Politika journalist fired, claims retaliation for speaking out

Olivera Milošević, a journalist with 21 years at the Serbian daily Politika, has been dismissed from her position. The Journalists' Association of Serbia (UNS) announced her termination, citing an alleged violation of competition rules.

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I believe I did not violate anything from my employment contract or work regulations, nor did I cause any harm to the employer. I think this is about someone's intention to remove me, and they were just looking for a reason.

Milošević, who also serves as vice-president of UNS, disputes the official reason for her dismissal. She told UNS that she believes her termination is a consequence of her refusal to bow to political pressure and her public stance on media issues. "I believe I did not violate anything from my employment contract or work regulations, nor did I cause any harm to the employer," she stated. "I think this is about someone's intention to remove me, and they were just looking for a reason."

She revealed that she had heard rumors of a potential dismissal "if she didn't calm down" as early as last year. Milošević now understands this message, interpreting it as a refusal to forgive her for not accepting political pressure, for not remaining silent while her articles were altered without consent, and for protesting when statements were issued in the newspaper's name without journalists' agreement. She also suspects her media appearances as UNS vice-president, where she criticized the profession, may have played a role.

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I now understand the message. They don't forgive when you refuse to yield to political pressure, when you don't stay silent while your texts are cut, rewritten, and their context changed without your consent, when you protest that in the name of the editorial office you are a part of, a statement is issued without the journalists' agreement.

Milošević stated that she received no prior warning or indication of the impending dismissal, describing the process as a "rigid administrative procedure" that will likely end in court. She expressed that her actions were not aimed at harming the employer but rather at upholding journalistic integrity and speaking out against perceived injustices within the profession.

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Media appearances in the capacity of UNS vice-president, or criticism of this profession, are probably not forgiven either.