Total institutions, including the University Psychiatric Clinic of Ljubljana, are
considered closed systems. Within such institutions, power relations are unevenly distributed,
and violence may occur. Because total institutions operate on the premise of impermeability, it
is difficult for critical outside observers to gain access and monitor their work. Critical external
observers include journalists, who should adhere to basic ethical and journalistic principles
when reporting. These principles are similar to those of social work reporting. The most
important are to avoid value judgements, to protect the identity of sources, to trust informants
as people with experience, to allow public narratives of experience, and to use appropriate
reporting style and language. This master's thesis analyses whether the principles of social work
writing can be recognised in the writing employed by Barbara M. Smajila, a journalist at the
N1 web portal, in her article titled What is happening at the Ljubljana Psychiatric Clinic:
exposing testimonies of violence. The article in question contained multiple testimonies from
victims and witnesses of violence against patients by employees of the UPK Ljubljana. The
findings show that Smajila's reporting largely followed the principles of social work reporting.
She was aware of the sensitivity of the issue and, together with her editors, balanced the public
interest on the one hand, and the protection of the victims on the other. It was found that the
responses of the relevant authorities to the media coverage of violence at UPK Ljubljana mainly
relied on silence, denial of the violence, and discrediting of the victims and journalists.
Journalists faced many obstacles in their reporting, and representatives of user organisations
are critical of their reporting, saying that some statements were uncritically reproduced. The
repercussions of the journalists' reporting are shown in lawsuits against journalists and
witnesses, as well as the fear experienced by both journalists and those who witnessed the acts
of violence. Furthermore, the victims and witnesses have withdrawn from public life, while
UPK Ljubljana staff have been dismissed. Although most of the consequences of reporting are
negative, one positive consequence is that victims have received reassurance that they are not
imagining things, which has had a healing effect on the whole community. Based on literature
review, interviews, and the analysis of secondary sources, the thesis concludes that socially
responsible journalism is a partner to the ethical mission of social work. It furthermore
empowers vulnerable groups, but society must create the right conditions for this by
systematically protecting critical individuals.
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