On 08.11.2019, the web portal Republika shared a content titled “Gentleman brawl: They beat him, but he didn’t allow them to kill him”. The message above the headline reads: “Don’t underestimate the weak even though you might be twice as big.” The text refers to the event in Kazakhstan and is complemented with a video containing violence.
On 07.11.2019, the portal “Lider” reported that “The mayor of a small town in Bolivia was attacked by opposition protesters who dragged her across the street barefoot, covered her in red color and violently cut her hair.” In this case too, the content is complemented with a video with violent content.
Presenting violence as sensation or amusement, regardless of the participants, is contrary to Article 10 of the Code of Journalists, according to which:
“The journalist will not knowingly create or process information that endangers human rights or freedoms, will not speak the language of hatred and will not incite violence and discrimination on any grounds (national, religious, racial, gender, social, linguistic, sexual, political…).”
The media has a strong influence on the information process. This process is not free of responsibility when transmitting information, especially to a young audience. Journalists as media workers must find an appropriate way of conveying information in cases of accidents, tragedies or situations where there are scenes of violence. Such content should not only be free of the sensationalist approach to the transmission of information, but should also be cautious about displaying material containing explicit scenes involving violence, as well as the very messages that follow those contents.
While reviewing the content we analyzed, the F2N2 team found no warning that the transmitted video contained violent content, nor did we find an option to protect minors. In transmitting these contents, we have not found out what is the public interest in the country for either case. Such content is further spread on social media and we notice in the comments the cheering rhetoric, the thrill and glorification of violence
The media must be very careful. It is professionally irresponsible for the media to endorse, accept, transmit, or glorify a narrative that contains or incites violence in order to arouse interest in attendance, reading, listening, or viewing.
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This project was funded in part through a U.S. Embassy grant. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed herein are those of the implementers/authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Government.
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