Acting on a reader's complaint for violation of principle 1 of the Code of Journalists of Montenegro in the text entitled "Accused of hiding 24 kg of drugs in an auto electrician shop", Optužen da je u autoelektričarskoj radnji krio 24 kg droge, published on the Biznis CG portal on March 15, 2026, the Complaints Commission of the Media Council for Self-Regulation issues the following decision
The Complaints Commission determines that the Biznis CG portal, by publishing the text entitled "Accused of hiding 24 kg of drugs in an auto electrical shop", in which the title does not indicate that the event did not take place in Montenegro, violated principle 1 of the Code of Journalists of Montenegro, i.e. guideline 1.2 (Accuracy), paragraphs 2 and 3 point (b).
By omitting the information that the event in question took place outside of Montenegro, the title of the text may create the belief in the average reader that it is about an event that took place in Montenegro, although such a conclusion does not follow from the facts stated in the text. The commission believes that the media, when reporting on events that are not related to Montenegro, should already clearly indicate the relevant geographical location of the event in the title, supertitle or other prominent place.
Usual professional practice implies that such contents are clearly marked as news from the Region or the World, that is, that the location of the event is clearly indicated in some other way. The absence of such information can mislead the audience as to the nature and context of the event, especially when the title contains elements that emphasize its drama. In such circumstances, the headline takes on the characteristics of clickbait journalism, which is considered a form of degradation of professional journalistic standards, because it puts the interest in attracting the audience before the obligation to provide accurate and contextually complete information to the public.
REASONING
The Media Council for Self-Regulation received a complaint from a reader who signs himself as Miloš Jovanović, because of the way the Biznis CG portal publishes some news from the black chronicle. The complainant states that this portal "often publishes news about events that happened in other countries of the region, but this is not clearly indicated in the headlines."
The complaint points out: "The headlines are written in such a way that the reader can think that it is about an event from Montenegro, while it is only after opening the text that one can see that it is about another country." The applicant adds that "it is particularly easy to get the impression that this is an event that happened in our country, because the headlines are often dramatic and attract attention."
The contentious text "Accused of hiding 24 kg of drugs in an auto electrical shop" is one of four texts cited by the complainant as an example of such practice. It follows from the content of the text that the event did not take place in Montenegro, but in another country in the region, which cannot be concluded from the title.
The Media Council for Self-Regulation has repeatedly requested a statement from the Biznis CG portal editorial office regarding the allegations in the complaint. As the newsroom did not make a statement within the stipulated time, the Commission, in accordance with the Rules of Procedure of the Complaints Commission, decided without the media making a statement.
The commission considered the allegations from the complaint and the available content. The Commission reminds that guideline 1.2 (Accuracy) point (b) of the Code prescribes:
"Journalists must avoid headlines or advertising slogans that could lead to a wrong conclusion about the essence of an event or phenomenon. The facts must not be distorted by being placed outside the context in which they occurred."
By omitting the information that the event took place outside of Montenegro, the title of the disputed text creates a false expectation among the average reader that it is an event from Montenegro. Bearing in mind the above, the Complaints Commission determines that the Biznis CG portal, by publishing this text, violated principle 1 of the Code of Journalists of Montenegro, that is, guideline 1.2 (Accuracy), paragraphs 2 and 3, point (b).
Pursuant to Article 21 of the Statute of the Media Council for Self-Regulation, this decision must be published on the Biznis CG portal.
Commission for Monitoring and Complaints
Aneta Spaić
Sonja Drobac
Danilo Burzan
Branko Vojičić
Ranko Vujović
