IJC initiative – tolerance and accountability in the media

The Independent Journalism Center comes with a novelty for journalists and editors from online media: the launch of a project that aims to combat hate speech in online media and social networks and promote the principle of accountability in the media.

To assess the online media content, the IJC will monitor 15 online media and will launch two reports that will analyze how sensitive subjects about minorities and disadvantaged groups of people are covered and how the content managers of these web portals administer comments posted by the readers.

Journalists from various online media will benefit from training programs and will learn how to promote accountability in the media by publishing non-discriminatory articles, in compliance with ethical standards and promoting tolerance. At the same time, the content managers/web moderators will have opportunity to learn how to moderate the comments posted by the internet users, both on technical and content levels.

Bloggers interested in the human rights issues and non-discrimination will be invited to the Press Club meetings, where topics as: what hate speech represents and how it can be prevented will be discussed.

To call the media consumers attention, IJC will produce video spots, which will promote the idea of tolerance. They will be broadcast by local and national TV channels. The tolerance messages will be promoted also through various materials published on the Media Azi web portal.

”Combating hate speech in online media and social networks” is a project implemented by IJC with the support of Civil Rights Defenders (Sweden), partner of the IJC.