site.btaUse of Hate Speech Spreading in Bulgarian Media

Use of Hate Speech Spreading in Bulgarian Media

Sofia, March 28 (BTA) - The use of hate speech is becoming more common in the Bulgarian news media, according to a study held throughout 2015 and early 2016. It was part of a project of the Centre for Modernization of Policies and Media Democracy and the results were made public at a discussion in the Europe House in Sofia Monday.

Orlin Spassov of Media Democracy observed that there is a clear distinction line between tabloids and the serious press in this respect and hate speech is very rarely found in the latter.

The Internet emerges as the highest-risk medium for use of hate speech. There, hostility towards migrants and protection seekers has been intensifying since the autumn of 2015. This is clearly a result of the worsening migrant crisis in Europe, the complicating geopolitics and the terror attacks in Paris.

Another trend is the penetration of hate speech in the national news media. It is used on an equal scale by politicians and journalists.

Use of hate speech has become epidemic in the forums and the social networks in the past year.

In another trend, self-regulation and the moderation of forums is improving.

The participants in the discussion agreed that possible solutions against the spreading of hate speech are tighter rules, penalties and fines, anti-discrimination training and, possibly, introduction of a special subject on media literacy in schools.

"The use of hate speech with its traditional targets along ethnic, religious and sexual lines, is now considered romantic. Now hate speech borders on propaganda strategies against a myriad of enemies," said media expert Georgi Lozanov. He added that the propaganda strategies are a part of hybrid warfare. He put to question the idea that extricating hate speech altogether would be a solution. "Does it mean that there is no hate when there is no hate speech, and is speechless hate less dangerous that outspoken hate?" he said.

To stand up against the use of hate speech and discrimination speech, non-government oganizations agreed to set up a civil coalition, NoHate.