to whose name is not published due to of the public service broadcaster, program ve ff c repor c on, although the newspaper format is a tabloid one with an is a tabloid format on, although the newspaper c community there is such general polariza general is such there c community es operate in parallel, there is no exchange of informa is no exchange there in parallel, es operate that use a language not to the newspaper ... which obliges c laws fi onali ons and everyone is isolated around his own du around is isolated ons and everyone and speci on ve examples are the newsrooms in the languages of the ethic communi of the ethic in the languages newsrooms the are examples ve tu ce…and we could see, by this simple example, that it is actually a farce.” that see, by this simple example, could ce…and we At the level of the en level the At Posi It is of concern that this division is also visible in the public service broadcaster MRT, MRT, division is also visible in the public service this that broadcaster It is of concern Out of all print media, the three daily newspapers owned by MPM Macedonia had owned daily newspapers media, the three Out of all print Macedonian Radio Television Macedonian prac topics for same events the angle is completely di the angle is completely same events for topics of an Albanian woman, case this is the for An example by the media outlet. addressed in the region killed by the Macedonian security forces were and brother whose father the 2001 con during of Tetovo, about the medicine, while being curious study the poor girl, who wished to for the story “…we With this topic in Tetovo. the University at enroll to the impossibility for reasons means its prac the Ohrid Agremeent…which actually entered the colleagues in the media of the ethnic communi in the media of the ethnic the colleagues topics of interest to the audience of the other community are ignored, and these topics and these topics ignored, are the audience of the other community to of interest topics help achieving a be might and working in parallel worlds. Stories for their own audiences are wri are their own audiences for Stories worlds. in parallel and working among the media of the di among the media of di for intended are contents whose media outlets, media and the journalis for the Eid-al-Adha holiday, lamb meat, baklava, etc. We did this and the newspaper was was did this and the newspaper We etc. baklava, lamb meat, Eid-al-Adha holiday, the for it is incidental and it cannot be perceived as a coopera be perceived and it cannot it is incidental intercultural communica intercultural objec commercial emphasized ther joint contents that would be broadcasted in all services. “We are all closed in our are in all services. “We be broadcasted would that contents ther joint no tech- have issues…we unresolved of problems, of lots because own space, maybe nique, condi Cons would insult other na would media, which are aware about the signi aware media, which are the of the newsroom is Such an example mutual tolerance. which has a special duty to develop and s develop which has a special duty to editors themselves admit that the services in Macedonian language and in the languages the services and in the languages admit that in Macedonian language themselves editors communi of the ethnic guarantee anonymity. guarantee public broadcaster should not be biased, while the facts and a while the facts not be biased, should public broadcaster programs must be balanced and ethically appropriate.” Nova Makedonija daily has “a daily has “a Makedonija Nova appropriate.” and ethically be balanced must programs of the interna principles upon the universal calls decision that some sort of internal code in the period when they were owned by the German concern owned by the German concern were in the period when they code some sort of internal that but it is emphasized and rules in the other media, codes no internal are There WAZ. principles of as the general as well of Macedonia Code of Journalists the principles of the journalis the professional 53 18 on March conducted Makedonija, of Nova Manager Lazarovski, with Ratko Interview 54 anonymity. of the need for because whose name is not stated language, in Albanian with an editor Interview 55 in the informa editor with a female Interviw DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS

sold out…the mutual tolerance is based on introduc on to the customs and ge ng to res know each other be er, but also on the need to earn money because eventually if we do not have money we would go into confl ict.” 56 Another posi ve example is the coopera on between Dnevnik and Koha, which lasted more than six months during the research period, when they were publishing same contents aimed for Albanian and Macedonian children. “It is a very good example of what these children will read, because they can talk about something tomorrow for which they have the same informa on, received by two diff erent media outlets…in this way we try to off er the children a vision that they are the same.” 57 Similar example is Tea Moderna, weekly published in Macedonian and Albanian language. Editors seek the commonly produced contents to reach about 80 percents in the future, while the rest of 20 percents to become specifi c contents aimed for each audience separately. Another posi ve prac ce of several newsrooms is that in the selec n of news for the day at least some posi ve excep on is made when assessing that par cular “nega ve news”, which might a ract a large audience, can cause worsening of the inter-ethnic rela ons and therefore this informa on is o en not published. A specifi c example for this is the explana on by one of the respondents: “We started an inves ga on for a religious building…in an area which is s ll turbulent. We have somewhat fi nished the story, but the Kale story appeared and…we stopped working on that inves ga ve story because it would have had a chain eff ect that could worsen the situa on.”58 Worth men oning are the examples of some of the local TV sta ons from the mul - ethnic areas. TV Menada’s newsroom is aware about the importance of these topics and has established coopera on with the civil society organiza ons that represent the interests of the people with disabili es. The editor of Koha TV emphasized that the media “… at local level report more on diversity in the direc on of bringing people together, than it is done by the na onal television sta ons” 59 because the life in a mul ethnic environment simply implies this. There are events everyday in which Roma, Turks, Macedonians and Albanians par cipate and the media try to refl ect this diversity in a realis c way and without prejudices. For example, Koha TV recorded and broadcasted the guest visit of the drama group “Pralipe” at the Cultural Center. This TV sta on has also reported about the building of church in Recica, populated only with Albanian people. Another posi ve example is the joint newsroom in Tetovo from 2002 un l 2003 in which journalists Macedonians and Albanians worked on common topics related to the events in the region a er the 2001 confl ict. Addi onal posi ve example highlighted in the interviews was the ini a ve of Tera TV from Bitola for a coopera on of the local media during the confl ict in 2001, when journalists from the media in Bitola, Kumanovo and Tetovo jointly covered the events from these areas. Complex topics were processed during big changes in Macedonia on poli cal and ethnic level and “…this experiment has proved to be a successfull one, because it showed how the events can be covered in an objec ve way and with a professional ethics…when several stories are processed in parallel and the views of diff erent teams who are mul ethnic can be seen.” 60

56 Interview with Goran Mihajlovski, Editor in Chief of Vest, conducted on March 31st 2011. 57 Interview with Lirim Dulovi, Editor in Chief of Koha, conducted on April 4th 2011 58 Interview with Ratko Lazarevski, Manager of Nova Makedonija, conducted on March 18th 2011. 59 Interview with Mevaip Abdiu, owner of Koha TV from Tetovo, conducted on April 21 2011. 60 Interview with Ljubica Mangovska, Manager of Tera TV from Bitola, conducted on April 18th 2011. 60 CONTEXT AND FACTORS OF INFLUENCE IN MEDIA REPORTING IN MACEDONIA ng on ng is ng erent erent ff Certain Certain ng, is a 61 Reasons Reasons 64. 62 61 ng.” di ng on me constraints can can me constraints me than the commer- cient resources. But in resources. cient ffi ort hides a new threat, to to ort hides a new threat, own- issue that ons it is an ff which re- by journalists, work ve ve journalism, because it requires it requires journalism, because ve c happened yesterday...” ga on of news that absolutely encour- absolutely that on of news 2011. AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS PRODUCTION NEWS THE INTO INSIGHT AN th ga me, and also su 2011. th ng on various topics, because it is one of because topics, ng on various cally monitor what is most interes is most what monitor cally on in the newsroom: “In general, there is bad there “In general, on in the newsroom: the repor and comprehensive, ve on to the news profoundly covered informa covered profoundly the news on to ve program in the public service broadcaster, whose name is not published due to the need to the need to whose name is not published due to in the public service broadcaster, program ve on on television could be compensated by planning topical by planning topical be compensated could on on television Such passivity and lack of editorial e Such passivity and lack of editorial ve journalism is a problem also faced by the public service broad- also faced journalism is a problem ve 63 me available to process a topic. On the other hand, newsrooms lack hand, newsrooms On the other a topic. process to me available ga es. in Macedonia journalism is under media and print electronic ng of most ve ve limita cipants in the interviews consider the problem of the problem consider in the interviews cipants the daily repor especially in journalism does not work, ve me, along with many other events, and their place in the daily schedule and their place in the daily schedule other events, along with many me, ga Some par According to several respondents interviewed, the biggest mistake of most editors is editors of most mistake the biggest interviewed, respondents several to According Moreover, the passivity of newsrooms is fueled by the growing number of Internet number of Internet is fueled by the growing the passivity of newsrooms Moreover, This objec In order to be professional, sensi be professional, to In order 2. Structural and organizational features of the media features and organizational 2. Structural dominated with “... transferring of one’s views, statements, announcements of events ... of events announcements statements, views, of one’s transferring with “... dominated and inves its key commitments. But the editors interviewed emphasize that the daily repor that emphasize interviewed But the editors commitments. its key caster MRT, which usually needs to provide more contents and contents more provide which usually needs to MRT, caster burning issue in the current period and to plan consistently and on a long-term basis. and on a long-term plan consistently period and to burning issue in the current The lack of inves repor in-depth encourage cial media and to for space or for the decisions of editors. depends on largely be overcome if there is a good organiza a good is if there be overcome need in journalism you aspect, because an editorial in journalism ... from management ... but editors an event cover and write how to know ... it is not enough to plan as well to lack.” we themes ... this is the training plan stories, how to should be trained lots of resources. lots of resources. in advance. do not plan and they the day happen during to something expect they that an should have editors as the program as well editors, and news in chief But the editor systema idea as true journalism means to enormous pressure to meet deadlines. Daily news must be produced, and the journalist and the journalist be produced, must deadlines. Daily news meet to enormous pressure the does not have is compe of diversity news This means that and human resources. technical material, age our laziness ...” age media in Macedonia which “... made overproduc made media in Macedonia which “... creat- is called what into deeply penetrate behind and to standards professional leave something, improvise ... let’s say “When nothing happens, they ing of another reality. drama think something would ... they do something would be published. But in many commercial television sta television commercial But in many be published. would in inves invest to do not want and managers ers quires professional competence, persistence, persistence, competence, professional quires groups in the society, in its essence, involves inves involves in its essence, in the society, groups the daily repor for this lie in the lack of technical resources and people, especially in the programs of and people, especially in the programs resources in the lack of technical this lie for communi ethnic guarantee anonymity. anonymity. guarantee news programs, where as an addi where programs, news 64 anonymity. guarantee the need to whose name is not published due to in a daily, with a journalist Interview 61 17 on March conducted weekly, of Publika Editor Dimitrovski, with Zoran Interview 63 on April 8 in Spic, conducted in Chief Editor Gerovski, with Branko Interview 62 of the informa editor with a female Interview DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS

journalists and editors with experience unfortunately have a “comfortable” posi on to- res day, which consists of a li le work and great income, which is a nega ve example for younger journalists. And then, “... if you are curious to know what they work, they in- stantly start shou ng ... this is a poli cal story ... and actually they do not work or are not in favor to push others to work.”65 This group of factors includes what is called in journalism a process of selec on of news, which is dominated by the views of journalists and editors of the news value of events, i.e. about the informa on worth publishing. Many previous studies (Shoemaker & Reese, 1996; Allan, 1999; van Dijk, 1988a; Gordon & Rosenberg, 1989) have shown that there are some general factors that aff ect the editorial decision in selec ng events: the nega vity and controversy of the event, the proximity and the me when the event occured, the authority of actors, the conformability of the event with the public stereotypes and others. In this paper we will not analyze in details this aspect of the structural characteris cs of the media, since it is a subject of a detailed review within the chapter on organiza onal principles and prac ces of the news produc on process. The local TV sta ons that have current aff airs programs somewhat diff er from this general picture. This is probably a case because they focus on local issues; there are more ini a ves to foster inves ga ve approach in repor ng on all topics, including diversity. Television sta ons in mul ethnic environments such as Tetovo are an example for this, which tend to cover topics for both ethnic communi es. For example, the editor of Menada TV highlights: “... we as editors in a Macedonian language newsroom cover topics for the lives of Albanians ... but a en on is also devoted to the life of Roma and Serbs in Tetovo ... we simply live together, work together with colleagues from the Alba- nian language newsrooms ... what they recorded is broadcasted by us and vice versa...“66

3. Inﬂ uence by the market and the audience

The fact that most news (in the private media) is a commercial product also aﬀ ects the distor on of the image of the reality they create. They are “forced” to service the audience a reality that a racts its a en on, i.e. to serve it with what is currently “sold” on the market. This “commercial” pressure turns reporters into a kind of entertainers or “showmen” because the news has to be intriguing and cause emo ons to retain the interest of the audience. Under the pressure of the market, the journalist is obliged to ﬁ nd news that turn into headlines that sell the newspaper. It is well known that what sells is “sensa on- alist” news, regardless of the area it comes from. Therefore, journalists are forced to present all news, including those on diversity in a way that is intriguing and will awaken emo ons among the audience, as well as news of a disaster, murder or a family drama. This tendency is most illustra vely expressed in the following sentence by one of the interviewed editors: “... according to the editorial policy of the newspaper ... it should be something that is shocking and something to talk about, regardless if it is in the area of sports or poli cs ... for good or for bad, it has to shock and surprise the public, so that

