Third issue of “Quarterly Mediameter – Analysis of the print media in Serbia” was presented today at Media Center, Belgrade.
Velimir Ćurgus Kazimir, editor-in-chief, said that he had a great pleasure to present the results of the third issue of Mediameter, which has shown that the trend observed in previous trimesters is still present. Ćurgus emphasized that one may speak about intensification of this trend, because there is a noticeable increase in comparison with the previous period. As an illustration, the number of tables is increased threefold in comparison with the first issue. Ćurgus noted that the dynamic of media scene was increased in considered quarter, which led to the rise in number of selected texts.
Isidora Jarić, research methodologist, noted the continuity of two research methods, which include content and discourse analysis. Jarić said that the total number of analysed texts in seven media that were part of the sample is 2172, which represents significant increase compared to first (1360) and second quarter (1673). As an explanation for the increase, Jarić noted the increased number of days (92), along with occurrence of numerous inner and foreign politically relevant events, such as “migrant crisis”, that grabbed media attention and suppressed other topics. Jarić emphasized the phenomena of politicization of traditionally “non-political” topics, such as sport or show business.
Danica Laban, research methodologist, said that reports comprise the majority of the sample gathered from seven daily newspapers, counting 1382 texts or 63.63% from 2172 processed texts, which is consistent with the trend previously established. The second form according to participation is article with 10.59%, while news encompass 8.7%, comments 8.01% and interviews 7.78% of texts. The remaining journalistic forms are negligibly represented. Laban noted that, despite of increase of the sample, the structure of causes remained almost unchanged.
Dejan Vuk Stanković, author of discursive analysis, said that existence of various opinions, arguments and conclusions in printed media can clearly be seen. Stanković noted that there exists a high level of semantic and rhetoric overlapping between opinions expressed in weeklies, editorial columns and viewpoints of political actors. Stanković stated that there are no political, economic, but also wider social topics that are excluded. He also said that the thesis on classification of media in terms of their positioning on pro-European – anti-European axis has been confirmed, which is in accordance with results of previous research.
Among other, the research in this issue has shown that:
In accordance with the results of the previous issues of Mediameter, the largest number of articles on the front pages features Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić (621), followed by President of the Republic of Serbia Tomislav Nikolić (246). Most articles about Vučić were published in newspapers Politika (119), while the least number was in Blic (66). The largest number of positive articles about Aleksandar Vučić is found in the newspaper Alo!, while the largest number of negative ones is found in the newspaper Danas.
Among ministers of the Government of Republic of Serbia, the highest number of negative texts is dedicated to Zorana Mihajlović (17). Opposition leaders were represented with 528 texts on front pages, Vojislav Šešelj, Boris Tadić and Bojan Pajtić at the most.
Among regional politicians, in third quarter the most prominent was Zoran Milanović (91), and even 40% of texts about him are in negative context. Among foreign actors most frequently mentioned are Angela Merkel (131) and Vladimir Putin (66), and among representatives of EU most frequently mentioned are Johannes Hahn and Federica Mogherini (39 each).
It is likewise noticeable a significant presence of representatives of Serbian Orthodox Church and other religious communities on front pages, mostly in Večernje Novosti and Politika.
Based on the research, it is noticeable that the topic EU/policy of European Union is mostly represented in negative context with 77.03% of negative texts.
Research has shown that relations in the region in all three trimesters were presented in negative context. The number of negative texts has increased from 38.89% in the first, over 43.82% in the second, and to 54.41% in the third quarter.
Contrary to the moral and professional standards, the number of texts with implied values is constant since the beginning of the year: the greatest number of negative texts in Blic is dedicated to EU (90%), while the highest number of positive is dedicated to migrants (24%); Kurir has the highest number of negative texts dedicated to the President of Serbia (100%), while the highest number of positive texts is dedicated to the Government of Serbia (33%); Informer has the highest number of negative texts on Ombudsman and politics of EU (100%), while also having the highest number of positive texts on migrants (40%). Newspapers Alo! have the highest number of negative text is dedicated to anniversary of military action “Storm” (89%), while the highest number of positive is dedicated to migrants; Politika has the highest number of negative texts on politics of EU (78%), and highest number of positive on politics of Greece (14%); Večernje Novosti have the highest number of negative texts on commemoration of the crime in Srebrenica (64%), and the highest number of positive on economy (12%), while Danas has the highest number of negative texts on economy (53.5%), and the highest number of positive on reaching the standards of EU and culture.
Research has shown that, on internal political level, all weeklies are anti-governmental, while they differ in regard to foreign policy: 1) pro-European, critical towards Government, and especially the Prime Minister – Vreme, NIN; 2) moderately critical, pro-European Nedeljnik and Novi Magazin; 3) radically Eurosceptic and pro-Russian, and fiercely critical towards opposition – Pečat.
Political actors, regardless whether they belong to the Government or opposition, are primarily disputed; their shortcomings are emphasized, along with reduction the value of their achievements and the devaluation of the political potential.
Similarly to results from previous quarters, Prime Minister’s image in weeklies is represented as extremely authoritarian, prone to political and media manipulation, who has no respect for democratic principle of division of government, who erodes institutions and controls all media. Similar trend can be observed in regard with the image of opposition in weeklies, which is represented as lacking in moral credibility, political strength, deficient in new leaders and lacking innovative policy ideas.
The conclusion from previous quarters has been confirmed – there exists a diversity of viewpoints, arguments and conclusions. The pluralism of stances is a confirmation that there exists a freedom in public field, the freedom of opinion and expression.
Mediameter is a research and scientific-expert project, which, through the analysis of value judgments and through the discourse analysis monitors the development of the print media in Serbia. Mediameter is aimed at improving the professional and ethical standards of media reporting and analysis. The methodology of the research is made in accordance with highest scientific standards by team with many years of experience in this field. The result of Mediameter is a database, which can be used by all participants in public life for analysis of media in Serbia. This report is a scientific database, with goal to stop the practice of arbitrary interpretation of media content.
Quarterly Mediameter is published four times per year. Two issues have been published up until now, one for the period January – March and second for period April – June 2015. They are also available in electronic format on web page www.medijametar.rs
The third issue of Quarterly Mediameter, which comprises period July – September 2015 has been presented today in Media Center. This issue has also covered articles from front pages of newspapers Politika, Večernje novosti, Blic, Danas, Kurir, Alo! and Informer. In discourse analysis, weeklies Vreme, NIN, Novi Magazin, Nedeljnik, Newsweek and Pečat are covered as well.
