The analysis scrutinised almost 900 reports published in dailies Sme, Pravda, Hospodárske noviny, Plus jeden deň and Nový Čas, on websites aktualne.sk, pluska.sk a topky.sk and in main newscast of TV channels Markíza, TV Joj, TA3 and the public Jednotka RTVS, statutory representative of the Romano kher – Rómsky dom Agnes Horváthová informed the SITA newswire.
“In spite of human rights’ watchers warning journalists to avoid unnecessary stressing of the ethnicity in newscast, there are still reports which ignore this rule,” Horváthová commented on the analysis’ results. Journalists often use stereotypes in their reporting, but “only 4 percent of the reports analysed directly evoked hatred based on ethnicity”, SITA quoted the analysis.
It also finds that despite improvement in informing on Roma, more than 100 reports included various stereotypes and prejudices and criminality prevailed in reports as a whole. It shows that in 39 percent of cases, Roma did not get a chance to comment although directly involved in the reports. If the Roma involved did not comment, journalists often (in 29 percent of cases) turned to the Government Proxy for Roma Communities Peter Pollák,” SITA quoted the press report. Romano kher – Rómsky dom in cooperation with Newton Media studied 899 reports between July 1 and November 30, 2014.
(Source: SITA)
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