65 Interview with an editor in a daily newspaper, shoes name is not published due to the need to guarantee anonymity. 66 Interview with Sanda Sibinovska, Editor in Menada TV, conducted on April 15th 2011 62 CONTEXT AND FACTORS OF INFLUENCE IN MEDIA REPORTING IN MACEDONIA - ll u- fl ons 63 the ect to tude pre- tude fl in empts for win to on in order sers. ons with the compe cs or fashion models, and cs or fashion of the au- the trust gain ng to ect the opinions of journalists ne line can be easily crossed, easily crossed, be line can ne ff fi ze can be detected, which s be detected, can ze 68 responsive, is more ng on diversity nally say to myself... well, it is your it is your well, myself... to nally say fi cians and adver AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS PRODUCTION NEWS THE INTO INSIGHT AN ons and argue that “... journalists are are journalists “... that ons and argue ng to divorces, weddings, separa weddings, divorces, ng to 2011. st produc uence the news fl ... and what owner liked my do what to mes onalism. This This onalism. the audience. If it is known that of ons and trust program. in the blocks ve mately, its success at the market. Part of the com- of Part the market. its success at mately, cally be reduced, because they are one of the most are they because be reduced, cally 67 ed to such a media ethics in the commercial work, work, in the commercial such a media ethics ed to cians: “... whatever others say, you cannot choose... cannot you say, others whatever cians: “... principle as a fundamental by the owner accepted on is bad. All possible impacts re is very in this respect on ng. The audience may not directly a not directly The audience may ng. cal elites ... who literally dictate what must be done ... and they be done ... and they must what dictate ... who literally elites cal rmly adhere to professional principles. When such an a professional to rmly adhere onal TV, whose name is not published due to the need to guarantee anonymity. guarantee the need to whose name is not published due to TV, onal ed with vulgar sensa with vulgar ed fi fi

their success also the market, at as with all other products And al genres. uen fl ons invest a lot of sources in the news, it is clear that the audience has a major it is clear that in the news, a lot of sources ons invest erent cultural groups, will then easily recognize professionalism in that par- in that professionalism will then easily recognize groups, cultural erent ff er that three months of animosity, and I of animosity, months three er that ced by groups that want to achieve their personal or group goals. Such groups Such groups goals. or group their personal achieve to want that ced by groups the Government political parties and uences by the owner, rst buy and then talk about the product, because it remains in their mind and in their mind it remains because product, about the then talk buy and rst fi dras can ngs of the media outlet The interviewed journalists and editors themselves recognize the a recognize themselves and editors journalists The interviewed The fact that media construct the reality and reach a broad audience does not mean a broad and reach the reality media construct that The fact 4. Infl Even in most serious media tendencies to drama to serious media tendencies in most Even Some are even more open in their interpreta more even Some are Television news as a media product should also be successful at the market, otherwise the market, at be successful should also as a media product news Television on, emphasizing that regardless of the topic - business, poli of the topic regardless on, emphasizing that cular commercial media outlet, because it recognizes value in its content. value it recognizes because media outlet, cular commercial - journalists need to need to - journalists poli the Government, the owners, media coverage: even for the topics most typical for a tabloid, rela a tabloid, for typical most the topics for even mercial media are strongly commi strongly media are mercial despite the strong pressures at the market and the disturbed rela and the disturbed the market at pressures the strong despite have been pushing hard on the media and in been pushing hard have it is unno designed and directed towards tolerance and cohesion of groups. The audiences, which The audiences, of groups. and cohesion tolerance towards designed and directed di belong to vails and when this editorial posi and when this editorial vails will be increasingly work in the commercial then professionalism ethics, of the corporate repor In such newsrooms a success story. turning into it has been now, years many support. In Macedonia, for issue they public opinion on any the situa that concluded dience, credibility of the media and, ul dience, credibility which mostly depends on how editors and the newsroom as a whole will succeed to resist resist as a whole will succeed to and the newsroom depends on how editors which mostly the view that impose their to and the owner and of the market pressures the commercial contribu rules is decisively of the basic professional respect should not be iden television sta television impact on media repor should and issues that the choice of topics likely but more on issues of diversity, and editors informa the daily schedule of the to move can I say, a I say, can it ...” get you item, such a news want you media outlet, popular and in depends on demand, i.e. interests, expecta i.e. interests, depends on demand, everyone does that ... I have rejected three three rejected ... I have does that everyone they can can they strongly linked to poli to linked strongly the ra ence by the owners and the poli ence by the owners they will buy it the next day as well.” day next will buy it the they 67 31 on March conducted of Vest, in Chief Mihajlovski, Editor with Goran Interview 68 a na from with an editor Interview DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS

see it black and white ... if it’s good news and if it has to be put in the paper, then it would 69 res be covered with such a wafer that... the eff ect of the news will be reduced.” The responsibility for the low professional standards in repor ng and for the lack of inves ga ve journalism is o en found in owners who do not invest enough resources in journalists and technical resources in their informa on desks. Cheapest journalism is favoured, because some owners do not realize that one journalist’s crew will pass 200 kilometers to take a photograph of a heavy traffi c accident, “... the media is not a socks factory... If they want to make a newspaper, i.e. to sell something for 10-15 denars then they shall produce a toilet paper ... no translators, journalists and proofreaders are needed for that, and the price for a roll of toilet paper and the newspaper is the same.”70 In some media posi ve ini a ves by the owners can be iden fi ed. For example, a clear dis nc on is set in the daily Nova Makedonija between management and editorial staff , because the managers themselves recognize the economic interest of the professional work of the media. “The investor has the responsibility to provide all the condi- ons for journalists ... during the establishment of the media itself a dis nc on must be made about its role and how far it would go ... and when the media outlet starts working ... the director cannot enter into the role of an editor or an editor in chief or to trans- mit the wishes of the external factors, centres of power and infl uence, whether they are economic, poli cal, party, whatever...“71 In addi on, journalists are provided a legal protec on if someone ini ates a lawsuit for defama on, insult or other infringement of somebody’s individual right in the repor ng. In terms of impact of Government and poli cal par es on the media, almost all respondents answered similarly. Some of the editors interviewed in the public service broadcaster even openly admi ed that the public service is under the infl uence of the party in power for many years. Today in the public service “... the unwri en principle is generally respected to be on the side of the Government ... to be honest, I do not know where exactly these instruc- ons come from, but what I no ce ... is a black and white world, two poli cal par es are reported about ... there are poli cal par es that have no access to the public service and we do not inform about them.”72 Some of the editors of the public service even do not have a dilemma on how it should be reported: “... each media outlet has its own point of view ... We are a public service, which means that the biggest factor for us is the Gov- ernment of the Republic of Macedonia, the way it sees things, therefore usually we go in that direc on ... it does not mean that we do not cri cize the Government ... but of course these cri cisms are not that mean, but well-meaning, connected with facts ...“73. Poli cal infl uence on the media is refl ected in diversity repor ng as well, because “...the media that are associated with the ruling par es report in diff erent way about the same event compared with the media that are not associated with the Government...”74 Very o en, when these topics are reported, they are framed in a poli cal context because of the dominant poli cal infl uences over the media, which are party-poli cally divided and polarized as never

69 Interview with a journalist from a daily newspaper, whose name is not pubished due to the need to guarantee anonymity. 70 Ibid. 71 Interview with Ratko Lazarevski, Manager of Nova Makedonija, conducted on March 18th 2011. 72 Interview with an editor in the public service, whose name is not published due to the need to guarantee anonymity. 73 Interview with an editor in the public service, whose name is not published due to the need to guarantee anonymity. 74 Interview with Muhamed Zekiri, Editor in Chief of Alsat M TV, conducted on March 29th 2011. 64 CONTEXT AND FACTORS OF INFLUENCE IN MEDIA REPORTING IN MACEDONIA ng. ect cul- ff cized cized ng on es. The 65 on and pub- cal discourse discourse cal ng diversity. ng uence the im- fl erent social erent and on in a mul on ff on among media of ng in the newsroom. apply the ons. How to support cultural to ves oners to develop clear develop to oners ect media repor erent factors are more more are factors erent

ff erent communi erent ff ff a 75 ng on di the fol- are ed in this study fi

several of lingual newsrooms nd their place in the poli fi individual cs of the media outlet, ons of the audience and the edito- on - a media content that is related is related that on - a media content AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS PRODUCTION NEWS THE INTO INSIGHT AN 2011 th c structures, procedures and cultures and cultures procedures c structures, fi on in our country…we talked more about more talked on in our country…we es contribute to changing the deep-rooted changing the deep-rooted to es contribute and the media? ons of journalists ons among the di on is the event on Kale. “What happened at the happened at “What on Kale. event on is the ng of diversity and its promo of diversity ng ve and careful repor and careful ve onships is crucial if we try to in try to if we onships is crucial cal situa cal ve main factors iden factors main ve fi ng in speci onal characteris onal ng on diversity through the instruments of the media the instruments through ng on diversity es. ed form, the model can help to understand the complex the complex understand to help the model can ed form, ves and examples of mutual coopera and examples ves fi on. The on. a in the mul on and unity fostered on of the poli cal par cal ons in order to overcome various obstacles and problems in the re- and problems obstacles various overcome to ons in order beginning, be: prepara the very it might issues. For ve communi ethnic erent ec ff fl ve ini ve es, especially in the areas inhabited by di inhabited es, especially in the areas produc of the news nal product fi tudes and beliefs of journalists and editors, professional rules and rules professional and editors, of journalists tudes and beliefs uence on the agenda of the commercial media, but the media themselves media themselves media, but the of the commercial uence on the agenda on to the problems that the Macedonian journalism faces, the analysis has the analysis the Macedonian journalism faces, that the problems on to cs, a fl ed posi ed fi

on of journalism students and young journalists on diversity repor on diversity journalists and young on of journalism students of coopera spirit ve onships and processes that take place during diversity repor place during diversity take that onships and processes Finally, such an empirical study imposed a series of new ques imposed study such an empirical Finally, The model presented simply represents the factors that a that the factors simply represents The model presented The analysis of each factor can help researchers and prac help researchers can of each factor The analysis Anyone who is interested in repor interested who is Anyone 5. Conclusion 5. Conclusion In addi ng of such sensi on of detailed guidelines on sensi on of detailed erent communi erent of repor the form and of public opinion, both with the content uence the shaping ﬀ ﬂ cultural groups, developing professional skills and knowledge of journalists and editors, and editors, of journalists skills and knowledge professional developing groups, cultural educa lica pluralism and professional repor and professional pluralism associa the professional policy and through por general principles of diversity repor principles of diversity general should topics of the Macedonian media? How diversity ini develop of the Macedonian media? How to public agenda strategies and sugges strategies stereotypes and helps enriching dialogue and understanding. and helps stereotypes media addressing di media addressing who is behind the event, whether it is VMRO-DPMNE or SDSM?” it is VMRO-DPMNE whether who is behind the event, rial strategies are not one-way. The audience with its habits and preferences is really a is really The audience with its habits and preferences not one-way. are rial strategies of in factor in posi Kale fortress is …a re fortress Kale complex and intertwined. For example, the expecta example, For intertwined. and complex in this simpli even However, rela diversity in Macedonia. In reality the rela in Macedonia. In reality diversity rela these interlocking Understanding of the provement to various social and cultural groups. cultural social and various to characteris audience, and the impact of owners, and impacts of market newsrooms; of the codes and poli Government di between the Government and the opposi Government the between tural society such as the Macedonian should take into account the factors that a that the factors account into should take such as the Macedonian society tural produc of news the process lowing ones: structural and organiza lowing ones: structural before. An example for the framing of inter-ethnic topics in the dominant poli in the dominant topics inter-ethnic of the framing for An example before. also iden 75 17 on March conducted weekly, in Publika Editor Dimitrovski, with Zoran Interview DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS

Bibliography: res Allan, S. (1999) News Culture, Buckingham: Open University Press. Cohen, S. and Young, J. (1981) The Manufacture of News: Deviance, Social Problems and the Mass Media, 2nd ed., London:Sage. Co er, C. (2009) Newstalk: Shaping the Language of News. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Co er, C. (2009) ’Diversity awareness and the role of language in cultural representa ons in news stories’,NewstalkTalk&Text Working Paper Series, Nr. 7, Ghent: Queen Mary, University of London Co le, S. (Ed.). (2000a). Ethnic Minori es and the Media: Changing Cultural Boundaries. Buckingham: Open University Press Co le, S. (2000b). Media Research and Ethnic Minori es: Mapping the Field. In Co le, S. (Ed.). Ethnic Minori es and the Me- dia: Changing Cultural Boundaries. Buckingham: Open University Press Gans, H. (1979). Deciding What’s News. A study of CBS Evening News, NBC Nightly News, Newsweek and Time. New York: Pantheon Books. Gordon, P. & Rosenberg, D. (1989), Daily Racism. The Press and Black People in Britain, London: Runnymede Trust. Schudson, M. (1989) ‘The Sociology of News Produc on Revisited’, in Media, Culture and Society, Vol. 11 263-282, London: Sage. Shoemaker, P.J. & Reese S.D. (1996) Media ng the Message: Theories of Inﬂ uence on Mass Media Content (2nd Edi on), NY:Longman Publishers. Van Dijk, T. A. (1988a). News Analysis. Case Studies of Interna onal and Na onal News in the Press. Hillsdale, NJ:Erlbaum. Van Dijk, T.A.(1988b). News As Discourse Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.

66 CONTEXT AND FACTORS OF INFLUENCE IN MEDIA REPORTING IN MACEDONIA 67 AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS PRODUCTION NEWS THE INTO INSIGHT AN DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS

res

68 DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS

ORGANIZATIONAL PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES IN THE PROCESS OF NEWS PRODUCTION

Elena Petreska*

1. Introduction

The dominant view in Europe and in all modern democra c socie es is that media play an important role in society, especially because of the rela onship between media and democracy. Organiza onal principles and prac ces in newsrooms are important because they aff ect the social reality refl ected by the media. Sociologists like Molotch and Lester (Molotch & Lester, 1974: 101-112) argue that there is no news wai ng to be released, but there are only circumstances that the media or the sources of informa on promote into “events”. Therefore, to understand what news is, there should be an understanding about the process of its produc on. The term produc on and technology of news describes the process and the meth- ods that are required to produce and distribute the journalis c contents to the audience. A content that is published in the print and electronic media, especially in their news programs, is directly dependent on the organiza onal principles and prac ces in the newsrooms. Therefore, it is important to pay a en on not only to the produc on process of the news media in Macedonia, but also to the factors that infl uence the choice of informa on, criteria for publishing and the assessment of the “value”, as well as the journalis c standards. The text to follow provides a comprehensive picture of the organiza- onal principles in the Macedonian media, i.e. the manner of selec ng, processing and publishing of news in print and electronic media, as well as the condi ons to develop an inves ga ve journalism in the country.

* Elena Petreska has an MA degree in communica on sciences. She is a Lecturer at the School of Journalism and Public Rela ons. Areas of interest: media repor ng, TV journalism. 69 DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS

2. Method res The text of the research is structured on the basis of the 28 qualita ve interviews with editors and journalists from several print and electronic media in Macedonia, conducted in March and April 2011. It is certainly associated with previous research on various aspects of the news produc on process. The empirical basis for the process of news produc on, the newsroom prac ces and skills and the assessment of the news’ values results from the qualita ve content analysis of the interviews. Subject of analysis were the responses by the editors and journalists to the ques ons asked about the newsroom’s procedures, the process of news produc on, the current rules of repor ng as well as for the skills and the knowledge of the employees in the media.

2.1.Structure of the text

In the following parts of the text the process of news produc on in the Macedonian media is described, their organiza onal principles and prac ces as well as the exis ng newsrooms’ rules and prac ces of repor ng are analyzed. By reviewing the current gaps and areas where there is room to intervene, this study also oﬀ ers recommenda ons for improving the current situa on. The conclusions are drawn on the basis of the research results.

2.2 Process of news production

The process of news produc on consists of many rou nes, prac ces and organiza- onal constraints that infl uence the content and the forms of informa on published. Given that both print and electronic media in Macedonia are organized as companies, the principle of hierarchical setup of the employees in the newsrooms is valid, while the editors and media management staff hold the key power. The newsrooms hold daily staff mee ngs, where they agree on the selec on of events and topics to be covered and on the fashion of repor ng. The role of journalists is reduced to daily repor ng on par cular events and developments and usually each of them is spe- cialized in par cular areas. Print media are diff erent from the electronic media in terms of technology used for collec on, prepara on and transmission of informa on (Shoemaker, 1996: 121). Television sta ons usually have more reporters than the newspapers, where there is no need of a technology in collec ng and processing of informa on. Interviews conducted with editors and journalists have confi rmed that when it comes to technical and technological equipment and human resources in newsrooms, the media in Macedonia are at a low level of development. This especially applies to electronic media, where the produc on involves complex journalis c and produc on opera on. The poor equipment in a technical sense, the inability to cover events due to the lack of proper equipment and the understaffi ng are seen by most of the journalists and editors as a reason for the poor mo va on for a proac ve and inves ga ve journalism: “If the right condi ons are provided, we can certainly do more, by expanding the number of reporters, TV crews ... If we had more teams, I think we would cover all events,”67 a television editor said.

