LocationsHow did the media in Serbia report on violence against women in 2024?
Less Blaming of Women Who Experienced Violence, but More Unethical Headlines
March 1, 2026
Photo: Ana Batrićević/Women Journalists Against Violence
Belgrade, March 2, 2026 – In 35% of reports on violence against women, the media revealed the identity of the survivor or victim, or members of her family. In 27% of the articles, sensationalist or stereotypical expressions were used to describe the violence, the victim, or the perpetrator. These are the findings of the Analysis of Media Reporting on Violence Against Women in 2024, conducted by the group Journalists Against Violence, with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The analysis covered 10,826 reports from print and electronic media (television, radio, and online portals) published during 2024. Online media reported most frequently on violence against women (76% of articles), followed by print media (19%), while TV and radio stations devoted significantly less attention to the issue (4% of articles).
The findings show that the media still most often report on specific cases of violence against women or femicide (77% of articles), while prevention, analysis of the social context, and public education are largely neglected (18% of articles). Although there has been a slight increase in media reports recognizing violence as a social problem—16% of analyzed articles compared to 13% in the 2019 analysis—such content is still rare.
A comparison with previous analyses by Journalists Against Violence also shows positive developments in media reporting:
Less frequent shifting of responsibility from the perpetrator to the woman who survived the violence (5% of articles in 2024 compared to 10% in 2019),
Less justification of violence by alcohol, poverty, or the perpetrator’s personal characteristics (7% of articles compared to 20% in 2019),
Reduced open disbelief in survivors and mockery of violence (5% of articles compared to 15% in 2019).
However, the analysis shows that headlines have become one of the most problematic aspects of reporting. In more than half of media articles (56%), the headline or teaser violated at least one basic principle of ethical reporting. This represents a deterioration compared to the findings from 2019, when this occurred in 45% of analyzed articles. This points to a strong market-driven approach to media content about violence against women, used to attract clicks, readership, and viewership—often in unethical ways.
Photo: Ana Batrićević/Women Journalists Against Violence
In addition, 27% of media reports included photographs or videos that portray violence, victims, and perpetrators in an inappropriate or stereotypical way - such as simulated scenes of violence, images of a crying woman or a woman with physical injuries, weapons used for violence, or photographs that could indirectly reveal the identity of the survivor or other people involved in the specific case.
Particularly concerning is the fact that 35% of the articles included details of the violence or statements from interviewees that are irrelevant from the perspective of public interest (for example, personal views of neighbors or friends of the survivor, the victim, or the perpetrator). Such practices contribute to the trivialization of violence, undermine public trust, and may discourage women from reporting violence or seeking help.
Considering all the findings of this analysis, visible progress toward a more responsible and educational approach to reporting on violence against women in 2024 can be observed. However, additional efforts are needed for the media to become true allies in shedding light on this social problem and drivers of change, rather than merely sharing information. Through ethical and sensitive reporting, the media can help society, institutions, as well as survivors, to recognize patterns and risks of escalating violence, in order to prevent it and encourage women to seek support and protection.
The group Journalists Against Violence has developed Guidelines for Media Reporting on Violence Against Women to help improve the quality of reporting on this issue, resolve dilemmas that journalists often face, and avoid further traumatization of women with experiences of violence, which may result from public exposure. Additionally, a free database of photographs and illustrations that ethically portray the issue of violence against women is available to all media outlets on the website novinarkeprotivnasilja.org.
The Analysis of Media Reporting on Violence Against Women was prepared as part of the “Ending Violence – Empowering Change” project, jointly implemented by UN agencies in Serbia, UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF and UN Women, in partnership with the Government of the Republic of Serbia, with the support of the Government of Sweden.
