ANEM: Personnel changes at Nova.rs are a pressure on investigative journalism ahead of the elections.

“We are rightly concerned after yet another personnel change in the media that have recently operated under United Group. In May of this year, together with 26 other organizations, we warned that the sale of the Adria News Network (ANN) to Alpac Capital would represent a direct and unavoidable threat to media freedoms in Serbia and the Western Balkans. The latest change at the helm of Nova.rs confirms the ‘red alarm’ regarding the shrinking space for independent and critical journalism in Serbia, the rising concentration of media ownership, the economic draining of independent editorial offices through SLAPP lawsuits, as well as the accelerated takeover of local media by companies like Best Media Team, which is owned by the publishers of tabloids Alo and Informer. Throughout 2026, numerous changes in ownership over local television stations and portals were recorded, including takeovers of media in regions where local elections were held or prepared,” stated Veran Matić, President of the ANEM Management Board.

ANN confirmed that Mihailo Jovićević has left his position as the editor-in-chief of Nova.rs and that his former deputy Ratko Femić will lead the editorial team.

Brent Sadler, Director of News Editorials at United Group, also did not respond to Raskrikavanje's questions regarding Jovićević's dismissal or who the new editor-in-chief will be. The “Nezavisnost” Union at N1 and Forbes Serbia stated that it is closely monitoring the situation regarding the change in ownership structure of the Adria News Network with great attention and concern over the possible consequences for editorial independence and the labor rights of employees.

From this union, N1 and Forbes Serbia emphasize that their media outlets base their value and credibility on adherence to professional standards, investigative journalism, and independent reporting, and they assert that any change in ownership structure that could affect these principles is of utmost importance for all employees.

The union points out that at this moment, it is unable to draw final conclusions about the potential consequences of the transaction, given that the details of the contract, including any guarantees of editorial independence, are not publicly available or fully clarified.

“At this time, we expect the new owners to ensure complete transparency of the relevant written guarantees regarding editorial independence, confirm the continuity of the protection of professional standards, and enable timely and open communication with employees about all future steps,” concludes the statement from the “Nezavisnost” union at N1 and Forbes Serbia.

Raskrikavanje reminds that Sadler was dismissed from his position as Director of United Media Digital in mid-August, under which the portal Nova.rs, the newspaper Nova, and the weekly Radar operate.

He was succeeded by Pedro Vargas Santos David, the head of Portuguese Alpac Capital. Vargas David simultaneously took on director roles in several other companies through which N1, Nova S, and Danas operate. Raskrikavanje revealed back in May, before the sale was officially announced, that Alpac would pay around 30 million euros for the media package of United Group in the region. The contract also stipulates obligations for the new owner to preserve the editorial autonomy of the media and establish governance structures independent of political and commercial influences.

However, changes in management began even before the entire process was formally completed. Pedro Vargas David already assumed director roles in four media companies in Serbia on August 17. At that time, in addition to Jovićević, Aleksandra Mitić, Brent Sadler, and Janez Živko were also dismissed from their director positions. The new owner did not wait for the process of transferring the Luxembourg broadcasting licenses for N1 and Nova S to be completed.

The companies involved in the sale, apart from Adria News Sarl, which holds those licenses, were previously consolidated under another parent company - United Fiber. The Luxembourg business register recorded on August 24 that ownership of United Fiber had transferred to European Future Media Investments.

This way, the majority of the media business was transferred to the new owner without waiting for the Luxembourg regulator to decide on the transfer of licenses. Adria News Sarl remained within United Group, so the broadcasting licenses for N1 and Nova S are still held by the company owned by the previous group. Their eventual transfer will have to be carried out separately, after approval from the relevant authorities in Luxembourg.

The purchase has not yet been fully completed in Montenegro either. The transfer of media operating there, including TV Vijesti, still depends on obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals.