Brent Sadler, a former CNN journalist, told Zagreb weekly Nacional that the decisions taken by the previous United Group managers were not without political motives, casting doubts on the independence of N1 and Nova S TV stations and added that UG’s majority owner BC Partners has not ill will towards the media.
Sadler’s interview to the Croatian magazine was picked up by Serbian pro-regime tabloids and his words were used to construe headlines saying that N1 is not independent and professional and that Sadler exposed and killed us.
N1 decided to send these questions to Sadler:
– In the interview, you said that the British investment fund BC Partners has no bad intentions toward UM media in Serbia — what do you base that impression on, when we all heard the content of the conversation between Stan Miller and Vladimir Lučić?
– You also said that “editorial policy needs to be protected, even from the owners”. However in the conversation we heard the owner intends to make us “smaller”. How do we protect ourselves from that?
– Your interview was picked up by the tabloids, which reported that you said that N1 and Nova are neither independent nor professional. Is that your opinion, or a distorted interpretation by the tabloids?
– You stated that the previous management led by Dragan Šolak politically influenced N1 — on what grounds do you claim that? Our journalists were told by the UM CEO that you expressed concerns to Šolak over the government pressure we had in the last couple of years, and that you praised the management for fighting for democracy and freedom of media. Did you change your opinion, and why?
– We also heard president Vucic say, back in February, that by November a part of N1 journalist will get fired, picked up by other media, while others “will be taken to be our PR’s”. What is your take on that, and how would a president know such a thing?
– Did you discuss your engagement in UM with Stan Miller, and what kind of engagement would it be?
Sadler’s reply – “Thank you for your message. Given N1’s recent coverage — which I have already formally challenged for breaches of editorial standards — I do not consider it appropriate to participate in further questioning at this time. Best regards, Brent Sadler.”
Source: N1
