We did not have to wait long for yet another disgraceful move by the management of Euronews Serbia, which has for months been in conflict with a large portion of its newsroom — journalists who are fighting for professional journalism.
The leadership of this media outlet, whose editorial practices have drastically changed for the worse since the appointments of Minja Miletić, Dragana Pejović, and others to key editorial positions both on the television channel and the website, has now attacked journalistic and media associations and the union simply because we stood by journalist Marija Šehić, who was shamefully and unjustifiably dismissed from Euronews — something the latest statement from Euronews’ management only confirms.
Furthermore, the claims of censorship, the banning of questions, and the mistreatment of journalists at Euronews were not fabricated by the associations — these were complaints raised by numerous journalists from the newsroom who turned to us.
The management of Euronews has accused us of using “tabloid methods” in defending Marija Šehić and sarcastically questioned our professionalism.
What is especially concerning is that, contrary to the journalistic code and fundamental principles of journalism, Euronews published the management’s response on its website while simultaneously removing the original news article that would have informed the public about the associations’ position on Marija Šehić’s dismissal. It is therefore paradoxical that the Euronews management’s statement claims that no information is ever withheld in their programming.
We consider this censorship — but not the only example of journalistic unprofessionalism demonstrated by Euronews’ leadership as it lectures others about “tabloid methods.”
It is still unclear how many different versions of the now infamous unsigned April 18th statement by Euronews titled “We Call on Authorities to Enable RTS to Work” actually exist. That statement included inappropriate terms such as “camps,” “ghettos,” and “Khmer Rouge.” The most extreme versions remain published on certain tabloid websites (like Informer), while a milder version of the text is available on the Euronews website.
It is simply untrue that the Euronews leadership was not contacted. In addition to individual journalists, representatives of the Nezavisnost union reached out to members of management last month requesting a meeting to discuss problems faced by journalists and other employees of this media outlet. That meeting has yet to take place.
Finally, it is unacceptable that Euronews Serbia’s management, in its attempt to discredit the justified criticism from journalistic associations, baselessly drags the company Telekom Srbija into the dispute, suggesting that our reactions were aimed at harming the company. The associations reacted solely to the unfounded and retaliatory dismissal of Marija Šehić and the erosion of professional standards — not the ownership structure of the media.
We expect Telekom Srbija itself to reject such manipulative use of its name in the internal power struggles between Euronews’ management and its own journalists.
Association of Independent Electronic Media (AIEM)
Association of Media
Association of online media (AOM)
Branch Trade Union of Culture, Arts and Media ‘Nezavisnost’
Business Association of Local and Independent Media “Local Press”
Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (IJAS)
Journalists’ Association of Serbia (JAS)
Independent Journalists’ Association of Vojvodina (IJAV)
Slavko Ćuruvija Foundation
