MEDIA IMAGE OF ROMA IN THE AGE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Keywords:
Roma, media discourse, artificial intelligence, stereotype, discriminationAbstract
The identity of the Roma community is significantly disproportionate to its material and intangible cultural heritage, often resulting in a perception that their ethnic image is not grounded in sociological or anthropological reality, but rather shaped by oversimplified and subjective viewpoints. The aim of this paper is to contribute to the clarification of whether, and to what extent, the media are responsible for the negative portrayal of the Roma, or whether they merely reinforce already existing public perceptions and amplify images rooted in the minds of media consumers. The concept of inclusive and responsible journalism should acknowledge the Roma as a distinct ethnic group and recognize the multifaceted importance of Roma media - from ensuring the fundamental right of access to information about Roma culture, language, traditions, and customs, to facilitating broader relevant public debates and shaping a positive identity of the community. The key issue lies in the lack of social cohesion and the erosion of political culture, which continues to be shaped by stereotypes and prejudices about the Roma, leading to their marginalization and media-based discrimination.
References
Breazu, P., Schirmer, M., Hu, S., & Katsos, N. (2024). Large Language Models and the challenge of analyzing discriminatory discourse: human-AI synergy in researching hate speech on social media. Journal of Multicultural Discourses, 19(3), 157–175.
https://doi.org/10.1080/17447143.2025.2476967
Creţu, G. (2014). Roma minority in Romania and its media representation. Sfera Politicii, 22(180-181), 112-120.
Cvejić, Sl. (2019). Romi u Srbiji. Sociološki pregled, 53(4), 1609-1635
https://doi.org/10.5937/socpreg53-24124
Ćirković, S. (2023). The Romani Language in the Linguistic Landscape of Serbia - A (non)visible Minority Language. Balcanica, 54, 21-63. Belgrade. Institute for Balkan Studies Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts. https://doi.org/10.2298/BALC2354021C
Dolovac, M. (2009). Romi i mediji. Međunarodna politika, 1134, 91-104.
End, M. (2017). Subtle images of antigypsyism: An analysis of the visual perception of “Roma.” Identities, 24(6), 668–683. https://doi.org/10.1080/1070289X.2017.1380265
European Roma Rights Center. (2023).Challenging Digital Antigypsyism. Brussels, Belgium. Available at: https://www.errc.org/uploads/upload_en/file/5488_file1_challenging-digital-antigypsyism-albania-serbia-turkey-and-ukraine.pdf (Accessed: July 29, 2025)
Jakobi, T. (n.d.). Izveštavanje medija o Romkinjama i Romima: faktografija bez konteksta. Beograd: Centar za istraživanje javnih politika Available at: https://publicpolicy.rs/Romkinje-i-Romi-u-medijima?lang=rs (Accessed: July 24, 2025)
Jovanović, I. (2022). Media landscape filled with prejudice: Portrayal of Roma people in Serbian media. Safejournalists.net Available at: https://safejournalists.net/media-landscape-filled-with-prejudice-portrayal-of-roma-people-in-serbian-media/ (Accessed: July 18, 2025)
Kroon, A., Kluknavska, Vliegenthart, R., & Boomgaarden, H. (2016). Victims or perpetrators ? Explaining media fragming of Roma across Eutope. European Journal of Communication, 1-18.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0267323116647235
Messing, V. & Bernáth, G. (2017). Disempowered by the media: causes and consequences of the lack of media voice of Roma communities, Identities, 24(6), 650-667.
https://doi.org/10.1080/1070289X.2017.1380264
Milošević, L. & Stojić Atanasov, G. (2003). Representation of National Minorities: Content Analysis of Print Media in Serbia. Međunarodne studije, III (3), 60-78.
Miailhe N, & Hodes C (2017) The third age of artificial intelligence. Field Actions Science Reports. The journal of field actions, (Special Issue 17), 6-11.
Official Gazette of the RS, (2022). Strategy for the Social Inclusion of Roma 2022-2030, No. 23/22 Available at: http://www.pravno-informacioni-sistem.rs/SlGlasnikPortal/eli/rep/sgrs/ vlada/strategija/2016/26/1/reg
Pasta, S. (2019). The media and the public perception of the Roma and the Sinti in Italy. Trauma and Memory, 7(1), 46-52. https://doi.org/10.12869/TM2019-1-08
Commissioner for the Protection of Equality. (2024). Roma community's perception of discrimination. Belgrade. Available at: https://ravnopravnost.gov.rs/wp-content/ uploads/ 2024/09/Percepcija-romske-zajed nc-o-diskriminaciji.pdf (Accessed: July 22, 2025)
Ratković Njegovan, B. (2011). Social integration of Rome people – The importance and remit of Roma media: A case study. Trames, 18(1), 102-119.
Sančanin, B, Penjišević, A. & Stefanović, D. (2025). Countering Hate Speech in the Media: Challenges and Solutions. Knowledge – International Journal, 69(1), 237-242. Paper presented at XLVIII International Scientific Conference Knowledge without borders – Istanbul, Turkey, April 3-6, 2025
https://ojs.ikm.mk/index.php/kij/article/view/7228
Simenunović Bajić, N. (2022). The politics of representation of Romaminority in Slovak and Serbian pres: political narratives in a comparative perspective. Institute for Research in Social Communication.
Simić, N. & Vranješević, J. 82022). I figh, therefore I am: Success factors of Roma university students from Serbia. Psihološka istraživanja, XXV(2), 205-223. https://doi.org/10.5937/PSISTRA25-38004
Shi, Y., & Sun, L. (2024). How Generative AI Is Transforming Journalism: Development, Application and Ethics. Journalism and Media, 5(2), 582-594.
https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia5020039
Todorović, D., & Đorđević, D. (2010). The Profile of Roma in Majority Media – A Scheme for a Theoretical Research Framework. Balkan Journal of Philosophy, 2(2), 165-174.
Trbojević, A., Jeremić, B., Milenović, H. Živorad, & Lazić, B. (2023). Representation of Roma Content in Curricula and Textbooks at the Initial Education Level in Serbia. International Journal of Cognitive Research in Science, Engineering and Education, 11(1), 115–127. https://doi.org/10.23947/2334-8496-2023-11-1-115-127
Tunç Cox, A., & Uştuk, O. (2019). The Roma image in the mainstream Turkish audiovisual media: Sixty years of stereotyping. Romani Studies, 29(2), 159-179. https://doi.org/10.3828/rs.2019.7
Vašečka, M, Jurásková, M. & Nicholson, T. (2003). Čačipen Pal o Roma – A Global Report on Roma in Slovakia. Bratislava: Institute for Public Affairs.
Zaidan, E., & Ibrahim, I. A. (2024). AI Governance in a Complex and Rapidly Changing Regulatory Landscape: A Global Perspective. Humanit Soc Sci Commun 11, 1121 https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-024-03560-x
Zhou, M, Abhishek, V., Derdenger, T., Kim, J., & Srinivasan, K. (2024). Bias in Generative AI. arXiv arXiv:2403.02726.
