Serbian media union demands clarity on editorial standards from new management

The "Nezavisnost" Union at N1 and Forbes Serbia has formally requested that the new management clearly define future editorial standards. They are seeking explicit guarantees concerning editorial independence and the protection of employees' professional rights.

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There is a trend imported from the United States in which journalists and media organizations, both on the left and on the right, behave like political forces, and journalists behave like politicians. When news organizations believe that they are the news, and their mission is not to report on the news but to be the news, they enter the arena; they become part of the game.

This demand arises in the wake of an open letter from Alpac Capital CEO Pedro Vargas David to Serbian Information Minister Boris Bratina. Bratina had raised questions about the regulatory status of N1 Belgrade and Nova S, suggesting they should be registered with Serbia’s Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media (REM) following Alpac Capital's planned acquisition of the Adria News Network. He also accused the channels of becoming political actors opposing the government.

Vargas David responded by advocating for media neutrality, stating that journalists should investigate all power centers without becoming political actors themselves. He described a trend where media organizations act as political forces, entering the arena rather than reporting on it. He emphasized that responsible journalism requires no "undue influence or secret agenda" and that attempts to influence journalism through pressure are futile. His assertion that Alpac supports "non-activist, Western-style journalism" prompted the union's call for clarification.

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Our journalists and editors have worked in accordance with the highest professional standards for years: they verify information, confront public officials with facts, and are accountable to the public rather than to political or proprietary interests.

The union countered that their journalists and editors have consistently upheld the highest professional standards, including verifying information, confronting officials with facts, and remaining accountable to the public, not political or proprietary interests. They stated, "That is not called activism. It is called journalism." The union highlighted that international journalist organizations recognize N1 as a professional media outlet vital for Serbia's pluralism of opinion, with allegations of "activism" originating primarily from government representatives. They suggested Vargas David's remarks were more a message to employees than to the Information Minister.

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That is not called activism. It is called journalism.

Consequently, the union seeks assurances that journalists adhering to professional and ethical standards will not face repercussions such as sanctions, dismissal, or professional restrictions based on their reporting or inquiries. They aim to clarify Vargas David's distinction between journalism that scrutinizes power and journalism that adopts political goals.

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all relevant international journalist organizations view N1 exclusively as a professional media outlet of critical importance to pluralism of opinion in Serbia, whereas allegations of alleged ‘activism’ have thus far come only from government representatives.