Political instrumentalization of media discourse on the covid-19 pandemic in serbia: reporting and some normative aspects

Abstract

The subject of this study is media discourse on the Covid-19 pandemic in the Republic of Serbia, with special emphasize on the normative aspects of media policy during the state of emergency (March 15 – May 6, 2020). The main goal is to examine whether the media in Serbia report freely and independently or just function instrumentally as mediators of the political agenda. Hence, the first part of the research is focused on the normative order. By the method of comparative analysis of legal documents, the paper shows the inconsistency of the instrumental measures of media policy in the specified period, with binding norms announced in international conventions and declarations on freedom of speech. In the second part of the research, some indicators of the media discourse on Covid-19 political instrumentalization were identified, using the Critical discourse analysis. The hipothesis has been proven, that basis for political instrumentalization of the media reporting was established in a normative way, by applying disproportionate measures in the field of informing about the pandemic, and consequently developed by discursive practice in the media newsrooms, with aim to mobilize public support to the Govornment measures.