70 ORGANIZATIONAL PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES IN THE PROCESS OF NEWS PRODUCTION cal cal The (Gans, 71 ng formats formats ng ed with the ng-oriented ng-oriented fi oning of the uences: “ uences: s fl ned in compli- fi represent ed to The editorial policy The editorial cal in cal when cularly evident are the editors rms that fi In such circumstances on. cular media outlet cular media on of news and the priority and on of news the repor on and on” is par AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS PRODUCTION NEWS THE INTO INSIGHT AN 2011. th 78 will be pub- the public, decide what to ows by part of the edi- undertaken measures ve fl .” cular media outlet. Therefore, their ethical and their ethical Therefore, cular media outlet. produc news nes of 1994). on (Boyd, on that that on In general, there is a problem in the media that arises In general, there is a problem in the media editorial policy of the par editorial rmed by the interviewed journalists: “ journalists: rmed by the interviewed on, the role of the editors is even more complicated - they - they complicated more is even of the editors on, the role fi 77 .” cular importance, as well as the skills to create an “indepen- create as the skills to as well cular importance, on is something that depends on the editors, who make decisions who make editors, depends on the that on is something posi are There topics. ve that there is cen- with the fact them, and that is related tude towards on content and planning the schedule of the pages or the order of the or the order and planning the schedule of the pages on content and the opposi the Government between ons uenced by the uenced by the poli and the external the internal despite c product fl the media owners manage the daily poli- ons, with the manner in which on of the media outlet, i.e. of its owner or management to any poli any to i.e. of its owner or management on of the media outlet, 76 be covered made on what is to a decision is discussions on these events er of par es are .” lia ffi but I es- although this is not done by everyone, with the reporters, eld together fi I appeared at work in person to be sure that nothing will get out of control... I out of control... be sure that nothing will get I appeared at work in person to ng on sensi or an op statement cal “... This approach is also con is also This approach The role of the editors as “gate keepers of informa keepers as “gate of the editors The role In fact, editors are in the middle between the management of the media and jour- the management in the middle between are editors In fact, However, editors, in general, are not those that have an undisputable right to shape to right an undisputable have not those that are in general, editors, However, less, con or more conducted, of the interviews The analysis commi or are pressure under are when the media In circumstances There is no dispute that the rou that is no dispute There i.e. the rela cs, ng the informa dent” journalis editor has the undeniable right to form the skeleton ... That is why he puts his signature ... That is why the skeleton form to right has the undeniable editor over the responsibility at the end and takes moral quali moral lished and what does not, and provide a biased angle to the stories, de the stories, to a biased angle not, and provide does lished and what ance with the editorial policy of the par ance with the editorial there is apathy in journalism, especially on the side of younger journalists, because they they because in journalism, especially on the side of younger journalists, there is apathy themselves express cannot tors interviewed, when their fellow journalists reported on delicate event: event: on delicate reported journalists when their fellow interviewed, tors on went is usually shaped by the editor in chief and the other editors who evaluate the relevant the relevant who evaluate chief and the other editors in the editor is usually shaped by and a news in the news working condi are the “guardians” of the informa the “guardians” are based on their experience and intui based on their experience given to the informa to given “ programs: in the news contents a from the state’s are not sa have low wages, they sorship in a number of media, journalists adopted are in are adopted a poli repor nalists, i.e. they try to maintain the professional standards in the marke standards the professional maintain try to i.e. they nalists, 1979). Boyd emphasized that the decisions on the selec the that emphasized 1979). Boyd policy. the editorial of the on the basis policy is created since the editorial implementers, of the role having a current format- to reduced is more of editors the role In such circumstances, or business group. the func for is responsible the editor claims that Fancher environment. people, manage he also needs to the editorship, despite “... that: by saying media body, 73). 1987: (Fancher, and resources” systems 76 on April 21 2011. conducted Tetovo, TV, in Koha Abdiu, editor with Mevaip an interview from Quote 77 on April 19 conducted Zajmi, ALB TV, with Bardul an interview from Quote 78 anonymity. guarantee the need to whose name is not published due to with a TV editor, an interview from Quote DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS

mated that it would be good to be there, to see what happens and give guidance from 79 res the scene on how to proceed further.” In connec on to this, the editor of another media outlet says: “The journalist, consciously or not, pubished one-sided text ... I reacted and revoked the text, talked with the journalist and asked him to rewrite it.”80 Unlike editors, journalists-reporters have li le impact on the contents to be oﬀ ered to the audience, although they are free to expose their ideas at the the daily editorial mee ngs. “They can express their own point of view only if it coincides with the views of the editor”81, a television journalist stated. Out of the interviews conducted, it could be perceived that the rejec on of reporter’s proposals to process certain topics results with an iner a in the reporter’s work on a long-term basis: “The editor cannot impose something that you do not want to work on, something you consider inappropriate ... Journal- ists are under pressure in the last 6-7 months”82, one of the interviewed journalists said. According to Hallin (Hallin, 1992: 14-25), many journalists have accepted the bu- reaucra c procedures of the newsrooms and their corresponding rou nes. According to this asser on, they even less complain to the interven on of the editors in their stories and have accepted the professional limits. Talking about the manner of repor ng, many journalists in Macedonia admit that they o en expose themselves to self-censorship: “The journalist decides about the angle of the analy cal themes himself ... And now, if by any chance, something strucks in the eye of the editor, let us say a poli cal connota on, a problem can arise... Maybe we all have some sort of self-censorship because we work here for many years now and we know what might get us into trouble.”83 Self-censorship is especially obvious among reporters in the public service broadcaster: “We mostly report about the Government, Government’s policies ... The angle of repor ng is well known to all journalists and some- how they know their work, and it is unnecessary to explain to them how they should write their reports.”84 Only a small part of those who were interviewed argue that journalists have a complete freedom to produce informa on and determine the angle in the repor ng: “Everyone has his own point of view, everyone is subjec ve, there is no objec ve view of the reality ... If I need to say what should be the angle, I will write the text myself.”85

2.3 Criteria for the news’ value

The value of the news determines the importance of the informa on published and the level of a en on to be paid to the audience. The principle of repor ng in the newsrooms is reduced to three general ques ons: what is acceptable for the audience, whether there are sources that will verify the informa on and whether the media outlet can process the informa on in an organiza onal sense. The criteria for evalua on of informa on are not universal, and “... journalism has a wide range of values established

79 Quote from an interview with Marjan Nikolovski, journalist from Sitel TV, conducted on April 25th 2011. 80 Quote from an interview with Muhamed Zekiri, editor in chief in Alsat TV, conducted on March 29th 2011. 81 Quote from an interview with Kole Casule, Editor in Chief in the newspaper Vreme, conducted on March 31st 2011. 82 Quote from an interview with a TV journalist, whose name is not published due to the need to guarantee anonymity. 83 Quote from an interview with a TV journalist, whose name is not published due to the need to guarantee anonymity. 84 Quote from an interview with a female radio journalist in the public service broadcaster, whose name is not published due to the need to guarantee anonymity. 85 Quote from an interview with Zoran Andonovski, Editor in Chief of Nova Makedonija, conducted on March 30th 2011. 72 ORGANIZATIONAL PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES IN THE PROCESS OF NEWS PRODUCTION . - 90 ve ” pub- cular cal cal de- on that that on 73 ract the ract c manner al and free fi ng the ng 89 ”! 2011. cular companies, a speci th cs and poli There is some protocol There is some protocol on of informa 2011. fying the priority of in- st as con- as well etc.), res, This should be something This should be something fi ve, controversial, posi controversial, ve, 2011 st 2011. there are some me because ced that th 2011 on and it is important for the for on and it is important th ngly, one of the editors inter- one of the editors ngly, 91 en in the society the processes uence .” fl when iden me to to me AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS PRODUCTION NEWS THE INTO INSIGHT AN in our the news dominate cs and economy ciently informa ciently ffi en rules rules en the a racts Poli an editor of a print media outlet explained. The explained. outlet media of a print an editor onalism. Interes which is the reason for the priority given to these to the priority given for which is the reason , ; “ cal and economic developments are something something are and economic developments cal rst place, then the Prime Minister, the President of the President then the Prime Minister, place, rst 87 88 fi We insist on diversity, but poli on diversity, insist We ” on. The newsrooms are increasingly becoming open becoming increasingly are on. The newsrooms poli c unwri There are topics of interest for par for of interest There are topics fi in could which cance fi ; “ 86 “ way: in the following on of news ” while repor claims that everyone almost that ve day… is what we have every cs and economy erent cultures” (Boyd, 1994). According to the former editor of editor the former to According 1994). (Boyd, cultures” erent ff ve contents: “ contents: ve ced in the radio and TV news programmes of the public service programmes and TV news ced in the radio cipants claim that claim that cipants It is posi on. (murders, news spontaneous en serve so-called on or another We are led by the audience we address, if the news concerns large number of large concerns address, if the news we the audience are led by We erent in di erent is taken into considera into is taken airs, but poli ff ni ff fi ng is prac when it is impar and it is based on facts when on or unusual events, ve. On the other hand, some media focus at the local developments while re- developments the local at On the other hand, some media focus ve. that it should shock and surprise the public good or bad, it is important cs. For of all, the audience most racts on, regardless of the news value or the public interest: “ or the public interest: value of the news on, regardless As result of the analysis of the interviews it was no it was of the interviews of the analysis As result The journalists and editors interviewed think that the selec think that interviewed and editors The journalists Media o Compared to the public service broadcaster, the editors and journalists in most of in most and journalists the editors the public service broadcaster, to Compared ng and some of them seek sensa ng and some of them commercial media clearly view things through the logic of the “market“ compe “market“ the logic of the media clearly view things through commercial followed here, the President is at the here, the President followed shocking, something that will be discussed further, regardless if it is in the area of sports that will be discussed further, shocking, something or poli the Assembly, if all of them are present the same day the if all of them are present the Assembly, forma velopments unfortunately dominate unfortunately velopments lic interest a that of the news accept those values and they feedback the audience’s for audience: “ a social signi or if it has viewers viewed describes the evalua viewed of repor speci is led by that broadcaster that a that in the informa topics ongoing a newspaper…Topics related to health appear from to related newspaper…Topics is reported on a daily basis depends on numerous factors than what is included in this is included in this what than factors depends on numerous on a daily basis is reported simple de in one direc por event, phenomenon or a development a phenomenon or a development event, interview par interview such as the earnings a bank has from a provision. This is going to be of interest for the for be of interest going to a bank has from a provision. This is such as the earnings but what about our readers?”banks, the USA Times Harold Evans (1972), the news is worth publishing in case of necessary of necessary case publishing in is worth the news (1972), Evans Times Harold the USA informa that are di are that from personal feelings of the journalist. feelings personal from social environment or if some phenomenon or a problem has to be publicly exposed). be publicly exposed). to has or if some phenomenon or a problem social environment of those of the event, and proximity the relevance depends on others, This, amongst it is su with it, whether concerned who are or nega tents that is agreed by the newsroom (if majority of the journalists think that a par a think that (if majority of the journalists by the newsroom is agreed that tents the 89 17 on March conducted weekly, in Publika Editor Dimitrovski, with Zoran an interview from Quote 91 in the public service broadcaster, journalist radio with a female an interview from Quote anonymity. guarantee the need to whose name is not published due to 90 31 on March conducted daily, of the Vest in Chief Mihajlovski, Editor with Goran an interview from Quote 86 on April 8 conducted of A1 TV, in Chief Editor with Mladen Cadikovski, an interview from Quote 87 31 on March conducted daily, of the Vreme in Chief Casule, Editor with Kole an interview from Quote 88 on April 18 conducted in the Macedonian Radio Television, Editor with Dimce Veljanovski, an interview from Quote DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS

on : “We are focused on what will sell the newspaper tomorrow and we have learned to 92 res think that way, why would anyone give 15 denars and buy our newspaper. There are par cular diff erences in comparison to the way local media are repor ng on issues. Given the fact that they are not obliged to report on the developments at a state level, they have a larger ini a ve for an inves ga ve approach in the repor ng of diff erent topics. A posi ve example is men oned by a female editor of a local TV sta on, who claims that their repor ng is primarily focused at the everyday life and highligh ng of posi ve social examples: “It is a decision we make in the moment, depending on the climate, the day itself. It might seem as a trivial topic. We think that we could cover topics in the area of culture, which are less presented in the informa ve programs, such as a theatre play that a racted a great a en on by the audience.”93 Many external and internal factors aff ect the decisions of journalists on the events and topics to be covered in the media, the manner of interpreta on of those events and the signifi cance given to them. The newsrooms’ criteria on the importance of informa on are devalued by the fact that the media are o en forced to place topics that are not mo vated by the news value, but are “ordered” by the media management staff , the owners, sources of informa on from par cular centres of poli cal and state power or the companies, banks or other “sponsors” that fi nance that par cular media. Journalists and editors witness that they succumb under that pressure: “All media outlets in Macedonia presently have some poli cal agenda and journalists, willingly or not, are part of that poli cal agenda. By and large, it is an issue of survival and I think that in this case the situa on is hopeless”94, an editor from an electronic media outlet claims. Especially nega ve is the prac ce iden fi ed in the public service broadcaster MRT, where due to the mode of fi nancing - tax and budget sources - there is an obliga- on to publish all poli cal developments, especially the ac vi es of the Government, regardless of the news value: “All possible news in the daily poli cs is covered. It is com- pulsory to publish them.”95 The inclina on of media towards par cular poli cal or economic elites discloses the issue of biased repor ng. McQuail (МcQuail, 1992: 191) defi nes bias as “a constant tendency to move out of the way of objec ve truth to the le or right, or tendency to favour one side at the expense of other”. The same author (МcQuail, 1992: 193-194) states a ty- pology of poli cal bias in the news, depending if it is open or hidden, inten onal or not. The alarming fact is that most of of the journalists and editors interviewed in Mace- donia admit that there is an obvious and open poli cal inclina on in the media reporting: “The newsrooms are full of uneducated journalists, easy to buy or biased, editors that protect par cular a tudes, especially poli cal ones. The more the journalism becomes a mercenary profession the more the standards are far behind”. 96 It is no ced that the rela onship between media and poli cs led to serious polariza on in the repor ng prac ce. For instance, diff erent media interpret the same event in completely diff erent ways, aiming to emphasize or hide par cular aspects of it. Par ci-

92 Quote from an interview with Goran Mihajlovski, Editor in Chief in the Vest daily, conducted on March 31st 2011. 93 Quote from an interview with Sandra Srbinovska, Editor in Chief of Menada TV in Tetovo, conducted on April 14th 2011. 94 Quote from an interview with a TV editor, whose name is not published due to the need to guarantee anonymity. 95 Quote from an interview with a female editor of an informa ve programe in the public service broadcaster, whose name is not published due to the need to guarantee anonymity. 96 Quote from an interview with Ljubisa Arsic, journalist from Alfa TV, conducted on April 18th 2011. 74 ORGANIZATIONAL PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES IN THE PROCESS OF NEWS PRODUCTION ng rac- on of moni- mes. It 75 ve in the on that is guarantee anonymity. guarantee ng. However, However, ng. ciently a ciently ﬃ n the repor In some interview In some interview

