Presserat rügt “Tribune de Genève
Published: Thursday, Dec 21st 2023, 11:20
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The newspaper "Tribune de Genève" failed to comply with its duty to seek the truth and the rules for dealing with sources in an article on migration and domestic violence. The Swiss Press Council has approved a corresponding complaint.
The article entitled "Le 'coup de la Russe', un véritable cauchemar pour les hommes" ("The 'Russian woman trick' is becoming a nightmare for men") was about women from non-EU countries who are threatened with deportation in the event of a divorce. According to the report, the women concerned are increasingly claiming domestic violence in order to avoid deportation. In legal circles, this trick is known as the "Russian woman trick".
The newspaper had failed to seek contact with the accused person and to check the credibility of its sources' statements, the Press Council announced on Thursday. It also criticized the newspaper for not mentioning the available data on the subject in question. In doing so, it had failed to comply with obligations that form the basis of the journalistic profession.
No discrimination
On the other hand, the "Tribune de Genève" did not violate the journalism code with regard to discrimination. According to the practice of the Swiss Press Council, not every derogatory statement about a group or an individual can automatically be considered degrading or discriminatory.
In the opinion of the Press Council, the terms used in the article are vague and varied enough to avoid stigmatization.
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