The Radar editorial staff said they want United Group to offer the Belgrade-based weekly to investors.
“We believe that the best solution is for the new owners of United Group (UG) to offer Radar to an interested investor if they are unwilling to provide us with normal business conditions. In the case of our weekly and online editions, this includes the option of multiple investors to jointly buying Radar from United Group, with none of them individually holding a majority or controlling stake.
“The editorial board of the weekly Radar supports the initiative of colleagues from other media within United Group (UG), which calls for survival based on market principles, with full respect for the highest standards of professional journalism and the preservation of independent editorial policy. This means that Radar is also ready to separate from United Group and seek new investors who will support these principles and the goals of our newsroom.
“Due to the complete absence of communication with the new owners and management following the recent changes in UG’s leadership, it is entirely uncertain how Radar will operate in the coming period. In the meantime, the public has learned that decisions about the future of all UG media outlets—including Radar—are being made outside the company, within the highest circles of executive power and the top management of Telekom Srbija. We remind everyone that Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić stated as early as February that in November—when budgets for the following year are adopted—journalists from our organization would be laid off, since changes at the top of UG were expected and no funding had been secured for the media within the Group.
“In just over a year and a half, Radar has become the most widely circulated, most read, and most influential weekly in Serbia, all while upholding the highest professional standards. Our sole aim is to ensure the conditions that will allow this to continue—so that we can keep working in the public interest and continue to inform citizens objectively, impartially, promptly, and uncompromisingly about everything that happens and that the authorities try to conceal.
“That is the key reason why we believe that the best course of action is for the new owners of UG to offer Radar to an interested investor, if they are unwilling to provide us with normal working conditions. For our weekly and online editions, this also includes the option for multiple investors to buy Radar from UG, with none individually holding a majority, controlling stake.
“Radar has, in just over a year and a half, become the most widely circulated, most read, and most influential weekly in Serbia, while adhering to the highest professional standards. Our only goal is to ensure that this remains the case—so we can continue working in the public interest and informing citizens objectively, impartially, promptly, and without compromise about everything happening that those in power try to hide.
“Moreover, our goal is to protect the editorial independence of Radar’s editors, journalists, and all collaborators on sustainable principles, in line with the best European practices. The editorial board and newsroom will, under no circumstances, accept political or commercial interference in editorial policy.
“We owe this to the readers of our print and online editions, to those who follow us on social media, to our fellow journalists, photo reporters, and numerous external collaborators—and above all, to the public, which has supported us from the very beginning and whose trust and loyalty we will not betray. We want to continue working on sustainable, fair, and professional principles, with a transparent ownership structure,” the statement said.
It was signed by the Radar editorial board – Vesna Malisic, Zoran Preradovic and Milan Culibrk
Source: N1
