Marija Šehić on her dismissal from Euronews: I was fired for political reasons.

Speaking in FoNet's series of talks Kiosk about the media scene in Serbia, she explained that the pressures at first were not so overt, but rather subtly communicated through messages that "we must be smart or be smart."

"Later, it intensified, and I experienced humiliation from my editor-in-chief – being labeled unprofessional, not a journalist, but a political activist," said Šehić.

According to her, many journalists felt pressures in the form of bans on asking certain interviewees questions or monetary penalties for not asking questions at press conferences.

Šehić claims that the pressures culminated with the statement from Euronews Serbia regarding the blockade of Radio-Television of Serbia, from which most employees distanced themselves.

As she stated, shortly after signing a letter in which employees distanced themselves from the controversial statement, she received a warning prior to dismissal, and a few weeks later, a termination notice followed.

"In the meantime, I was removed from the screen and from the position of host of the Morning Program and transferred to the control room," added Šehić, who was aware of what was coming, so it was not something she did not expect.

Reflecting on the statement from the editorial board of Euronews Serbia, published after her dismissal, which stated that the termination followed numerous warnings and systematically repeated mistakes, Šehić emphasized that she does not know of anyone who was dismissed for mistakes made during a live broadcast, questions about different estimates of the number of participants at the protest on March 15, or incorrectly signed interviewees.

She believes that the motives for her termination were political and assesses that it is an attempt to silence journalists and "educate those who remain in that media."

"My dismissal is a disciplinary measure to let you know what awaits you if you do not heed the advice to 'be smart,'" interpreted Šehić, adding that all signatories of the letter distancing themselves from the management's statement are at risk.

She is pleased that her colleagues in the newsroom adhere to the principles of journalism, ready to fight for normal operations, as they should be conducted, but notes that the atmosphere is such that people fear for their jobs.

She pointed out that a reorganization of job positions has been announced and stated that it is certainly not pleasant to work under such conditions.

Despite the price she has paid, Šehić reminds that many in the past decades have paid a far worse price, as she can seek justice in another way, while there are people who are no longer alive and cannot seek justice.

However, she is convinced that it is worth fighting for independent journalism in Serbia, even though we are witnessing the "terminal phase of madness in the media scene," but she hopes that this will change.

**Source: Fonet**