The appointment of Brent Sadler as the new head of United Media could lead to the complete shutdown of editorial independence at some of the most influential media outlets in the region, which would allegedly come under indirect control of Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic, reports Slobodna Dalmacija.
In its latest progress report on Serbia’s EU accession process, the European Commission delivered a clear message: if Serbia truly intends to become an EU member, it must stop interfering in the media and ensure their independence. According to the Split-based daily, the report is directly linked to ongoing pressure not only from Vucic’s government but also from pro-government television stations and tabloids targeting financially and editorially independent outlets that are objectively reporting on months-long anti-government protests.
The outlet notes that Vucic’s main target in this regard is United Media, part of the international United Group, most notably N1 TV and its online platform. The situation escalated when an audio recording leaked to the public, allegedly featuring Vladimir Lucic, head of state-owned Telekom Srbija – which controls a significant share of the Serbian media market – and United Group CEO Stan Miller.
The recording, published by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), appears to capture Miller telling Lucic that the company in Serbia should be weakened, but that he “cannot fire Aleksandra (Subotic)” – the director of United Media – at that time. The conversation suggests that the dismissal had been requested by Serbia’s president.
Pressure on independent media in Serbia, especially N1 TV, was further highlighted this week by Information Minister Boris Bratina, who publicly labelled N1 as an “outpost of foreign intelligence agencies.”
“We are seeking changes to legislation, because they should not exist in our broadcast space,” Bratina said.
Before any legislative changes, however, a leadership change is expected at the top of United Group. According to Serbian media reports, Brent Sadler – former CNN journalist and former adviser at N1 – may soon be appointed director of all media outlets within United Group.
This move, formally authorised by United Group CEO Sten Miller, will – according to numerous independent analysts – raise new concerns throughout the region, as it would allegedly allow Aleksandar Vucic to gain behind-the-scenes influence over key independent media.
Such influence would extend not only over media in Serbia, but also over major outlets in Slovenia and Croatia, where United Group owns Nova TV and N1.
Fearing that Sadler’s appointment could effectively eliminate editorial independence, editors and directors of United Media outlets across the region have launched an initiative for a management buyout – a takeover of outlets such as N1 and Nova – to preserve editorial autonomy and safeguard journalistic freedom from political and corporate interference believed to be linked to Vucic and the new United Group leadership.
Installing Brent Sadler at the top of United Group’s media operations would, analysts say, represent a full transformation of what was once a symbol of independent journalism into an instrument of political influence. At a moment when the European Commission warns that Serbia’s government is systematically controlling media, such developments are a serious alarm – both for the European Union and for anyone who believes in independent journalism – as it could allow Vucic to gain concealed influence over major regional outlets.
Since the beginning of the crisis in United Group and the removal of figures close to the former leadership, Sadler has played a key role in public attacks on his former employer Dragan Solak. In numerous media appearances, he persistently defended new management decisions by criticising N1 and Solak, a stance that Slobodna Dalmacija suggests may now bring him substantial rewards.
“Loyalty and high positions have always gone hand in hand,” the paper concludes.
Source: N1
