MEDIJSKO IZVEŠTAVANJE O AFERI FOTOPAB U SLOVENIJI – SEKSUALNO NASILJE U KONTEKSTU DIGITALNOG FEMINIZMA, MEDIJSKOG SENZACIONALIZMA I NOVINARSKE PROFESIJE
MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE FOTOPUB AFFAIR IN SLOVENIA: SEXUAL VIOLENCE AMID DIGITAL FEMINISM, MEDIA SENSATIONALISM AND JOURNALISTIC PROFESSIONALISM

Summary/Abstract: The article examines media coverage of the “Fotopub Affair” in Slovenia. The affair emerged in August 2022 when an Instagram profile moderated by anonymous person(s) began posting allegations of sexual and psychological violence of Dušan Smodej, curator and cultural manager active inside the Slovenian cultural and artistic scene. This profile quickly gained traction as several individuals came forward with similar stories. Roman Uranjek, a prominent Slovenian artist, was also implicated in the affair, and took his own life after the scandal broke, further intensifying the media frenzy. The article offers a case study of how sensitive topics like violence against women can be distorted by media coverage, particularly in a polarized and sensationalized online environment. The affair also exposed the challenges of maintaining ethical journalism in the face of the attention economy. As the media landscape becomes increasingly fragmented and driven by clicks and shares, the Fotopub affair underscores the need for responsible reporting that prioritizes the voices of victims, avoids sensationalism, and resists the temptation to politicize sensitive issues. In the end, the Fotopub affair remains a cautionary tale about the power of media framing especially in an era where social media and traditional media increasingly intersect to shape public opinion.

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