ZAGREB, 24 Sept (Hina) – Croatian publishers and journalists are currently facing at least 752 lawsuits, mostly civil claims for damages, while the legal right to corrections of published information is often abused, shows a study by the Society for the Protection of Journalists’ Copyright (DZNAP).

The study found that corrections and retractions, intended as the first step before filing lawsuits, are frequently misused.

Darko Markušić, deputy editor of the portal Direktno and study author, said on Wednesday that outdated media laws leave journalists vulnerable and that most retractions are followed by damages claims.

Only one in five complainants drops the case after a correction, while courts usually base compensation awards on them, he said, adding that the system serves as a tool to intimidate journalists.

Media experts argue that a self-regulatory body would better address the issue, he said.

According to the Croatian Journalists’ Association, civil damages claims account for 674 of the 752 cases, or nearly 90%, with demands exceeding €4.1 million.

The DZNAP said the problem affects all journalists, as almost none have avoided at least one correction request during their careers.