IFJ, EFJ, and NUNS: ANN journalists do not need definitions of "desirable" journalism, but guarantees of independence.

NUNS has already warned that representatives of the executive authority must not dictate to media owners how to manage relationships with editorial teams whose reporting is not aligned with the government's preferences. The IFJ, EFJ, and NUNS expect Alpac Capital to provide clear and verifiable guarantees that political messages and demands from representatives of the government will have no influence on personnel or editorial decisions in N1, Nova, Danas, Radar, and other media within the group.

In his response, Pedro Vargas states that journalists should be free to choose topics, ask all questions, and investigate without restrictions, and that attempts at influence will not succeed. Such messages are important.

At the same time, however, he speaks of media becoming "political forces," of journalists using their platforms to "promote a certain agenda," the need for "serious, non-activist journalism of the Western kind," as well as the "normalization" of Serbia.

Such formulations are particularly sensitive in the context of Serbia, where representatives of the government have accused N1, Nova, Danas, Radar, and other critical media of being political actors and "activists" for years. When the owner of a media group begins to draw a line between "serious" and "activist" journalism, employees have the right to know whether this is a personal opinion or a hint at a future editorial direction.

We are particularly concerned about the claim that when media become part of the political "game," attacks from politicians, boycotts, and aggression follow. The responsibility for threats, attacks, targeting, and other forms of pressure always lies with those who carry them out. Critical reporting, asking uncomfortable questions, and investigating abuses of power cannot be a reason or an explanation for political aggression against journalists.

All this is happening at a time when employees at Adria News Network still do not have direct and structured dialogue with the new owner. According to the information we have, employees have repeatedly requested a meeting with Pedro Vargas David, but that meeting has not yet been scheduled.

In the context of ownership change, direct dialogue with employees and clear guarantees regarding the future of editorial offices, job positions, and editorial independence should be among the top priorities of the new owner.

Editorial independence does not only imply the absence of direct instructions from media owners. It also entails protecting journalists and editors from ownership, commercial, and political pressures, as well as from personnel changes motivated by editorial policies.

This is not a standard demanded solely by the journalistic profession in Serbia. The European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) calls for measures that protect the independence of editorial decisions and allow for their free formulation within the media's editorial policy, along with mechanisms to protect against conflicts of interest. The Council of Europe standards also emphasize the editorial and operational autonomy of media, transparency of ownership, prevention of undue political and ownership influence, and the preservation of media pluralism.

Concerns about the future of ANN are not only a matter for Serbia. Journalistic organizations and unions across the region and Europe are closely monitoring developments related to this transaction.

Together with its members from Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro, the EFJ has already called for full, public, and binding guarantees of editorial independence, as well as the professional and labor rights of employees at ANN. The European Federation of Journalists then called on the European Media Services Committee, the European Commission, and the relevant national regulatory bodies to carefully examine the transaction and its potential impact on editorial independence and media pluralism, in accordance with the EMFA and other European standards.

IFJ and EFJ have previously expressed concerns regarding the takeover of the pan-European news channel Euronews by Alpac Capital in 2022, which was then headquartered in Lyon and has since moved to Brussels. Both federations supported their French member, the National Union of Journalists (SNJ), in 2024 in calling for a parliamentary inquiry into the takeover, following revelations about the origin of some funding and concerns regarding ownership transparency and potential influence on editorial policy.

What journalists in Serbia are asking for today is therefore neither an isolated nor a politically motivated demand. It is the same professional standard that journalistic organizations require in all European countries where ownership changes can affect editorial independence and the rights of employees.

IFJ, EFJ, and NUNS therefore call on Alpac Capital and Pedro Vargas David to establish direct dialogue with employees and their representatives as soon as possible and to provide concrete and verifiable guarantees that the change of ownership will not lead to politically or commercially motivated changes in editorial policy, dismissals of editors or journalists, restrictions on the choice of topics and interviewees, or narrowing the space for critical and investigative journalism.

Journalists at ANN do not need new definitions of what journalism should be. They need guarantees that they can continue to do their work without political, ownership, and commercial pressures.

IFJ, EFJ, and NUNS, together with their members and partner organizations across the region and Europe, will continue to closely monitor further developments and support journalists and media workers whose editorial independence and professional rights may be at risk.

International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)

European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)

Independent Association of Journalists of Serbia (NUNS)