Former employees of Euronews seek accountability for systematic pressures on journalists.

We, former employees of Euronews Serbia, demand accountability for the systematic pressure on journalists, the erosion of professional standards, and the discrediting of the EN brand. We believe that the director Minja Miletić, editor-in-chief Dragana Pejović, and their closest associates are directly responsible for this.

Based on the experiences of former employees, testimonies regarding events within the newsroom, and the treatment of colleagues who refused to compromise professional and ethical principles, we deem it necessary to investigate the management practices of Euronews Serbia, as well as to remind everyone of the consequences that the editorial decisions of the management have had on journalists and the public interest.

A pivotal moment occurred in June 2024, when Minja Miletić took over as the regional director of Euronews. Employees were then presented with a perspective in which journalists would be able to perform their jobs professionally and without political pressure, but the opposite actually occurred.

Shortly thereafter, Dragana Pejović, who had less television experience than most employees, assumed an increasingly significant role in program editing and later became the editor-in-chief.

The collapse of the awning and mass student and civic protests represented events of exceptional public significance. During that period, editors and journalists were asked to downplay the significance of the protests, while guests who predominantly favored the government's stances and undermined the student movement were invited to the program.

Journalists who went to the field faced censorship; certain reports were not aired, live broadcasts were removed, and justifications cited a low number of attendees, technical problems, etc., despite these being events of public importance.

Statement on the blockade of RTS and the question of the management's accountability

In April 2025, during the student blockade of RTS, news editors received a statement with extremely inflammatory and offensive terminology, including terms like "camps" and "red Khmer." The statement, signed by Euronews Serbia, was practically a call for state authorities to intervene. It should be noted that this was happening at a time when the BIA was summoning journalists gathered in the association Our Protest for informational interviews.

Several employees of Euronews, through a joint electronic list, posed the same question: who composed the statement, who approved its publication, and on what authority was a call for state intervention made in the name of the entire media house?

The editor and news presenter refused to read the statement in the news, followed by threats. Director Minja Miletić called and threatened punishment if they did not enter the studio. An attempt was then made by another colleague to do so, but they also refused.

We never received an answer regarding who was the author of the disgraceful statement, through which the management attempted to exploit the informational program for political alignment and retribution against students.

Journalists, producers, and cameramen of Euronews Serbia then issued their own statement, signed by 78 employees. They distanced themselves from the controversial text and the way it was presented as the stance of their media house. This was a rare case of solidarity within a newsroom.

Following public and internal opposition to the controversial statement, events unfolded that raise serious questions about whether the personnel decisions were motivated by professional retaliation.

There were dismissals, penalties, and salary reductions. Editor-in-chief Dragana Pejović conducted evaluations of employees based on arbitrary assessments and criteria whose validity and application require independent verification.

Journalists and editors with years of experience, who had built the programs and professional identity of this television station, received low ratings in categories such as cooperation, professionalism, and teamwork.

In one day, the newsroom lost seven people; dismissals were also handed out to many colleagues working in production, and contracts for those expiring were not renewed. A precise list and legal status of each individual departure can be documented. Due to disagreements with editorial policy, pressures, and penalties, most of the individuals who were the backbone of the newsroom left Euronews.

After the dismissal of a significant number of employees, Minja Miletić remarked to the remaining colleagues: "It's easier to breathe."

New employees filled the positions of experienced colleagues, while some honorable and professional journalists who remained in the newsroom were marginalized. They should not be equated with management.

Employees expected that the Euronews headquarters in Brussels would respond to warnings and protect the professional standards of its Serbian newsroom. However, such protection was lacking, as employees at the Euronews headquarters found themselves in trouble when the new owner of Euronews became Pedro Vargas.

In light of all the aforementioned, as former employees of Euronews Serbia, we believe it is important to remind everyone of the accountability of all those who made or approved controversial decisions, exerted pressure on journalists, reduced salaries, suspended employees, and issued dismissals.

On behalf of the former employees of Euronews Serbia,

Živana Šaponja Ilić

Stefan Goranović

Majda Šovljanski Banjanović

Marija Šehić

Miloš Milić

Natalija Jevtić

Milorad Vesić

Jelena Stepanović

Ivana Stojadinović

Marko Subotić

Nemanja Milutinović

Dušan Hadži Nikolić

Pavle Kosić

Author: Signatories of the open letter, former employees of TV Euronews Serbia
Source: UNS