99 ng and the need to ” ve and, on the other ves claim they pub- claim they ves cal mainstream. If you mainstream. cal rac ngs, as well as tes ngs, as well ﬁ

98 97 When there is nothing going When there is nothing .” those only covered, es are not is the one provided ng example on of the private media outlets. media outlets. on of the private wi on of a reality on: “ on when repor AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS PRODUCTION NEWS THE INTO INSIGHT AN be could that end a number of events on that is not checked and is of high on that is not checked cal par cal on is discussed by an editor from a print a print from on is discussed by an editor to is the main actor on when the Minister prior- media, is the cularly obvious in the print An interes cance. fi use in their repor journalists on that cular staged events are given greater importance than importance greater given are events cular staged ons or informa . This is most obvious in the public service broadcaster, the public service obvious in broadcaster, . This is most We use the events not because of the message that should not because the events use We les, the press-conferences, brie les, the press-conferences, fi a en, when reporters on most of the interviewed media representa of the interviewed most ons that we respect principles and do not publish informa which is par trend, ve erent pro erent on obtained from the news agencies , journalists’ personal contacts contacts personal journalists’ , agencies the news from on obtained ff

The press-conferences of all poli The press-conferences o ced that pre-arranged topics and the construc topics pre-arranged on, since their sources try to manipulate the journalists some the journalists manipulate try to on, since their sources 100 .” ne the focus in the news programme edi programme in the news ne the focus although ignored, completely are some events on the other hand, c ones and, ﬁ ve fact that that fact ve If we have sources that have been proven not to have been manipula that have been proven not to If we have sources . Journalists say that it happens when the daily events are not su are when the daily events it happens that say . Journalists some changes which caused yesterday c happened ce The risk of publishing unreliable informa The risk of publishing unreliable From the interviews conducted with the journalists and editors we can conclude conclude can we and editors with the journalists conducted the interviews From 3. Sources of information and forms of information publishing 3. Sources of information and forms Another nega It is also no cipants’ view, this problem can be overcome by undertaking a more serious edito- a more by undertaking be overcome can this problem view, cipants’ We should not publish specula We ve to de not accurate interest to the public. That is why some say that we are not a why the public. That is to interest hand, we get reac hand, we get “ lish only reliable informa lish only reliable por by a large also respected although these rules are is a posi media: “ ity given to the to ity given that something reads about it he thinks when someone a large extent…And a reality to drama those are topics of high societal signi of high societal topics those are the realis “ by a TV editor: that is not the news to when it comes instance, ones. For as relevant that are considered with we have assessed that it is related because the case**** cover published, we do not it”. not support and do not give in to spin…which we should be sent across to the public, but primarily because of the poli of the the public, but primarily because across to be sent processed into comprehensive topics, they are only focused at one aspect of the story, one aspect of the story, at only focused are they topics, comprehensive into processed “ which is planned in advance: Educa have an issue, such as the Law on High it is not of our interest. and not the event, be heard about the topic, that the informa that with people of di rial approach in the processing of topics, but also by improving the material, technical technical the material, but also by improving of topics, in the processing rial approach in the newsrooms. and human resources prac this as a construc up things and I judge about us make let editors) (the on, they par check informa pants in the research say that par that say in the research pants of informa the main sources als, are the need of cau emphasize and journalists editors 97 anonymity. guarantee the need to whose name is not published due to with a TV editor, an interview from Quote 98 anonymity. guarantee the need to whose name is not published due to editor, with a daily newspaper an interview from Quote 99 anonymity. guarantee the need to whose name is not published due to with a TV editor, an interview from Quote the need to whose name is not published due to 100 in the public service broadcaster, with a TV editor an interview from Quote DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS

past, then we proceed with publishing of the informa on, but if our source is from a res poli cal party, then we are aware that a manipula on is likely. Therefore we think it is be er not to have any news than to make a mistake…”101 The newsroom of the “Vest” daily has a posi ve prac ce of publishing informa on about the private lives of public fi gures, which causes a large interest among readers. However, informa on is published under strictly defi ned rules. “We have so far divorced and married the Prime Minister again;, all this with their knowledge while protec ng their privacy. Over me they fi gured out it was be er to have the informa on under control, than to have something published which cannot be controlled. And we have been always fair.”102 The need to verify informa on to be published is crucial because it contributes to the quality of informing, fostering of journalis c ethics and gaining the trust of the audience. The analysis of the interviews on the rela on between issues concerning the capital of the country and the periphery has iden fi ed a worrying asymmetry because the media in Macedonia give very li le importance to the correspondents, who report from the fi eld in their local community, i.e .from an extraordinary or a par cularly important event. Although journalists - correspondents are of great importance for each newsroom, the Macedonian media rarely employ them. Certain media have correspondents in major ci es of the country, but it is very disappoin ng that such a prac ce is dying o en due to the limited fi nancial resources: “Unfortunately, up un l 5 or 6 years ago we had a network of correspondents across the country and we had a rich stream of informa on on the developments from everywhere, literally, from villages, ci es and regions in the country. This network of correspondents slowly died and only some correspondents are s ll ac ve...”103 None of the media in Macedonia, including the MRT as a public service broadcaster, has developed a quality network of correspondents abroad. At the me of the research, MIA and MRT s ll did not have correspondents in Washington, Brussels or in the neighbouring countries. At present Macedonian journalists who live in those countries for a long me or work freelance in major centres in Europe are temporarily contracted. Overall, Macedonian media cover the world events from agency sources, which also represents a problem because the media cannot or are not willing to pay for a foreign news service. The events overseas are given very li le importance in the repor ng and some mes, due to me constraints of the news programs, they are totally excluded. “In percentage terms, I think 60-70% of the news is local, 20% na onal and 10% are world news,” a programme editor of a local television explains. This situa on enables the audience to get only a superfi cial and limited access to quality informa on on regional, European and global developments and na onal events dominate the repor ng. The forms of informa on publishing depend on the type of the media outlet, as well as on the me and spa al opportuni es for placement of news content. The informa on content of the electronic media is o en published in a form of news items, brief news and interviews, for which decisions are made by the newsroom editorial staff .

101 Quote from an interview with an editor of a daily newspaper, whose name is not published due to the need to guarantee anonymity. 102 Quote from an interview with Goran Mihajlovski, Editor in Chief of the Vest daily, conducted on March 31st 2011. 103 Quote from an interview with Valen na Novkovska Trajkovska, Editor in the Macedonian Radio conducted on April 20th 2011. 76 ORGANIZATIONAL PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES IN THE PROCESS OF NEWS PRODUCTION 104 ve “. ate ate 105 on, by on, ciently ciently ...” 77 mes we ﬃ . “I think me con- occur er they of phenomena on ons allow them to allow them to ons in the approach ve than more en worth ca ﬁ

the social irregu- on to ga ve journalism. It is much 2011 on they they are provided provided are they on they en th cs, economy, and judiciary). and economy, cs, ga ract viewers. They are more They ract viewers. 2011. st a ng of the events ve journalism dominates at the at journalism dominates ve onal reason for the lack of proac- for onal reason 2011. th lack of inves AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS PRODUCTION NEWS THE INTO INSIGHT AN and they treat they on about the topic ng on daily topics, and the ng on daily topics, ve and a cant space for photographs by their own by their own photographs space for cant of the importance ng. While recognizing fi the reac by the newsrooms: faced nancial problems fi rac ce of extended processing of informa processing ce of extended on that is of public interest and to encourage encourage and to is of public interest on that principles is the iden c repor ed itself to ve journalism as long as condi journalism as long ve ve journalism in Macedonia, according to the inter- to journalism in Macedonia, according ve poli (health, areas erent ff cient informa cient . ffi ga . en journalists rely on informa rely en journalists inves for sources allocate ord to al consequences for society. However it is a fact in the mod- it is a fact However society. for al consequences ff cient professional competence of many journalists of many competence professional cient ffi cipants, are a reason for the for a reason are cipants, insu mes we publish photos with a headline only, while some with a headline only, publish photos mes we ve journalism ve publish informa ces, to 106 ng in Macedonia ng is the ve journalist is to put an emphasis and provide a put an emphasis and provide is to journalist ve of the of all result is most cipants, media of the Macedonian on desks cipants in the interviews believe that addi that believe in the interviews cipants en words: “According to our concept, the front page always has to have a large a large have has to always page the front our concept, to “According en words: Basically, we do not only cover daily events, but as much as possible we ini daily events, not only cover we do Basically, ema and Glasser (1998), as well as De Burgh (2008) think that the role of the the role (2008) think that as De Burgh ema and Glasser (1998), as well ga The main reason is the pressure for repor for is the pressure The main reason The limited material, technical and human resources in the newsroom, according according in the newsroom, and human resources technical material, The limited Par One of the most important journalis important One of the most 4. Proactive, reactive and investigative journalism 4. Proactive, reactive media in the Macedonian E es and injus The newsrooms cannot a cannot The newsrooms ve repor ve with by others.” do not know the topic ... O do not know the topic topics ourselves. The themes are more a topics do so: “ that many journalists are uneducated, with poor reading habits, they are insu are habits, they with poor reading uneducated, are journalists many that will be they without knowing the person interviews of them prepare Many prepared. su do not have with, they talking interested to see something unique, rather than what they see on all televisions unique, rather than what they see something to interested straints that media face in the everyday repor in the everyday media face that straints the original themes that create the media visibility, the interviewed editors and journal- editors the interviewed the media visibility, create the original themes that support proac they that argue ists cannot publish a priority topic at the front page just because we do not have a photo a not have do we because just page the front at topic publish a priority cannot easier and less expensive to focus on daily journalism. This is less expensive than to let let than to on daily journalism. This is less expensive focus to easier and less expensive expense of proac expense and not before that. Many of the journalists and editors interviewed agree that in the that agree interviewed and editors of the journalists Many that. and not before informa On the other hand, print media provide a signi media provide hand, print On the other photograph. Some photograph. producing news programs from di from programs news producing view par “ coverage of the events, i.e. it commi of the events, coverage Only some media have nonstandard prac nonstandard media have Only some photoreporters or from agency sources. To some media they are o are they some media To sources. agency or from photoreporters the wri lari legal reforms. The lack of inves reforms. legal inves to the interview par interview the to and the analysis of poten and the analysis ern Macedonian society that journalism has lost this role and focused itself to a reac itself to and focused this role journalism has lost that ern Macedonian society media repor 106 Quote from an interview with Predrag Petrovic, Editor in A1 TV, conducted on April 12 conducted 106 in A1 TV, Editor Petrovic, with Predrag an interview from Quote 104 Quote from an interview with Kole Casule, Editor in Chief in Vreme, conducted on March 31 on March 104 conducted in Vreme, in Chief Casule, Editor with Kole an interview from Quote 105 Quote from an interview with Muhamed Zekiri, Editor in Chief from Alsat TV, conducted on April 29 conducted 105 TV, Alsat from in Chief Editor with Muhamed Zekiri, an interview from Quote DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS

the journalist inves gate and focus at one topic only, for example, for a period of one 107 res week” , one of the interviewed editors said. Another trend that nega vely aff ects the insuffi cient engagement of journalists when it comes to proac ve and inves ga ve journalism is the primary use of news and other contents from the news agencies. “It is an issue that we have Internet media in Macedonia that put a pressure over us; they off er a hyper – produc on of news which absolutely encourages our laziness to use them”108 an editor from a print media says. While being cri cal towards the editorial management, journalists think that an addi- onal educa on is required for the editors: “It is not suffi cient to know how to write and cover an event…instead editors should be educated on skills to plan stories and topics… this training is what we lack.”109

5. Conclusion

In the era of globaliza on, amid informa on hyper - produc on and the drama c increase of availability to diff erent media, the quality of informa on is of paramount importance so that the audience can get a clear picture of current events and social reality. To understand how the complex media structure and editorial prac ces refl ect the way of repor ng and infl uence the quality of media contents off ered to the public, it is necessary to thoroughly know the editorial prac ces. The analysis of interviews on the organiza onal principles and prac ces enabled us to iden fy a sequence of posi ve prac ces in the repor ng, but also many disadvantages: star ng from a journalis c unprofessionalism to par al distor on of the social reality. As for the posi ve prac ces refl ected by the analysis, it is of crucial importance that the repor ng in the Macedonian media is generally guided by the interests of the audience. The research has also confi rmed that the na onal and local media are aware of their social role and that they develop their principles of repor ng based on this. Hence, the local media focus at community problems and the interest of ci zens, while the na onal media refl ect the situa on on na onal level in diff erent ways. It is indica ve that large part of the media outlets claim they do not publish unreliable informa on; instead they are guided by the professional principles in the publishing of news. S ll, there is a lack of more comprehensive informa on that refers to the global developments. The primary repor ng on local developments and the lack of correspondence from abroad gives the public a superfi cial and limited access to world events and trends, which highlights the need in the print and electronic media to invest in a serious network of correspondents abroad, as well as in regular access to foreign informa on services and their ac ve engagement – based on the principle of exchange of informa on or programs - in placing informa on from Macedonia in Europe and worldwide. One of the biggest problems faced by the Macedonian journalism is the dominant infl uence of poli cs as well as the infl uence of par cular centres of economic power which impose their interests. The en re informa ve product by most of the media o en contains informa on that is published based on the infl uence by personal a tudes of

107 Quote from an interview with Muhamed Zekiri, Editor in Chief of Alsat TV, conducted on March 29th 2011 108 Quote from an interview with an editor from a daily whose name is not published due to the need to guarantee anonymity. 109 Quote from an interview with Zoran Dimitrovski, Editor in Publika weekly, conducted on March 17th 2011 78 ORGANIZATIONAL PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES IN THE PROCESS OF NEWS PRODUCTION c ve ne elf- cal cal on as cantly cantly nuous fi on and 79 ng based ng ga cantly cantly hinder fi editors that ve and c community sfy the general cri- the general sfy the daily rou to en limited cal mass towards the nega mass towards cal ng to improving the quality of the quality improving ng to signi would journalism ve ve approach and inves approach ve . However, it is posi . However, nes in the newsrooms, as well as as well nes in the newsrooms, on to the hierarchical setup of the setup the hierarchical to on sphere ng mechanisms in the media ga AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS PRODUCTION NEWS THE INTO INSIGHT AN is only the main reason that given on, the journalis rmed that in rela fi on in the media sphere, they would stand in stand would they on in the media sphere, cally oriented environment, the research has the research environment, oriented cally uences results with frequent examples of s examples frequent with uences results fl

the daily rou ve journalism ve ve involvement and commitment not only by the commitment and involvement ve on and the lack of established rules in the media established on and the lack of ng, encourage cri ng, encourage

ga which is equally prevalent in both the public service in both and which is equally prevalent on in this area is not only a problem of the journalis is not only a problem on in this area ected in the broader social context. Therefore, solving of Therefore, social context. in the broader ected ﬂ poli any of media to or the management on of the owner c freedom, thereby contribu thereby c freedom, As result of the interviews, it is of concern that the con that it is of concern of the interviews, As result and inves ve on. The role of journalists, however, is o however, of journalists, The role ons allow. Investment into an inves into Investment ons allow. nancial, technical and human resources in the media are the main reason the main reason media are in the human resources and nancial, technical ﬁ ng in the Macedonian media. some in ng not being immune to limited role of editors and journalists and of editors role limited The research has also shown that has also shown that The research

