For two years, North Kosovo has been engulfed in social apathy, with many residents feeling powerless and disconnected from the political process, according to Leposavić-based journalist Ivan Vučković. He alleges that the root of this sentiment lies with politicians and certain media outlets, which he claims are spreading misleading narratives. “The people feel abandoned and powerless, and no one consults them on anything,” Vučković said, describing a community unsure of who represents their interests.
Civil society representative Zoran Savić highlighted another dimension to the issue: the existence of „ethno-journalism“—where media narratives diverge along ethnic lines. Savić noted that it’s common to find drastically different accounts of the same event in Serbian- and Albanian-language media, leading to polarized perceptions of reality.
This week, a roundtable discussion held in North Mitrovica brought together local media representatives, NGOs, and journalists from both Serbian and Albanian backgrounds, as well as from Belgrade and Novi Sad.
The agenda included discussions on media collaboration, journalist safety, and the impact of recent political crises on the profession.
„People Are Leaderless and Afraid to Speak Up“
For Vučković, who has reported from North Kosovo for years, the current atmosphere is stifling. “I’ve never seen it this hard to work as a journalist here,” he shared.
Even focusing on everyday stories, he encounters a palpable fear among residents.
„People are afraid to speak up…they don’t even have their own opinions anymore, which is the worst thing that can happen,“ Vučković explained. He painted a picture of a society hesitant to voice even the simplest thoughts for fear of social repercussions.
“If you went out on the street and asked people, ‘Is it day or night?’ they’d hesitate, wondering which answer is safer or more popular.”
This feeling of disempowerment, Vučković argued, is worsened by the presence of “installed leadership” in local government offices.
According to him, local administrations consist of people “who have taken over buildings, occupy offices, collect salaries, and do nothing for the people.”
Rather than genuine representatives, he claimed, these officials are figures forced upon the community, whether due to political missteps or other factors.
Savić on “Ethno-Journalism”: Two Narratives, One Event
Savić, who works with NGO Aktiv, echoed Vučković’s frustrations and provided a recent example of „ethno-journalism“ at play.
Last Friday in the Bosniak Mahala, a sticker was allegedly placed on a monument honoring the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA).
According to Savić, shortly after, several men—reportedly Albanians—slashed the tires of two cars with Serbian license plates parked nearby. When Serbian media covered the story, they highlighted the incident of tire-slashing, while some Albanian-language outlets reported on it as an Albanian protest over the sticker without mentioning the car damage.
Savić pointed to this as a classic example of how selective reporting fuels public misconception.
„I stepped outside my building and saw the whole thing; I know what happened,“ he said. “Reading the Serbian media coverage, I knew what happened, what I saw. But when I checked the Albanian outlets, it was a completely different narrative—a classic half-truth that omitted key details, like the tire-slashing.”
This pattern of omission, Savić explained, is part of a wider practice of „ethno-journalism,“ where media selectively present stories to fit ethnically charged narratives.
“If someone in Đakovica reads that report, they’ll have a completely different perception of what happened,” he warned.
He acknowledged that the same phenomenon occurs in Serbian media, with each side sometimes crafting narratives that distort reality.
A Call for Integrity in Journalism
Both Vučković and Savić emphasized the importance of integrity in reporting, particularly in a region where polarized media coverage deepens divisions. Vučković called on his colleagues to uphold truth and honesty as essential values for future generations.
“This isn’t just about the present moment; it’s about the legacy we leave behind. We need to ask ourselves what kind of environment we’re creating for the generations growing up here,” he said.
“I still hold out hope that there are journalists and media outlets dedicated to the truth—who don’t let Albanian media depict everything from the Serbian side as wrong, or vice versa.”
Savić underlined that some journalists are trying to combat „ethno-journalism“ and prioritize full, honest reporting.
“Whether due to the recent crises, but everyone is pushing this narrative,” he concluded.
Preuzimanje i objavljivanje tekstova sa portala KoSSev nije dozvoljeno bez navođenja izvora. Hvala na poštovanju etike novinarske profesije.
