By The digital security of journalists in Montenegro poses a serious challenge, as the growing number of online threats and inadequate responses from institutions and newsrooms further exacerbate the position of media workers, particularly female journalists who are often targeted with sexualized violence and hate speech.
The editor of Radio Berane’s portal, Milena Bubanja Obradović, points out that internet platforms have become tools for intimidation, verbal abuse, hate speech, and direct threats sent to journalists through social media, emails, and comments.
A troubling aspect is that online threats allow attackers to operate with relative anonymity.
“When analyzing publicly known cases, it becomes clear that female journalists are particularly vulnerable to this type of attack. Threats like those directed at journalist Danica Nikolić reflect the position of women in our society, which is anything but safe and secure. Attacks on female journalists almost always include sexualized rhetoric, which further complicates their struggle for equality and safety in the profession,” says Bubanja Obradović.
She emphasizes that the responses from authorities are inadequate.
“They often amount to mere declarations condemning the attacks, without concrete actions, which sends a message of impunity and further emboldens attackers. The lack of meaningful responses and actions in cases of attacks is best seen in the fact that even after several decades, some of the most brutal attacks remain unresolved,” she says.
On the other hand, she notes that newsrooms are often not adequately prepared to protect their employees.
Without protocols for responding to threats and without focusing on psychological support for journalists, we cannot speak of media houses’ commitment to improving their employees’ working conditions. Psychological and legal assistance for journalists is available through services provided by media organizations. However, that doesn’t mean media outlets shouldn’t take this issue more seriously,” she states.
Journalists often rely solely on their own resources to ensure their safety.
“That’s why continuous education on digital security and the use of security tools, such as data encryption and privacy management on social networks, can significantly reduce the risk of online attacks. Additionally, mutual solidarity among journalists and creating support networks can yield positive results,” she says.
A change project supported by the Fojo program, led by Radio Berane, focused on digital security education. In addition to webinars attended by journalists and other media workers from smaller, local outlets, the project also produced a digital security guide that was further shared within the media community.
This article was created as part of the program “Improving Working Conditions for Journalists in the Western Balkans,” implemented by the Fojo Media Institute, AMPEK, BIRN, and the Trade Union of Media of Montenegro.