The interviews with the editors and reporters raised more doubts about the solv- more raised and reporters with the editors The interviews the limited the limited for the lack of proac for are aware of the importance of the original themes that create media recogni create of the original themes that of the importance aware are use a proac to journalists encourage they therefore long as condi repor defence of the journalis defence and legal mechanisms that would protect journalists’ rights would signi would rights journalists’ protect would mechanisms that and legal compe of unfair forms” the “gladiator space. The development of appropriate self-regula of appropriate space. The development censorship among journalists, censorship has con media. The analysis the commercial the media industry wider are helpless in this situa helpless in are wider the media industry located in the unfair media compe media in the unfair located media workers, but also from all relevant and interested stakeholders. and interested relevant all but also from media workers, profession, but it is also re profession, shown that the current situa the current shown that social trends in the country and contribute to solving problems of public interest. solving problems to and contribute in the country social trends by the Macedonian media. Considering the importance faced ing of serious problems in a democra of expression of freedom improve the quality of media repor the quality improve the editors, the editorial opinions, but also contents that do not sa do not that but also contents opinions, the editorial the editors, teria for newsworthiness. One of the reasons for this, based on the research conducted, conducted, on the research this, based for of the reasons One newsworthiness. for teria is the implementa of task repor media. Most editors are more or less placed in the role of implementers, since they are are they since of implementers, in the role or less placed more are editors media. Most of repor the angle policy and determine the editorial develop to being forced on the immediate inclina on the immediate or business group. problems is a process that requires ac requires that is a process problems DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS

Bibliography: res Boyd, A. (1994) Broadcast Journalism, Techniques of Radio and TV News. Оxford: Focal De Burgh, H. (2008) Inves ga ve journalism, London: Routledge E ema, J. and Glasser, T. L (1998) Custodians of conscience: Inves ga ve journalism and public virtue, New York:Columbia University Press Evans, H. (1972) Edi ng and Design: A Five-Volume Manual of English, Typography and Layout Book 1, London:Newsman’s English, Heineman Fancher, M. (1987) ‘The metamorphosis of the newspaper editor’, in Gannet Center Journal, 1 (1), New York: Ganne Center for Media Studies Gans, H. (1979) Deciding What’s News: A study of CBS Evening News, NBC Nightly News, Nesweek and Time, New York: Pan- theon Books Hallin, D. (1992) The „high modernism“ of American Journalism, in Journal of Communica on, 42. McQuail, D.(1992) Media Performance, London: Sage Molotch, H.&Lester, M. (1974) ‘News as purposive behavior: On the strategic use of rou ne events, accidents and scandals’, In American Sociological Review, 39. Shoemaker, P.J & Reese. S.D. (1996) Media ng the Message, Theories of Inﬂ uences on Mass Media Content (2nd ed.), NY: Longman Publishers.

80 ORGANIZATIONAL PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES IN THE PROCESS OF NEWS PRODUCTION 81 AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS PRODUCTION NEWS THE INTO INSIGHT AN DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS

res

82 DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SOCIAL NETWORKS AND DIVERSITY

Eleonora Seraﬁ movska*

1. New social information-communication structure

New roads have been built and are being built in the society with tremendous speed and we barely no ce. These roads are the new infrastructure of informa on and communica on. Obviously, they are part of a new digital reality, but we will be able to no ce them only at the point when yet another wire will ‘run up’ in our homes. At the same me, we do not realize that they make us dependent on yet another technology in our life. (Van Dijk, 2006: 16) Modern literature abounds in expressions like “we live inworld of interconnected- ness”, “human web” and “web-society”. At ﬁ rst glance this seems unusual, because at the same me a lot is being said about individualiza on, social fragmenta on, independence, freedom, etc. When thinking the issue trough again, this coincidence does not look that unusual since both tendencies could actually be two sides of the same coin. „The world have never been freer but it has never even been so interdependent and interconnected“ (Mulgan, 1997: 65). On an individual level, the use of networks has grown to dominate human lives. Considering the me spent in electronic networks, telephony and on Internet, experts es mate an average of ﬁ ve to seven hours of free me per day for an individual in a developed society. Some experts consider that the individualiza on and smaller house- holds, full of technology trying to make people less dependent on each other, s ll did not make them less social human beings.

* Eleonora Seraﬁ movska has a PhD in communica on sciences. She is a researcher in the Ins tute of Sociological, Poli cal and Juridical Research in Skopje. Areas of interest: social psychology, research of media and communica ons. 83 DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS

With a slight exaggera on, XX century can be called the era of networks. The new res media such as social networks gain even greater impact on all social and private life of people. In this sense, the term “informa on highway” is truly adequate. The design of this basic infrastructure is of crucial importance for the opportuni es and risks that occur during the online networking. Poten al consequences from the selec on of a certain type of communica on infrastructure and its integra on in one’s social and personal life – can be less visible but even as such – they will not be less serious. Pursuing this line of arguments, “the game” involves not only the ecology of the nature – the fact that the transport of informa on and communica on will par ally replace the transport of goods and people – but also the “social ecology”. Therefore, when the new media ar- rived in the 1980’s, some people were arguing that they polluted the social environment since they penetrate even the private sphere. According to most radical cri cs of that me, the new media reduced, diminished and even destroyed the quality of communica on face-to-face and made professional rela ons more formal (Kubicek, 1988). Such changes, as assumed, will result with reduc on of privacy and total control „from the top”. In the 1990’s these a tudes were replaced by utopian views of new media: that they would signifi cantly increase the quality of life and, par cularly, the quality of communica on. „Debates on this topic con nue, whereas considera ons about social ecology, ‘new economy’ and the new era of prosperity, freedom and online democracy cannot get off the stage.” (van Dijk, 1991:92). The use of social networks explodes with its popularity in the last decade, as a tool primarily for the young people to mul ply the fl ow of informa on and mutual communica on. One of the most popular websites is Facebook, which was originally created as a forum of students of American universi es and today it is being used by people of all ages and geographic la tudes. Its popularity was originally supported by the pupils’ percep on, students and other young people that this is something “private”, a forum with limited access for those who are not en- rolled in college or university. Thus, users of the page felt rela vely free to post personal informa on about them and their social lives, understanding it as a way to a ract and develop rela ons with peers. But shortly a er its crea on, the form and the func oning of Facebook changed, thus ques ons were raised about the usage and adequacy of informa on on it by others that are not students, and that the use of it can lead to decisions that may nega vely impact the student popula on. For example, many colleges and universi es suspended students that posted racially-threatening or sexually-inadequate informa on on their Facebook profi les. Since then, there have been constant debates on poten al disturbing impact that social networks may have. That is why Facebook will be in the spotlight of the analysis of this research also, which is focused on the psychology of the social networks and diversity.

2. Cyber-space as psychological space

The term “cyber-space” is men oned so o en that its usage may seem banal and too commercialized. However, the experience gained from computers and networks in many ways can be understood as “psychological space”. When users turn on their computers, launch the programme, write an e-mail or login in their online service, they

84 THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SOCIAL NETWORKS AND DIVERSITY ng lled fi on or 85 es. la on of the vi re on social re fi – al metaphors ects their tastes, ects their tastes, fl cal event – incident – incident event cal en by their “internet 112 ac ng the online on of the intra-psychological on of the intra-psychological ally to others. Some people feel Some people feel others. ally to being used. It was vocabulary ve the individual between onal zone cula nua ons as well as fears and desires that that and desires as fears ons as well AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS PRODUCTION NEWS THE INTO INSIGHT AN calls being used – from are le all means . In terms of the cri . In terms en describe the way their computer is a their computer en describe the way 111 ” fan club on the one hand and “Shverceri” and “Shverceri” club on the one hand ” fan , Macedonia, a country with over 2 million in- with over , Macedonia, a country 110 cal terms, computers and cyber-space can become become can and cyber-space computers terms, cal insul up with the most come to on on who is going

ons that are projected in this space. Ideally, people use in this space. Ideally, projected are ons that ons, they use this psychological space for ven space for use this psychological ons, they er understand themselves, as a way of exploring of their of exploring as a way themselves, er understand him and par ally belongs to onal space” which is con on in this network mal condi er the mass brawl on Kale between the young fans, ethnic Macedo- ethnic fans, the young between on Kale er the mass brawl ba on. In the virtual unyielding and „a

on of their mind and personalityListen, or a space that re or a space that personalityListen, on of their mind and 3.1 Case: Republic of Macedonia 3.1 Case: Republic cal event: the Skopje Fortress (Kale) incident - a clash between two groups of groups two between - a clash incident (Kale) Fortress the Skopje event: cal ty. In less op ty. nua According to Internet world stats world Internet to According Cri 3. BEHAVING IN CYBER-SPACE IN CYBER-SPACE 3. BEHAVING When someone experiences the cyber-space as “extension” of his mind – as a tran- of his as “extension” the cyber-space When someone experiences In a deeper psychological sense, users o sense, users In a deeper psychological nal reckoning, photographs from 2001 to photomontages.” 2001 to from photographs nal reckoning, ﬁ all kinds widely open for – the door is already self and the others onal space between en feel, consciously or unconsciously, as they are entering a “place” or “space” a “place” or “space” entering are they as or unconsciously, consciously feel, en p://www.internetworldstats.com/stats4.htm p://www.internetworldstats.com/facebook.htm p://www.utrinski.com.mk/?ItemID=805DDFEA67A308448890CD2E70DF7A26 on the other, along with some local residents from around Kale, whereupon police could police could whereupon Kale, around from residents along with some local on the other, of the construc and opponents of supporters the close contact not prevent be a Church-Museum. said to which was object on Kale football fans. The incident infolved “Komi infolved The incident fans. football are fuel for these fantasies. these fuel for are to simply express, “play” their fantasies and frustra “play” their fantasies simply express, to iden this as an opportunity to be this as an opportunity to word or associa word for of fantasies and portable reac and portable of fantasies friends” (Suler, 2004). friends” (Suler, si like their mind is “merging” or “interfacing” with that of the others as they read e-mail read their mind is “merging” as they others of the or “interfacing” with that like wri messages discussions or chat group screens, on their messages world of the individual. It can be perceived as a transi be perceived of the individual. It can world and the others, which par and the others, seems like there is a real compe is a real there seems like a type of “interim, transi a type of “interim, habitants and with over 1 million internet-users, in March 2011 had 836.820 Facebook 2011 had 836.820 Facebook in March 1 million internet-users, and with over habitants and 40,3% penetra users nians and Albanians, a real war of words was ongoing on Facebook. New pages devoted devoted New pages on Facebook. ongoing was of words war nians and Albanians, a real threats, being opened with a lot of insults, profanity, are on Kale the Church-Museum to primi and the most The lowest revenge... for and calls on Kale – Facebook was the most referred to/most wanted social media. Therefore jour- social media. Therefore wanted to/most referred the most was – Facebook on Kale as speech which is spreading the hate alarmed: „Nobody controls nalists networks” o views and interests. In psychoanaly interests. and views with wide spectrum of meanings and uses. Many people searching the World Wide Web Web Wide the World people searching and uses. Many spectrum of meanings with wide Spa somewhere”. or “going as “travelling” their experience will describe in ar common are domains or rooms such as worlds, con 110 h 110 111 h 111 112 h 112 DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS

Things became so serious that the Ministry of Internal Aﬀ airs requested from Face- res book to erase groups associated with the events on Kale that promoted or shared content with aggressive quali es.113 The Macedonian sec on of the BBC broadcast at the me suggested that social networks serve as a fuse and that through the example of the so-called „jasmine” revolu ons in Tunisia and Egypt they became a tool for organizing protests. The severity of the event and the density of the communica on were suﬃ cient incen ve to inves gate what was happening in the virtual space on Facebook, in the context of the research about repor ng on diversity.

2.2 Subject of the research: The bad and The good

A er the cri cal event on 13 February when the ﬁ ght took place, there were 23 pages created and maintained on Facebook since 15 February, and they were related to Kale events in diﬀ erent ways.114 The research lasted un l 1 May 2011 and un l that me, out of 23 web pages, only 4 pages remained “alive” and func onal. “Alive” and func onal means pages on the walls of which un l May 1st people were s ll pos ng “posts”.115 Given the large number of posts on all ac ve pages, the page with most “likes” was cho- sen (a term from Facebook jargon – for the number of users on the network who marked that they like the page). The biggest number of “likes” had a page that promoted peace, love, coopera on, and tolerance. However, since this was the only “posi ve” page of that kind, it was necessary to analyze also the posts of the “nega ve page”, which was ranked second based on the number of “likes”. Based on the number of “likes”, it dominated independently compared to other nega ve ac ve pages. Otherwise, it is characteris c that out of 23 created pages on Facebook related to the events on Kale on 13 February, 22 were nega ve and only one was posi ve, but compared to the nega ve ones, it had far fewer posts on its wall. For this and for any other future analyses, it is indica ve that the posi ve page promo ng peace, love, tolerance and coexistence, was secluded and unique among “the pack” of pages on which dominated the na onalism, divisions, intolerance, hate speech and aggression of the most worrying kind. For the purposes of this analysis, the nega ve page was embodied in the Bad character or just The Bad, and the posi ve page in the Good character or only The Good.

