Journalists at N1 and Forbes Serbia expressed solidarity with Nova.rs staff in a letter on Tuesday.
Oglas
“We, the journalists of N1 and Forbes Serbia, express our full solidarity with our colleagues at Nova.rs, who are facing an extremely important professional and personal decision.
“We are particularly concerned about the way the new owner has chosen to present employees with the offer to leave the company.
“Employees were informed about the possibility of voluntary departure and the terms offered to them practically 48 hours before the deadline for making a decision that could significantly affect their professional and personal lives. Such a deadline is not an offer but an ultimatum.
“We believe journalists must be given sufficient time and information to make such a decision freely, without pressure and in an atmosphere of uncertainty.
“Also deeply concerning is the new management's decision to appoint a new editor-in-chief despite the newsroom's opposition, without waiting, as employees had requested, for the current election campaign and elections to conclude.
“We also stress that an editor-in-chief should enjoy the support and trust of the colleagues in the newsroom they lead.
“This is also addressed in European Commission Recommendation (EU) 2022/1634. Paragraph 13 recommends consulting newsroom members or their representative bodies when appointing an editor-in-chief, as well as an agreement between management and the newsroom on the consultation procedure.
“We believe that owners who genuinely support European values would always be guided by these principles in their decisions.
“Furthermore, at a time when Serbia is approaching elections and professional, independent and credible journalism is particularly important, any change that could affect editorial policy must be subject to particular scrutiny by the public and the journalistic community.
“Our colleagues at Nova.rs must not be presented with a fait accompli. Their professional integrity, their right to information and their ability to decide their own future without pressure must be respected.
“As colleagues working in the media, we are aware that the struggle for professional standards and editorial independence does not end with one media outlet. This is a warning to all of us.
“We want our colleagues at Nova.rs to know that they are not alone. We stand with you and with every journalist and editor's right to do their job professionally and freely, without political or ownership pressure,” the letter said.
Teme