Hate speech against LGBTIQ persons remains strongly present in the online space, although today it is often disguised and harder to recognize, which is why the media bear a key responsibility in shaping the social climate and moderating content. This was stated by the project coordinator of the Center for Monitoring and Research (CeMI), Andrea Rovčanin, who, as a guest on the TV E morning program "Budilnik," spoke about the results of the project "From Silence to Narrative: Representation of the LGBTIQ+ Community in Montenegrin Media (2011-2024)."
Rovčanin pointed out that CeMI's analysis, created within the scope of the project, does not show that the media are the sole or direct causes of verbal and other forms of violence against the LGBTIQ community. "Verbal violence stems from various social contexts – family, culture, politics, but also the media. The media are an important intermediary because they have the power to shape the social and media climate, but they are not the only factor," said Rovčanin. She explained that CeMI's analysis included about 35,000 comments published on the portals Vijesti, Analitika, and IN4S in the period from 2012 to 2024, and as many as 80 percent of those comments carry a negative tone. "These data clearly show the atmosphere prevailing in the online space. Media outlets have a responsibility, especially regarding comment moderation, as
irresponsible content management can further contribute to the spread and incitement of verbal violence," Rovčanin emphasized.
Regarding the assessments of the Agency for Audio-Visual Media Services that progress has been made in Montenegro concerning reporting on LGBTIQ topics, Rovčanin stated that progress exists, but that it is quite superficial. "Overt hate speech appears less frequently today than before, but negativity has not disappeared; it has shaped itself differently over time. Criticisms are now often 'packaged' into political, ideological, or cynical narratives under the guise of freedom of speech and opinion. Therefore, we cannot call this progress substantive," Rovčanin explained.
Referring to the fact that the majority of hate speech appears precisely in the comments on portals, Rovčanin clarified that the CeMI analysis was not regulatory in nature, nor did it establish legal violations. "Today, hate speech is often difficult to recognize, even for editors, because it is not always as explicit as it was before. This represents an additional challenge for content moderation," she said.
When asked, "Why do journalists allow hate to spread through their texts under the excuse that they are merely relaying someone else's statements?", Rovčanin explained that publishing controversial views without additional explanation or context often becomes a trigger for heated audience reactions. Although the text itself may not contain hate speech, such a way of reporting can open space for negative comments, including belittlement and mockery, even when that was not the journalist's intention. "Based on personal impression, I believe that in some cases this may be a result of insufficient media literacy, while in others, there is a targeted intent," Rovčanin added.
She stated that the analysis showed that LGBTIQ persons appear significantly more often in the politics and society sections of the media, while they are much less represented in culture and sports, especially concerning the domestic scene. "In those sections, mainly famous regional or global figures appear, while LGBTI persons from Montenegro are almost invisible. Instead of everyday life stories, the focus is most often on conflicts, activism, or violence," Rovčanin noted.
As she pointed out, transgender persons are a particularly vulnerable group, being most frequently exposed to online violence and insults, although the analysis did not specifically track intentional misgendering or gender identification. "The way transgender persons are reported on is also a problem, as it often fails to meet even basic ethical standards," said Rovčanin.
Speaking about long-term trends, Rovčanin stated that there are certain shifts in social awareness, but they are not satisfactory. "Comments today are less explicit but are still present to a large extent. Out of about 35,000 comments, only about five percent were subsequently deleted, which shows that the problem is still seriously underestimated," Rovčanin said. Regarding the need for a stricter penal policy, Rovčanin assessed that the problem in Montenegro is not just in the laws, but in their application.
She also announced that in the coming period, CeMI will organize a roundtable where, with the participation of the Agency for Audio-Visual Media Services, civil society, the media, and the LGBTI community, the research results will be presented and concrete recommendations formulated. Rovčanin concluded that the key lies in strengthening media and digital literacy. "Targeted training for journalists and editors is needed, as well as strategic cooperation among all relevant actors. Hate speech is a deep-seated social problem and can only be solved through a collective, responsible approach," Rovčanin concluded.
The analysis conducted by CeMI was created within the project "From Silence to Narrative: Representation of LGBTIQ+ in Montenegrin Media (2011–2024)," implemented by CeMI and supported through the broader program "Together for LGBTIQ+ Equality," led by the Centre for Civic Education (CGO) in partnership with ERA – LGBTI Equal Rights Association for the Western Balkans and Turkey, Queer Montenegro, Queer Center Skopje, Tuzla Open Center, Open Mind Spectrum Albania, and the Center for Social Group Development from Kosovo (CSGD). The project is funded by the European Union and co-funded by the Ministry of Regional-Investment Development and Cooperation with Non-Governmental Organizations.