3.3 Analysis of the proﬁ le of The Bad

Before we go into more detailed analysis of the “face” (read the wall) of The Bad, it would be good to make a small screening of all nega ve pages (characters) that were created for the events related to Kale. If we put the photographs that represent these “bad pages” on the focus of the analysis, we can conclude that 4 out of 22 pages had real photographs of incomplete construc on on Kale, which was present in other media as well (par cularly printed media); 5 out of 22 pages did not have any photographs, and

113 h p://www.it.com.mk/mvr-bara-da-se-izgasnat-agresivnite-facebook-grupi-za-crkvata-na-kale/#ixzz0q37wdi1s 114 h p://www.facebook.com/search.php?q=Crkva%20Kale&init=quick&tas=0.344391175541636&search_ﬁ rst_focus=1302004773715&type=pages 115 „Alive“ page in fact is the one on the wall of which are a ached at least several posts per month. Most sites were created in the period between 15 and 17 February; there are few records from that period and nothing has been posted on them since then. This does not mean that any of these inac ve pages will not func on in the future and will not have greater dynamics of pos ng on the wall. 86 THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SOCIAL NETWORKS AND DIVERSITY

u, an ﬂ in the en only en 87 Swine Swine Church on ; Church-Mu- ;

The Bad, onal symbols in the in onal symbols ng. In fact, 8% of the ng. In fact, in their names, onality The Bad. ag of Kutlesh, Chris ag of Kutlesh, of May, when the page when the page of May, fl st ngly – 1/5 are wri ngly – 1/5 are Church on Kale Church on l 1 cial ffi onality and na AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS PRODUCTION NEWS THE INTO INSIGHT AN of the 145 Most mes with their posts. .. le is presented with a male name and with a male le is presented onal or religious symbol as their pro- symbol religious onal or fi ag/ the o na les with listed fl fi ve fi are pro are of May. The analysis of all 357 posts showed that that showed of all 357 posts The analysis of May. st ? There were 357 posts on the wall of on the wall 357 posts were ? There West, Macedonian Brotherhood, Macedonian United United Brotherhood, Macedonian Macedonian West, The Bad l the 1 Komi was analyzed from many angles: (1) Picture, photograph and photograph angles: (1) Picture, many from analyzed was me. This page will precisely be presented in the further proce- be presented will precisely me. This page ). ag, eagle, Macedonian fl on of the planned object on Kale, un object on Kale, on of the planned erent subjects, out of which – interes erent onal heroes); 8 subjects use military symbols (usually NLA soldiers, (usually NLA soldiers, symbols 8 subjects use military onal heroes); ff ag, real photographs of the events...... of the events...... photographs ag, real fl The Bad le is presented with a female name and surname); 7% are group sub- group name and surname); 7% are with a female le is presented on related to the use of the na to on related un event cal fi There have always been Church on Kale and there will be one and there will be been Church on Kale There have always ), and only 3% of all 145 subjects have unclear name (such as: unclear name ), and only 3% of all 145 subjects have ; of wall ng on the Church on Kale, all have gone crazy?. all Church on Kale, ; Alexander of Macedon, Macedonian to the core, Macedonian patriot, Proud Macedonian the core, to Macedonian of Macedon, Alexander , Mwacki Backi When the focus of interest is the visual component posted on Facebook walls, it walls, on Facebook posted visual component is the of interest When the focus The highest number of “likes” had the page with a photograph which showed the which showed with a photograph had the page number of “likes” The highest How does the bad look like How does the bad „The face” of face” „The The informa The names that were given to “the bad” pages were: were: “the bad” pages to given were that The names nished construc fi le picture (Albanian (Albanian le picture ag, Macedonian Macedonian ag, such as: Macedonian. of a boy a picture with themselves of 145 subjects introduce 60 out be said that can (personal) or real it is false whether examining without certainly, (man) or girl (woman), na of them; 21 out of 145 subjects use picture fi subjects pos once, and 1/10 of them appeared more than more once, and 1/10 of them appeared subjects introduce themselves as males (the pro themselves subjects introduce un airplanes), whereas the rest 54 subjects use group pictures (pictures with two, three or three with two, (pictures pictures use group 54 subjects the rest airplanes), whereas themselves subjects introduce Two shows...). television or famous actors persons, more or a photograph. picture with vague cross, picture of na picture cross, period of the cri 145 di to refer they is interes on the walls those who post introduce names used to surname) – these are 78% or 114 subjects; 10% or 14 subjects introduce themselves as themselves or 14 subjects introduce 78% or 114 subjects; 10% surname) – these are (the pro females was opened for the last the last for opened was and phases of the analysis. dures name that represent those who write on the wall of the page; and (2) Name, picture and picture and (2) Name, of the page; the wall on those who write represent name that of on the wall who posts the person represent that photograph Kale? Nooo Kale? other visual elements that were put on “the bad” pages were related to: the Albanian the Albanian to: related were on “the bad” pages put were that elements other visual fl jects (with names such as Vaci Vac Vaci Forces -Prilep Forces seum on Kale DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS

3.3.1 When was The Bad active? res

Number of posts in the research period

The chart clearly shows that the page was created on 16th of February, posts started appearing on the 19th, it reached the peak in 6 days, and as of 24th of February the frequency began declining. The reduced intensity lasted un l the end of the analysis. In this segment of the analysis, it was interes ng to see the existence and the type of any possible connec on between Facebook page ac vi es with the publishing on the tradi onal electronic and printed media. Namely, it is expected that in the days with more posts to see more published ar cles related to the cri cal event in the printed or electronic media. Star ng from this assump on, the frequency of the posts in the six most watched and most read media in Macedonia was inves gated. This table shows the dynamics of the ar cles related to the events on Kale, published in Utrinski vesnik, Vreme, Vecer, A1, Sitel and Kanal 5 TV. It is evident that, more or less, all media outlets start with larger number of ar cles on the 16th of February, then the number declines, then it rises again and reaches its peak during the weekend (26-27). The second confronta on (reckoning) was scheduled for that me, but calls and requests of all relevant poli cal and state ins tu ons to calm passions acted preven vely. This trend is present at Utrinski vesnik (which truly increased the number of published ar cles in its Saturday edi on of the 26th of Febru- ary), Vreme, Sitel and Kanal 5 TV. In Vecer and A1 the number of ar cles constantly decreased, without ﬂ uctua on despite the announced cri cal event for the weekend. Although this does not have to do with greater generaliza ons, s ll there is a trend of connec on between mainstream media and the new social media. When a certain event is frequently reported in the classic media, it is more likely that this same event will be the topic of discussions, debates or disputes on the social networks as well. In fact, repor ng on Kale in mainstream media shows it as being in func on of agenda se ng on social networks, in this case Facebook. Of course, in order to show the rela on and the interference between tradi onal and new media, a more complex research is required.

88 THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SOCIAL NETWORKS AND DIVERSITY 89 ve ve commonly on. The neutral Words that glorify that Words own greatness, and power strength, supremacy the to cles related of February 132 th ict, ﬂ c ve intona ve onalis 13 from event cal ons, divisions and cri AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS PRODUCTION NEWS THE INTO INSIGHT AN Vreme Vecer A1 Sitel 5 Kanal en with posi feelings spreading of na spreading Words that invite to con to invite that Words war, reckoning, killings, reckoning, war, separa con- the text onalism, killing and whether ng. They were analyzed from many angles, many from analyzed were ng. They ve texts were reviewed from the point of the point the from reviewed were texts ve The media and number of published ar The media and 521 ve, about 14% were evaluated as neutral and as neutral evaluated 14% were about ve, vesnik Utrinski Types of posts Types on of a church, whereas the posi whereas on of a church, cs ve texts with respect to the four components. the four to with respect texts ve ngs. Nega ngs. mate mock mate posts on posts Facebook Number of onality, religion...) onality, and humiliate a person or a group or a group a person and humiliate some of its characteris for background, ethnic gender, (race, na Words to underes to Words 16.2.17.2. Wed.18.2. Thu.19.2. 2 Fri.20.2. Sat. 021.2. Sun. 0 722.2. Mon. 26 23.2. 3 Tue. 7524.2. 4 55 Wed. 425.2. 1 Thu. 4226.2. 28 2 Fri. 1 427.2. 19 Sat. 1 2 28.2. Sun. 3 2 9 1 Mon. 2 9 1 2 1 5 3 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 4 2 3 2 cles related to Kale in 6 Macedonian media Kale to cles related and percentages) (frequencies texts ve 3.3.2 What is The Bad presenting and talking about? 3.3.2 What is The Bad presenting and talking 86 120 79 18 51% 71% 47% 11% Profanity speech Hate reckoning war, for Trumpet-calls Self-praising ng from their common valence. Most of the texts, as high as over 80% (total 169 80% (total as high as over the texts, of Most valence. common their ng from The data in the table illustrate the analysis of the nega the analysis illustrate in the table The data Text without textual period are in the research observed of 357 posts 41% of the total Month Date Day February Curses, insults, Curses, Mocking the physical appearance presence and the volume of profanity in them, is there hate speech and to what extent, extent, what speech and to hate in them, is there of profanity and the volume presence na reckoning, war, for trumpet-calls there are and strength. power personal emphasizing self-praising, and highlights tains refer to texts about Easter gree about Easter texts to refer ones usually talk about the construc ones usually talk only “modest”, 6% were evaluated as texts wri as texts evaluated were 6% only “modest”, texts) were evaluated as generally nega as generally evaluated were texts) Types of nega Types Frequency of the ar Frequency record or have only picture, video or a link to a video clip. At this point, 210 posts (59%) 210 posts this point, a video clip. At video or a link to only picture, or have record interes were text any which do not contain star DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS

As it can be seen from the data, hate speech can be iden fi ed and concluded in most 116* res of the nega ve texts. Macedonians are „Kauri” , „Traitors”, „Kauri tribe”, „Ar fi cial na- on”, „Bulgarians”, „Ro en creatures”... on the other hand, Albanians are „Sh….117*”, „Traitors”, „Ro en Sh… tribe”, „bustards converted to Turks”, „Enemies of Macedonia”, „Ra le-brained”, „Sh… – arnau ”, „Albanians-shags”, „Sh… ca le”, „Incestuous na on”, „Infi dels”, „Shipoj“, „Dogs“... The presence of profanity is approximately the same (percentage) as the presence of the trumpet-calls for war, reckoning, na onalism, separa ons, killings. Vulgari es are of the most extreme kind and their descrip on is far below the wri ng level of this text, thus will not be analyzed, except for indica ng that it is about curses, insults and mocking of the physical appearance and threats involving sexual act, of the most vulgar and most primi ve manner. Calling for war, separa ons, killings, na onalism was also present in half of the posts. The following are the most common words and sentences used in this context: „Die Bulgarians”; „Death to the fe d infi dels”; „Death to Kauri”; „You all go to Albania”; „Great Albania!”; „Great Macedonia!”; „Only dead Sh… is a good Sh…!”; „We will exterminate you all”; „Macedonia is Bulgaria”; „Go away from Kale, do not make me f*** you all”; „Clean Macedonia”; „Let us slaughter Sh…”; „Karpalak for Komi !”; „Karapalak for all Kauri!”; „Sh… in Pchinja”; „Mass graves for Sh…”; „Gas chamber for Macedonians”; „We will slaughter, we will burn mosques”; „Long live Ahme , he will exterminate you all”; „Death to all Macedonians”; „Your end will come – we will kill you all same as in Brodec”; „Go away from here – this will be Great Albania”; „Destroy fi lthy Albanians”; „Come together Macedonian brothers to fi ght for the homeland.....”; „Macedonia is only to the Macedonian people”. Emphasizing the own strength, power and capability is present in the lowest percentage of the total nega ve texts and refers to the calls: „God is with us”, „Macedonia Time- less”, „We are the strongest – you Macedonians cannot beat us”, „Long live all Chris ans”...

Visualisa on and audio 52% of the total number of “posts” on the wall of The Bad was without any picture, photography or video clip – there was only text, and in 46% video clip was posted. Pho- tographs were rare (only 4) so were the links – in total three. Video clips, as majority were analyzed in detail, and according to their content they could be divided into several groups: 1. The ﬁ rst group was the largest and it contained video clips with militaris c content. In this group there were clips with: - NLA soldiers (2001), NLA soldiers singing war songs, military ac ons of NLA, dem- onstra on of weaponry used by NLA, celebra ng the victory of NLA, celebra ng the day of libera on of Kosovo, short movie about the army of NLA in Kosovo, Kosovo war 1999 – NLA destroys a church, NLA – black gers, Albanian special forces. There were 23 video clips with such content in total.

116 The publisher distances itself from the terms or linguis c construc ons used in this ar cle. Their transmission is made solely for research purposes, in the context of theore cal interpreta on by the author of this ar cle. 117 Hereina er in the analysis some terms are inten onally deleted or are not transferred en rely to avoid possible addi onal eﬀ ect of insul ng or nega ve stereotyping of members ethnic or religious groups 90 THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SOCIAL NETWORKS AND DIVERSITY ghts ghts ﬁ (only 91 que Mace- que ng historical historical ng and in the sixth

Rise you dawn of Islam; K-15 ng to on the ng with Jofe the cross er throwing beat Sh..”; Sh..”; beat going to a match – a match to going Go away from Kale, do not Go away from Kale, nguish: es of Macedonia, ; Komi ; Fuck Serbia. Fuck tled “Komi tled AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS PRODUCTION NEWS THE INTO INSIGHT AN a in Delcevo ght fi on of Komi a hip-hop song rst anthem of Macedonia from 1923 – of Macedonia from anthem rst fi ag of Vergina, Boki 13 – the biggest Macedonian star. Boki 13 – the biggest ag of Vergina, fl ; 20 years celebra ; 20 years on. the current anthem of Macedonia; anthem the current beau clips with natural are there h group

ﬁ of the Albanian skullcap; a clip with the history on in the world; song about the Mace- a rap special forces; meless; song about the Macedonian other clips with music and video spots contained Albanian folk music; love songs music; love Albanian folk contained other clips with music and video spots original folk Macedonian song: song “Macedonian girl”; song “If I die or I get killed”; Macedonian song: song “Macedonian girl”; song “If I die or I get original folk

In the -on the other hand, there are clips that show an empty stadium without Komi show an empty stadium clips that are -on the other hand, there -clips about the historical facts that Macedonians are Slavs, and not An Slavs, Macedonians are that facts -clips about the historical - Clips about the real origin of Albanians; clips showing who are the Albanians (sug- clips showing who are origin of Albanians; - Clips about the real 4. The fourth group of clips refer to the football matches and video material from the from and video material matches the football to of clips refer group 4. The fourth -winding of Komi 3. The third group of clips is about referring to the history and presen the history to of clips is about referring group 3. The third - - -songs about Macedonian soldiers: songs about the Wolves – Macedonian sons (3); the Wolves songs about soldiers: -songs about Macedonian - Parade of the Russian military units emphasizing the grandiosity of the army of the army of the the grandiosity units emphasizing military of the Russian - Parade 7); a hip-hop song (total in Kale -songs about the events - Macedonian “wolves” killing Albanian terrorists, video material from Brodec, video Brodec, from video material terrorists, killing Albanian “wolves” - Macedonian further be spots, which can of clips – music, video is consisted group 2. The second ng that Alexander the Great was originally an Albanian); clip for Albanians – the Albanians originally an Albanian); clip for was the Great Alexander ng that on Epiphany; Macedonian on Epiphany; Kale events; video material of riots in Kale; the of riots in Kale; video material events; Kale Albanian fans). on the streets; Football tribune from Serbia with parola Kill the Sh…; winding in the with parola Serbia tribune from Football on the streets; video material - Shkendija; Vardar between match group are all other clips: picture from the ruined mosque in Prilep (3); video material (3); video material the ruined mosque in Prilep from all other clips: picture are group of rituals of people conver Sheshelj in Hague (2); video material from – Alji, Alji; rappor short video spots mocking the Albanians; Ednooki oldest na oldest ges facts on the immediate or distant past, thus here we can dis can we here thus past, or distant on the immediate facts the from (excerpt marriages gay Albania recognises donians and a clip showing that laws). clips for are on the one hand there stadiums; the freedom; music, lit- Time; Macedonian church Every video spot Freiheit: Krstevski; Gjeorgji from the Great. Maiden: Alexander Iron – a Russian song, a song from “Katjusha” urgy; song “Macedonian land”; the song about the Tigers; song about the Macedonian traitors: Fuck Greece; song – Mace- song Fuck Greece; traitors: song about the Macedonian song about the Tigers; donia is donian soldiers; make me f*** every last one of you; one of last every me f*** make material from Tetovo 2001, armed soldiers killing two Albanian terrorists, Macedonian Macedonian terrorists, Albanian killing two soldiers 2001, armed Tetovo from material content video clips with such 8 There army. of the Macedonian marching sharpshooter, in total. Russian Federa in: grouped DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS

