IFJ, EFJ and IJAS: ANN journalists do not need definitions of “desirable” journalism, but guarantees of independence

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) join their affiliate the Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia (IJAS) in raising concerns over the response of Alpac Capital CEO Pedro Vargas David to Minister of Information and Telecommunications Boris Bratina. Rather than alleviating employees' concerns about the future of Adria News Network (ANN) media outlets, the wording of the response raises further questions about the new owner's approach to the editorial policies of the newsrooms.

Credit: IFJ, EFJ, IJAS.

IJAS has already warned that representatives of the executive branch must not dictate to media owners how they should manage their relationship with newsrooms whose reporting is not to the authorities' liking. The IFJ, EFJ and IJAS expect Alpac Capital to provide clear and verifiable guarantees that political messages and demands from government representatives will have no influence on staffing or editorial decisions at N1, Nova, Danas, Radar and other media outlets within the group.

In his response, Pedro Vargas states that journalists should be free to choose their topics, ask any questions and investigate without restrictions, and that attempts to exert influence will not succeed. Such messages are important.

At the same time, however, he speaks about media organisations becoming "political forces", journalists using their platforms to "promote a certain agenda", the need for "serious, non-activist, Western-style journalism", and the "normalisation" of Serbia.

Such formulations are particularly sensitive in the Serbian context, where N1, Nova, Danas, Radar and other critical media outlets have for years been accused by government representatives precisely of being political actors and "activists". When the owner of a media group begins to draw the line between "serious" and "activist" journalism, employees have the right to know whether this is a personal view or an indication of a future editorial direction.

We are also particularly concerned by the claim that, when media become part of the political "game", attacks by politicians, boycotts and aggression follow. Responsibility for threats, attacks, targeting and other forms of pressure always lies with those who carry them out. Critical reporting, asking uncomfortable questions and investigating abuses of power cannot be a reason or an explanation for political aggression against journalists.

All of this is taking place at a time when employees in Adria News Network media outlets still have no direct and structured dialogue with the new owner. According to the information available to us, employees have repeatedly requested a meeting with Pedro Vargas David, but such a meeting has still not been scheduled.

In a situation involving a change of ownership, direct dialogue with employees and clear guarantees regarding the future of the newsrooms, jobs and editorial independence should be among the new owner's first priorities.

Editorial independence does not merely mean the absence of direct instructions from a media owner. It also means protecting journalists and editors from ownership, commercial and political pressure, as well as from staffing changes motivated by editorial policy.

This is not only a standard demanded by the journalistic profession in Serbia. The European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) requires measures that safeguard the independence of editorial decisions and enable them to be taken freely within the editorial line of a media outlet, with safeguards against conflicts of interest. Council of Europe standards likewise emphasise the editorial and operational autonomy of the media, transparency of ownership, the prevention of undue political and ownership influence, and the preservation of media pluralism.

Concerns about the future of ANN are not solely a Serbian issue. Journalists' organisations and trade unions across the region and Europe have been closely following developments surrounding the transaction.

Together with its member organisations from Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro, the EFJ has already called for full, public and binding guarantees of editorial independence and of the professional and labour rights of employees in ANN media outlets. The European Federation of Journalists subsequently also called on the European Board for Media Services, the European Commission and the competent national regulators to carefully examine the transaction and its potential impact on editorial independence and media pluralism in accordance with the EMFA and other European standards.

The IFJ and EFJ have previously raised concerns regarding Alpac Capital's 2022 acquisition of the pan-European news channel Euronews, which was then headquartered in Lyon and has since moved its headquarters to Brussels. In 2024, both federations supported their French affiliate, the National Union of Journalists (SNJ), in calling for a parliamentary inquiry into the takeover, following revelations about the origins of part of the financing and concerns over ownership transparency and potential influence on editorial policy.

What journalists in Serbia are asking for today is therefore neither an isolated nor a politically motivated demand. It is the same professional standard that journalists' organisations seek in all European countries where changes in ownership may affect editorial independence and employees' rights.

The IFJ, EFJ and IJAS therefore call on Alpac Capital and Pedro Vargas David to establish direct dialogue with employees and their representatives as soon as possible and to provide concrete and verifiable guarantees that the change of ownership will not lead to politically or commercially motivated changes in editorial policy, dismissals of editors or journalists, restrictions on the choice of topics and interlocutors, or a narrowing of the space for critical and investigative journalism.

ANN journalists do not need new definitions of what journalism should be. They need guarantees that they will be able to continue doing their work free from political, ownership and commercial pressure.

The IFJ, EFJ and IJAS, together with their members and partner organisations across the region and Europe, will continue to closely monitor further developments and stand with journalists and media workers whose editorial independence and professional rights may be affected.

International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)

European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)

Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia (IJAS)