Case Study: Darvin Murić – Unmasking disinformation in Montenegro

In the digital age, where disinformation spreads like wildfire, a dedicated team at Raskrinkavanje.me in Montenegro stands out as an important advocate for truth. Led by Editor-in-Chief Darvin Murić, this fact-checking portal has become a vital asset in the battle against disinformation. 

“Since childhood, I saw myself as a journalist, initially leaning towards sports journalism,” says Darvin, recalling his first foray into media work. “However, during my university years while working at Vijesti, I was thrown into the ‘fire’ of political reporting.”  

Darvin’s path took a turn during a visit to the USA through the IVLP Edward Murrow Program. Surrounded by journalists from around the world, this experience spurred his passion for exposing truth in the face of disinformation. “Not to sound pessimistic,” he says, “but currently, we need more fact-checkers than journalists.”  

A typical day 

For Darvin, fact-checking starts at breakfast. “As soon as I wake up, I read everything published in all Montenegrin media, from social to political topics,” he explains. “In the newsroom, we analyse suspicious posts, plan what we can verify, and often receive tips from citizens. We divide tasks, write articles, send inquiries, repeatedly review media and viral social media posts. There’s hardly anything that happens or is published that isn’t analysed in our newsroom.” 

His team’s arsenal includes technology like Google’s image verification tools, video authenticity extensions, and AI detection platforms. Yet, Darvin emphasises timeless journalistic methods, too—

“persistent phone calls, contacting relevant experts… bombarding authorities with countless emails, daily contact and data exchange with colleagues worldwide, and often collaborating with IT and programming experts. We use everything available to verify if someone is manipulating the public.” 

The challenge of institutional apathy 

The battle against disinformation in Montenegro is not without its challenges. Institutions often remain silent, withholding crucial information that could debunk false claims. Political disinterest in tackling disinformation compounds the challenge, with some media outlets even profiting from spreading falsehoods.

As Darvin notes, disinformation is rife especially in social media, “where well-organised individuals and groups synchronously share propaganda, disinformation, and false narratives.” He continues: “Particularly influential in Montenegro are right-wing, pro-Russian portals that daily publish a large number of disinformation pieces, some of which are unfortunately unverifiable.” 

Staying objective gets impressive results. Objectivity is paramount at Raskrinkavanje.me. Their editorial team, backed by years of journalistic experience and supported by the Center for Democratic Transition, upholds the highest standards of impartiality. Their affiliations with global fact-checking networks ensure that each verification process undergoes rigorous scrutiny. 

However, there is the emotional toll of debunking conspiracy theories and hate speech for Darvin and his team. “Exposure to often toxic content, daily hate speech on social media and in the media, leaves a mark,” he admits. “But our newsroom is still relatively young, so we deal with what we see through humor.” Add to this a natural camaraderie and occasional glasses of white wine, and the team find they’re able to navigate the psychological strain. “We know that what we do benefits society, so occasional nervousness and stress are worth it when we look back and see results,” he says.  

Those results are pretty impressive. Prompted by Raskrinkavanje’s fact-checking, several media outlets have retracted disinformation, acknowledging errors in their reporting. In one instance, the team exposed “a fake polling agency that published alleged party ratings before elections in Montenegro. Raskrinkavanje proved through investigation that the agency in question, CSI from Belgrade, does not exist—it’s not registered in Montenegro or Serbia, their research is entirely fabricated and sent only to selected media.” 

Such corrections serve as a testament to the organisation’s effectiveness in combating disinformation and empowering citizens to discern fact from fiction. 

Looking ahead 

Darvin is unequivocal about the role that fact-checking plays in preserving a free and credible press. And Raskrinkavanje’s contribution to this is undeniable. “We are increasingly visible, he says. “I am confident that the influence of what we and many other fact-checkers do grows every day.”  

Asked what advice he has for aspiring journalists, he has this to say:

“Always verify every piece of information. Always seek and provide context for the information being published. The job of journalists is not to simply relay information provided by politicians and officials, but to contextualize and verify it.” 

Darvin admits that he sometimes faces a skeptical public who believe that Raskrinkavanje is funded by “malicious elites”. Still,, he is optimistic that informed citizens will increasingly turn to his organisation and others like his to seek out verified sources, bolstering the fight against disinformation in Montenegro and beyond.

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