3.3.3 ‘Liking’ of posts and comments on the posts res Facebook profi le posts were receiving diff erent number of “likes”: 25% received from 0 to 27, аnd 75% received from 2 to 7 “likes”. 6 posts that received more than 10 “likes” are dis nguished: 2 posts from the creator of the profi le, named as Church on KALE, with the same short text: A Dead Sh… is good Sh…!; 2 posts are from “female profi les” and contain mocking and insul ng texts118 There is a post whose profi le cannot be iden fi ed (at least not from the picture and the name being presented), and it contains a clip from Brodec tled: this is how powerful are Sh…. Their turn will come – we will kill them all like in Brodec!; one post is with a clip from the riots of Komi near Nerezi, on the way to the football stadium in Gjorce Petrov, with a text: Shverceri beaten like donkeys by Komi ! The analysis of the comments given on all analyzed posts on The Bad showed the following results: Number of comments Percentage of the toal Percentage of the total number of Frequency on posts number of posts posts that had at least 1 comment 0 126 37% without comment 1-5 125 55,3% 6-10 51 22,6% 11-15 29 12,8% 16-20 1163% with comment 4,9% 21-25 5 2,2% 26-30 1 0,0 30 and more 4 2,2% 100% 100% Number of comments on the posts of the profi le of the Bad

It can be seen from the table that ten posts with its contents provoked over 20 comments by other visitors – posters on the Bad. Posts with profanity that cause great interest according to the number of comments will not be subject of analysis. Next is the presenta on of the other posts which do not contain extreme profanity, but a racted a en on and wri ng of comments. - a post with a ached clip, tled: Where are you Komi ? The clip shows a video material from the incident that happened before the football match in Gjorce Petrov. The post shows how Komi a acked ci zens from the suburb of Nerezi on their way to the stadium. - a post with quoted ﬁ rst verse from the hip-hop song Go away from Kale (originally): Go away from Kale, do not make me f*** every last one of you, there is no church there is mosque here oleeee... - a post such as: „HEY PEOPLE I HAVE GOOD NEWS.... KAURS IN GOSTIVAR HAVE STARTED GOING TO PRIVATE CLASSES TO LEARN ALBANIAN.. ISN’T IT GOOD, YOU MUST SPEAK ALBANIAN AS WELL. :))

118 (Originally: А.К.: you ca le sh…, get lost go to FUCKLAND AND DO NOT BOTHER ALL DAY LONG, THE PAGE CANNOT BE VISITED BECAUSE OF YOU, IT STINKS!!!!!!!!!!!!/ Н.К. WHO IS THE BIGGEST HOT-SHOT AMONG ALBANIANS? – THE ONE THAT HAVE PASSED ALL DOMESTIC ANIMALS :))))))))))))))))))))); 92 THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SOCIAL NETWORKS AND DIVERSITY ve had ons nc 93 ng peace, ng Peace and and Peace the Bad

erent subjects, erent ﬀ

Peace and love in- Peace ve that that ve in the period of the with le is presented and one introduces and one introduces fi book, science, owers, fl le, named as fi the Good , introduce themselves as males themselves , introduce on, it is indica AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS PRODUCTION NEWS THE INTO INSIGHT AN at the Bad appears in 17 posts himself. himself. in 17 posts appears and and everything was analyzed on it in the period analyzed was and everything and for the purposes of the analysis, it was called called it was the purposes of the analysis, and for the Good of May, the end of the research period. the end of the research of May, look like? st the Good ag of the SDSM... other subjects use group photographs photographs ag of the SDSM... other subjects use group le of le fl l 1 l the Good, had 1.354 „likes”. the Good of May. The analysis showed that it is about 87 di it is that showed The analysis of May. or only promo page only one was and there lity and intolerance, st the Good l 1 l of February un of February th Peace and Love instead of church and mosque on Kale of church and mosque on and Love instead Peace 66% or 51 subjects, with a male name and surname): such are le is presented fi 3.4.1. How does 3.4 Analysis of the profi There war in total 111 posts observed on the page of on the page observed 111 posts in total war There It was highlighted in the beginning that following the incidents on Kale 23 pages 23 pages on Kale the incidents following in the beginning that highlighted It was When the focus is on the picture or photography that represents those who post, it those who post, represents that or photography is on the picture When the focus Most of the 87 subjects, at of the 87 subjects, at Most From the point of view of the expressed polariza of view of the expressed the point From - a post such as: „LISTEN YOU SH…, YOU ARE NOT ALBANIANS YOU ARE NOT EITHER EITHER ARE NOT YOU ALBANIANS ARE NOT SH…, YOU YOU such as: „LISTEN - a post in our will remain we from, came they where to will go as: All Kaurs such - and a post THIS IS HOW IT GOES, EASILY BUT SURELY YOU WILL LEARN ALBANIAN. WILLINGLY WILLINGLY ALBANIAN. WILL LEARN YOU BUT SURELY EASILY IT GOES, THIS IS HOW un event cal nd 34% or 25 subjects introduce themselves as females (their pro as females themselves nd 34% or 25 subjects introduce ag of the Republic of Turkey, of Turkey, ag of the Republic 846 “likes” while 846 “likes” cri love and understanding. That page was appearing under the name was page That and understanding. love and mosque on Kale, of a church stead the Good character, 15 between were created and out of them, 22 explicitly or in an emphasized manner promoted views views manner promoted emphasized or in an and out of them, 22 explicitly created were and opinions of hos himself with the sentence: „Imagine no religion!!! Think… just think”. Think… just „Imagine no religion!!! himself with the sentence: subjects in their introduc other is only one, whereas of the page mark of the creator can be concluded that 53 out of 87 subjects introduce themselves with a photograph of with a photograph themselves 53 out of 87 subjects introduce that be concluded can The dis photograph. personal it is a assuming that (man) or girl (woman), a boy love instead of church or mosque on Kale, or mosque on Kale, of church love instead (their pro hands, such as: peace sign made of children symbols use various а of which only 8 appear more than once. The creator of the pro than once. The creator of which only 8 appear more OR FORCED TO DO SO :-)))) HEEH” TO OR FORCED IMPEDIMENT” SPEECH WITH ARE MACEDONIANS SH…, YOU :) ALBANIA GREAT be always it used to land and it will be as a female name and surname). One of the subjects is the creator of the page introducing introducing of the page name and surname). One of the subjects is the creator a female himself as fl (photographs with 2, 3 or more persons, mainly a boy and a girl, or an adult and a child mainly a boy persons, with 2, 3 or more (photographs besides him). DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS

3.4.2. When is the Good active? res

The me when posts are posted on the proﬁ le of the Good

According to the graph the ac vity on the page is the highest immediately a er its crea on, and a er that declines sharply. From 16th to 21st of February, 76% of all posts are posted on the page. Similar dynamics was observed at the Bad as well, the diﬀ erence is that the ac vity lasts longer there and is more frequent. It is indica ve that it is again most ac ve in one of the weekends (this me on Saturday), which sociologically can be interpreted as evidence that social networks absorb most of the free me of the individuals.

3.4.3. What does the Good tell and show us? Text 39 out of the total 111 posts observed in the research period are without text and 72 have text incorporated. In this part, certainly, posts with any kind of texts were par- cularly interes ng. The text was analyzed from the point of view of key words bringing its key message. *most frequent were those posts where the key word PEACE dominates (sayings: what is the peace; message for peace; „Peace”; „Peace at home – peace in the world”; „Only peace and respect”; „there is no good war nor bad peace”; „let us be the champions for peace and love”; „peace and love – forget about church and mosque”; „there is no way to peace – peace is the way!”; „make love, not war”.) *this was followed by posts commending the ini a ve for crea ng such a page, compliments were given to all suppor ng this page, the idea of wri ng something smart on Facebook was being s mulated.

94 THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SOCIAL NETWORKS AND DIVERSITY ... ♥♥♥ 95 cians that ng Muslims ng ngale”, Let us save us save Let ngale”, ans protec ans

century, as Ataturk would say – say would as Ataturk century, on :)” on le of the Good, were not songs le of the Good, were st on or the unemployment for ex- for on or the unemployment fi Let us save the world Let Nigh “Golden val Number of likes ower park ower AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS PRODUCTION NEWS THE INTO INSIGHT AN fl only 15 contain a picture and 34 a clip. and a picture only 15 contain on”; „You do not have to build churches churches build to do not have „You on”; character are: the sign of peace; peace – are: character There is neither good war nor bad peace us build violence”; „Let the („Stop er future owers, rainbow, Chris rainbow, owers, fl Good the Good, ll smart people in Macedonia....great side ll smart people in Macedonia....great There is neither good war nor bad peace en promoted in favour of the Good were: Michael Good were: of the in favour en promoted ee bars on Kale”; „We have too many temples – we – we temples many too have „We on Kale”; ee bars 0 1-5 6-10 11-15 16-20 20- ff of Jani, All you need is love of The Beetles, Let the sun Let of The Beetles, is love need of Jani, All you

icts last? We should realize that the biggest stupidity is stupidity biggest the that should realize We icts last? fl instead of church – instead erent number of “likes”, from 0 to 37 “likes”. 0 to from number of “likes”, erent ff nuously being manipulated for such ugly and bad games. ugly and bad games. such for nuously being manipulated le of the Good fi ached clip of Karolina, Toshe: Toshe: of Karolina, ached clip were receiving di receiving were „HEEEY there are s on the Good from the movie „Hair“, Heal the world of Michael Jackson, the songs: To all the the songs: To of Michael Jackson, Heal the world the movie „Hair“, from 3.4.4. Liking of posts and comments related to the posts 3.4.4. Liking of posts and comments related

Frequency of postsFrequency of postsPercentage 8 7 38 34 32 30 22 20 5 4 6 5 Number of “likes” for posts on the pro posts for Number of “likes”

Only 5 clips, out of all clips uploaded on the pro Only 5 clips, out of Pictures that appear on the whole that Pictures Out of the 111 posts on the wall of on the wall Out of the 111 posts Visualisa -the post as -the post The posts on The posts *messages to addressed to all for a be for all to addressed to *messages -the post of an individual: -the post Posts that received the majority of “likes” refer to: refer of “likes” the majority received that Posts and Love: Peace of the page -The creator -the post carrying the message: the message: carrying -the post poli the mind of few following people are “it is pity that like -the post -the post with a -the post praying in Cairo; „peace and love”; „faith, love and peace”. love „faith, „peace and love”; in Cairo; praying and other Macedonian singers... Toshe of Karolina, the world not war; children from all around the world surrounding the Globe, the world is in their the Globe, the world surrounding the world all around from children not war; hands of all; the sun, arms; outstretched shine in children and Skopje you will be the joy from the fes from will be the joy you and Skopje children and referred to sayings about love, the life of Mother Theresa, various pictures showing pictures various of Mother Theresa, the life about love, sayings to and referred o were Songs that and unity. love also on there John Lennon Imagine; further the world, are and Lionel Richie We Jackson be brother the champions of Queen, Be my are Mode, We of Depeche Peace songs like is all Love friend of Nonstop, my do not need more”). – let us build discothèques and co and discothèques us build – let peace at home peace in the world. Only this is the solu the world. home peace in peace at PEACE TO ALL!!!” TO PEACE

a future – not a past”; us science, educa a future „Give How long will these absurd con How long will these absurd brought the state from world level to African level. I wonder why, for so many years, years, so many for why, I wonder level. African to level world from state the brought situa the bad economic against people do not protest con are they ample, instead in the 21 or other types of hate religious see ethnic, to DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS

The analysis of the comments given on the posts of the Good showed the following results: res Number of Percentage of the total Percentage of the total number comment to Frequencies number of posts of posts with comments the posts

0 88 79% without comments 19 22% 2 7 39% 3 121% with comment 30% 4 5 4,5% 6 1 4,5% 100% Number of comments provoked by the post

Unlike the posts on the Bad, that had higher percentage of comments, the posts on the Good did not provoke such reac ons among the others who were ac ve on the proﬁ le. By analysing the posts that provoked more than 3 comments, we can dis nguish: *the post praising the creators of the group („Thank God we though of opening and “liking” something smart on this damn Facebook... :”) *„Instead of church – a ﬂ ower park” and * „Skopje - Shkup many names, single meaning”

3. Social networks and cultural diversity

Considering the fact that the behaviour of individuals on Facebook was analyzed in the context of the events on Kale, we can dis nguish several important segments of the behaviour in the cyber-space in crisis situa ons and topics that touch the diversi es. The fi rst segment is related to the iden fi ca on/management of iden ty, which can be examined through pictures, photographs and names that are used to introduce those who put their posts on the wall of the page. One of the more interes ng things about the Internet is people’s opportunity to present themselves in diff erent ways. Everyone has the opportunity to be oneself; they can slightly change the style or enter an experiment with their iden ty, and change their age, biography, personality, physical appearance, gender... The user name that someone will choose, the details specifi ed for themselves – all this is important from the point of view of how the individuals spread and manage their iden ty in the cyber-space. The iden ty is very complex aspect of the human nature. John Suler (2002) lists several interlocking factors which are useful while naviga ng in the maze called cyber-space.

