SENSATIONALISM – TREND AND PROBLEM OF MONTENEGRIN MEDIA

Text topic: Contemporary Journalism - Trends

Text author: Наташа Ружић

One of the main tasks of the Montenegrin media today is surviving on the market. Therefore it is not surprising that the media are focused solely on profits and do not think about the code of ethics or the consequences they may cause. Wishing to attract the audience, the media have forgotten the decency, good taste in expression, respect of generally recognised social values. This concept is characteristic of many media around the world. The media no longer have an informative and educational function; quite on the contrary, they amuse us, shock us, and develop our “negative” curiosity by their black chronicles. Reporting of suicides, murders, crimes and traffic accidents makes people buy a newspaper or (not) change the channel. The race for profits led to violations of professional standards of reporting, such as truthfulness, balance and objectivity. It is important to be the first at any cost, while the infliction of harm to individuals is not much considered. High circulation and ratings are not reflection of media quality.