Acta Universitatis Danubius: Communicatio (Jun 2018)
Critical Analysis of Press Reporting on the March Riots, the Day of the Explosion of Violence, March 17, 2004
Abstract
The March 2004 riots were considered the worst inter-ethnic event in Kosovo, where dozens of citizens lost their lives, and thousands were injured. The media, from various domestic and international reports, were generally criticized for boosting interethnic tensions, but in the scientific and professional sphere, no one made a thorough analysis. In this paper, we will make a critical analysis of the daily press reporting for the March 2004 riots, dated March 17, when the outbreak of violence occurred. Media in democratic societies have an important role, so those during reporting, and especially in such tense and emotional situations, should be cautious in reporting. Through text analysis, it can be concluded that some of the daily newspapers have also expressed emotional status in the way of reporting, through the persons involved in the story. However, in this case, should not be overlooked the international mission of UNMIK, which did not do enough work to keep the public opinion informed about the event and the general tension created in Kosovo.