3.1. Level of dissociation and integration

The iden ty of a person embodies diversity. Each has many “sectors” in his/her personality and plays many roles in his/her life – as a child, student, worker, parent, neigh- bour, and friend. The cyber space oﬀ ers false opportuni es for each of these speciﬁ c aspects of the Self. Some authors even speak about the individual’s possibility to “decon-

96 THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SOCIAL NETWORKS AND DIVERSITY - le ty ve ve fi the the ons, 97 the Good. use en they how we rely: ons, valida ons, rst conclusion is conclusion rst fi around on of those c act does not lead on”. The expression The expression on”. of on the page ve ng posts) on the wall of on the wall ng posts) en remain stuck in the endless stuck en remain on channel in order to express express to on channel in order erent sizes and contents. Thanks to to Thanks and contents. sizes erent ff erent environments we can separate separate can we environments erent AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS PRODUCTION NEWS THE INTO INSIGHT AN ff ects the need to eliminate these cri eliminate to ects the need fl ty through the clothes they wear, their wear, the clothes they ty through ributes. percep ty of his/her ty feel freer in showing their personality their personality in showing freer ty feel ve a ve c communica fi circumven ce the endless wrangles, vely acceptance and respect of other aspects of his/ of other aspects and respect acceptance vely are individuals who, at greater extent, want to remain remain to want extent, greater at individuals who, are ty that the individual does not want to show in a certain in a certain show to individual does not want the ty that onal or personal topic can express, emphasize only one side emphasize express, can topic or personal onal cs in “packages” of di cs in “packages” ng in the cyber-space, which in some way violate or break or break violate in some way which ng in the cyber-space, of on the wall individuals who post for cs is typical the Bad ty, respec ty, , we can certainly formulate two conclusions. The conclusions. two formulate certainly can , we cs or to develop new in the process of “self-actualiza new in the process develop cs or to vely, a person may feel shame, guilt, fear, anxiety, hatred about some as- hatred anxiety, shame, guilt, fear, feel may a person vely, vely “charged” aspects of their psyche. Put simply, , this means that when in- , this means that Put simply, aspects of their psyche. “charged” vely ve characteris ve ons of the own iden 3.2. Positive and negative valence 3.2. Positive 3.3. Used Media from the aspect of managing their iden from Subjec However, the wish to remain anonymous, re anonymous, remain wish to the However, It is known that people express their iden people express It is known that voca professional, cular characteris the rights of the others, or hurt themselves in the process are known to usually release usually release known to are in the process or hurt themselves of the others, the rights some nega with some problems have they show that they someone , in fact dividuals hurt, humiliate cathar But usually this purely parts or aspects of their personality. anywhere. Insecure or passive-aggressive individuals o individuals or passive-aggressive Insecure anywhere. of the pro and comments post look at we a moment, If for of online-arguments. river their posi manifest as an opportunity to use the internet-space may insults. Others him: he wants to see, but not be seen. Given that our research has conducted iden has conducted our research that see, but not be seen. Given to him: he wants those pos present and names used to (pictures analysis Bad and the Good her existence. Those opera her existence. of the Bad, we can immediately no immediately can of the Bad, we environment or group. The desire to lurk, completely hide – points out the need of the hide – points lurk, completely to The desire or group. environment iden the whole personal separate individual to those who prefer that anonymous and to emphasize only one aspect of their personality (more o (more only one aspect of their personality emphasize and to anonymous vague names, photographs, pictures of actors, group names...so they show dissocia names...so they group of actors, pictures names, photographs, vague ac who are individuals is that conclusion The second behaviour). Good, show integra terms, and, in psychological pects of his/her iden cal func cal of his/her personality, while completely reject or ignore some other sides. or ignore reject while completely of his/her personality, the thousands present online individuals and groups, any individual who is dedicated to a to individual who is dedicated any individuals and groups, online the thousands present par and present our characteris and present see, how we speak, how we move, our history, thoughts, feelings and personality – we do do – we personality and feelings thoughts, our history, move, we speak, how see, how we In di in a big “package”. everything put to not have struct” himself online. This implies that we should not present ourselves en ourselves struct” not present should we that online. This implies himself of the posi be seen as a me- These things can prefer. and hobbies they their career body language, this, in the Similar to with the environment. communicate which one can dia through people choose one speci cyber-space, DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS

themselves. There are many possibili es and combina ons thereof, and every choice res leads to emphasis of the specifi c a ributes of one’s iden ty. People that rely on communica on only through the text prefer the seman cs of the language, and perhaps linear, ra onal-analy cal dimension in itself, which is manifested through the wri en discourse. They can be “verbalizators” as described in the cogni ve psychological literature, unlike “vizualizers”, who can enjoy in more symbolic, pictorial and holis c judgments that are expressed through the crea on of clips spots, pictures, avatars, web-graphics. Some people prefer synchronous communica on – as a chat – which is refl ected in spontaneous, free form, wi ly expression of the self. Others, yet, are ready for a cau ous, refl ec ng style of asynchronous communica on, as in social networks, forums and electronic mail. There are personali es that do not prefer using web-cameras, and others prefer to dive into highly interac ve social environments where the exchange is fast and goes synchronised. The data from the used media in the Bad and the Good can serve as a basis for discussing the reasons for the frequent use of clips in the Bad, and the greater use of texts and pictures in the Good. Perhaps the ra onal-analy c dimension is on the side of those who are ac ve on the second profi le.

3.4. The transfer between people online

The psychoanaly c concept of the “transfer” is especially important for understanding the online-rela ons. As the experience with the other person is o en limited to text only (very unclear situa on), there is a tendency of the individual, when he tries to interpret the behaviour of others in the cyber-space, to project his own various desires, fantasies, fears, a tudes towards the “ambiguous fi gure” on the other end of the cyber-space. The process of transfer can be iden fi ed in “mixing” someone’s brain with another, as some users describe the experience related to the cyber-space. In fact, some users describe this mix of the brain with the computer itself. The transfer with the computer or with other users can be done in a very subtle, complex manners. The saying used by a famous passionate cyber- personality is well known: „wherever I go on internet, I actually fi nd myself.“ The unconscious mo va on with respect to the transfer will also aff ect on this “fi l- tering process”, who determines the choice that a user makes while establishing online- rela ons. Users may be surprised when they discover that those who share the same opinion and whom they meet online are same type of people as themselves. Thus, this almost inevitable technical “home” appliance can be very sensi ve. Namely, even when communica ng through text only, individuals focus on the rela ons and characteris cs among others, who are a hidden need in them. If while searching the Internet we almost always fi nd ourselves then with great confi dence we can say that the fact that people meet along on the page of the Bad or the Good is not accidental at all. So, the “deliberateness” is related to their mutual interests, hidden desires, mo ves for entering in such online-behaviour. Online-disinhibi on eff ect. It is well known that people in cyber-space talk and do things that they usually would not do in the real world. In this space they get relaxed, feel less inhibited, and express themselves more openly. Researchers call this “disinhibi- on eff ect”. However, it is a double-sided blade. Some mes people share too many per-

98 THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SOCIAL NETWORKS AND DIVERSITY ve on ons ons, the Bad 99 t for the t for fi on, e-bank- on, par- on was on Facebook on Facebook . It is impossi- nuous innova nuous on, speaks about on, speaks ng to release the release ng to the low level sfying patho- le, and even t or bene on and prohibi fi fy the main “culprit” the Bad ve sides relate to the to sides relate ve on, educa on, ve sides, good and bad sides, good ve the modern on progress, it), to empts and threats on, ac ve, infan ve, in- cases, used. In extreme en c ac ty in the virtual space implies the Good character . The nega acks (a acks AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS PRODUCTION NEWS THE INTO INSIGHT AN as sa on, as well ve and nega ve ve a iden me, this could the Good con ng and technologically happening in This was ng face-to-face. ng on Internet people are in regression (they (they in regression people are ng on Internet of er which the character benign disinhibi le of the Bad. The fi return to the primi to return civiliza sm and planetary onally exci onally c scien c on and misinterpreta By communica By social individuals. social on is not always that benign, so in cyber-space, course language language course benign, so in cyber-space, that on is not always urkle, 1994). urkle, 1994). cult to predict the boundaries of the human rising. But, in cir- the boundaries of the human rising. But, predict cult to Т on on Internet has its posi has its on on Internet the Good. ffi ng it with the free expression of sexual terminology and aggression as as and aggression terminology of sexual expression ng it with the free en even to strangers in the cyber-space. The good side in the analy- The good in the cyber-space. strangers to en even on ( on ed. fi mates show that over 23 million people communicate over the Internet, the Internet, over people communicate 23 million over show that mates

cism, anger, hatred, and even threats are o are threats and even hatred, cism, anger, of the pro en on the wall the same it. But, at to ons related ve sides relate to the generosity, openness, tolerance and the support that and the support that openness, tolerance the generosity, to sides relate ve manipula es for . Expression and excessive generosity, understanding and tolerance are also are and tolerance understanding generosity, and excessive . Expression communica human needs for ons enables the immanent The communica 4. Conclusion es Current Internet-regression. However, disinhibi However, In fact, they are the two sides of the coin. The absence of inhibi sides of the coin. the two are they In fact, cularly observed at sides. Posi o give, can they logic behaviour. Why? logic behaviour. Homo sapiens are able to consistently consistently Homo sapiens are able to cumstances of such a gigan cumstances era, in which it is di in which it is era, and that number increases by 12% per month. No one is planning nor controlling this No one is planning nor controlling by 12% per month. increases number and that in an excep live We increase. character support and empathy an understanding, such have an individual to for ble and unnatural happen?! will not even and probably met whom he never stranger, an unknown towards considered a sign of regression. This was happening in happening This was a sign of regression. considered regress), manifes regress), do it when communica never would they unpleasant needs and desires without any kind of personal bene kind of personal without any needs and desires unpleasant others. Most probably, it is responsible for the enormous amount of profanity, insults, of profanity, amount the enormous for it is responsible probably, Most others. threats...wri ing, etc. However, also “anonymity” in managing iden also “anonymity” However, ing, etc. opportuni desires immanent to an to immanent desires dividuals begin to explore the dark and underground worlds and places of pornography and places of pornography worlds the dark and underground explore dividuals begin to disinhibi This world. the real visit in never would otherwiseand violence, which they and harsh cri and harsh is called toxic and usually has one simple blind cathar and usually toxic is called for the inappropriate, vulgar and uncivilized behaviour in the cyber-space. The lack of in the cyber-space. behaviour and uncivilized vulgar the inappropriate, for restric fears, desires. Or, show unusual acts of kindness and generosity. This is usually called called This is usually and generosity. acts of kindness show unusual Or, desires. fears, benign disinhibi and restric manifested aggressiveness, sexual verbal primi verbal sexual aggressiveness, manifested as well as the increased vulnerability, a vulnerability, as the increased as well sis was manifested through the character of the character through manifested sis was has been iden sonal things about themselves in the cyber-space. They reveal their hidden emo reveal They in the cyber-space. about themselves sonal things the great kingdom of freedom of Internet, inexistence of a regula inexistence of Internet, of freedom kingdom the great DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS

By the end of the vague status of the cyber-space as a global public space, at a me res when administrators of social networks have been “disciplining” so far the hate speech only, it enables expression of all real or hidden and repressed needs, desires, and wishes. However, in the same – or even at a far greater extent, this freedom can be used also for paedophilia, cyber-crime, hate speech, s gma za on, dirty or infl ammatory vocabulary of intolerance. Undefi ned communica on channels on internet opens the fl oor for self- created projec on, thus instead of competent and adequate interlocutors –aggressive, rude, conceited and bad interlocutors will appear very easily. Chances for the Bad to appear are even bigger just because he does not par cipate in the offi cial public discourse/ space, since he is aware of the danger of isola on and sanc ons. But, the fact that he is being heavily restricted – or even sanc oned – by the social ins tu ons and relevant state sanc oning bodies at all levels, at least by far, does not impede at all his “explo- sion” on the internet. The analysis of the Skopje Kale case showed that the explicit hate speech, infl ammatory speech that implies intolerance and violence and the bad language experienced expansion on the social networks. Namely, 22 out of 23 pages created for the events on Kale, were embodiment of the Bad. The Good was lonely and less ac ve. The only diff erence was that it was more praised compared to the Bad, thus it had almost twice as many fans, at least formally. The main dynamics remained and probably will happen to the Bad. The Good “lost the ba le” in this case, at least when it comes to the topics related to ethnic, religious and cultural diversi es.

100 THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SOCIAL NETWORKS AND DIVERSITY 101 es’, in Cyber- es’, p://users.rider. h на

ons’, in Behavioral Re- in Behavioral ons’, ds), Hillsdale NJ: Lawrence ds), Hillsdale NJ: Lawrence е MIT P on. Cambridge: My Tires?)’, in Internet World, World, in Internet My Tires?)’, Достапно ﬀ 4 c Studies, volume Communi media Chat on, San Francisco: W. H. Freeman W. on, San Francisco: Epilogue ( ve AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS PRODUCTION NEWS THE INTO INSIGHT AN A Reconstruc Age: vism in the Computer ects in the Electronic Survey’, In Public Opinion Quarterly, volume 50, issue 3 volume Opinion Quarterly, In Public Survey’, ects in the Electronic ﬀ ons: New Ways of Working in the Networked Organiza in the Networked of Working ons: New Ways on! I Brake for FTP Sites! (or, Can Someone Scrape These Files O Can Someone Scrape (or, FTP Sites! for on! I Brake mate Machine: Close Encounters with Computers and Robots. New York: New American Library New American New York: and Robots. with Computers Encounters Machine: Close mate ty Management in Cyberspace’, in Journal of Applied Psychoanaly in Cyberspace’, ty Management Psychology and Behavior, volume 1 volume and Behavior, Psychology Erlbaum 5.4,1994 edu/~suler/psycyber/holland.html

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102 DIVERSITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NEWSROOMS AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS

NOTE FOR THE PUBLISHERS

The School of Journalism and Public Rela ons was founded in 2008 by the Macedonian Ins tute for Media as a not-for-profi t high educa on ins tu on, with a mission to advance the quality of educa on for journalists and specialists in public rela ons in the Republic of Macedonia. As part of its bachelor’s studies, the School off ers a voca onal educa on in journalism and corporate communica ons, by providing modern and applied study programs. The degree program in journalism is the only one in the country and in the region that it is aligned with the UNESCO model Study program for educa on of journalists from 2007 and the Declara on of Tartu, adopted in 2006 by members of the European Journalism Training Associa on (EJTA). The study program in Corporate Communica ons and Public Rela ons has been developed in compliance with the highest standards of high educa on and the Code of Ethics of the Interna onal Public Rela ons Associa on in Great Britain. Since June 2011, upon decision of UNESCO in Paris, the School of Journalism and Public Rela ons became a UNESCO Chair in Media, Dialogue and Mutual Understanding. The basic objec ve of the Chair is to contribute to the strengthening of social cohesion, mul cultural understanding and intercultural communica on in the Macedonian society. This objec ve has been accomplished by various ac vi es, implemented by the School of Journalism and Public Rela ons and the Ins tute for Communica on Studies: • Development of contents related to intercultural communica on and diversity repor ng in the study programs of fi rst cycle at the School and in the postgraduate studies organized by the Ins tute for Communica on Studies; • Development of research ac vi es that focus at the role of media and communica ons in the society: academic or applied researches implemented by the Ins - tute for Communica on Studies; • Development of knowledge, skills and professional values of the journalis c community and the specialists in public rela ons on intercultural communica- on and diversity; • Awareness raising on the importance of diversity repor ng and on intercultural values through: debates, conferences, programs, media products and campaigns; • Publishing of research studies, handbooks, textbooks and Internet based learning resources; • Development of programs for informal educa on and for s mula on of crea v- ity among youth in high educa on related to cultural diversity, understanding, tolerance and social cohesion.

The Ins tute for Communica on Studies (ICS) was established in July 2012 by the School of Journalism and Public Rela ons, with a primary objec ve to advance the fundamental and applied research in two key ares: (1) journalism and media and (2) public rela ons, corporate communica ons and integrate marke ng communica ons. In December 2012 the Ins tute was accredi ed to oﬀ er postgraduate studies in two areas: Management of Strategic Com- munica ons and Media Management and Mul media. The connec on between the teaching and learning process with the scien ﬁ c and research work enables the Ins tute to encourage involvement of young people in research ac vi es and to advance the process of development and spreading of knowledge.

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