Politics · Other · 1 hr ago
Nova.rs journalists face deadline to accept new editor or leave
Nova.rs management appointed Marko Stjepanović as editor-in-chief and gave employees until October 15 to accept his leadership or leave with severance.
The dispute is unfolding at the Serbian news portal’s newsroom in Belgrade, shortly before the October 25 parliamentary election.
Management says staff can stay or leave with compensation; journalists describe the deadline as an ultimatum and say the appointment was imposed.
The newsroom says the changes threaten its editorial independence and is consulting lawyers and seeking support from media organisations.
Media Freedom Rapid Response partners say the existing editors may lose access to the system used to publish stories and manage the site.
They have urged United Cloud not to restrict that access and to restore it if it has already been removed.
United Cloud says it provides software services and does not interfere with clients’ editorial decisions, but has not clearly said whether it received or acted on the reported instruction.
Media freedom groups are seeking urgent clarification and safeguards before any further changes to publishing access are made.
Nova.rs management appointed Marko Stjepanovic as editor in chief and gave staff until 7 p.m. on October 15 to accept the new leadership or leave with severance.
Journalists described the offer as an ultimatum and said it threatened editorial independence.
Staff called a protest outside the newsroom in Belgrade for 6 p.m. on October 14.
Deputy editor Ratko Femic said the appointment and deadline put pressure on the newsroom before Serbia’s October 25 parliamentary elections.
Media Freedom Rapid Response partners urged United Cloud not to restrict the existing editors’ publishing access and called on Alpac Capital to explain safeguards for independent reporting.
- Who
- Nova.rs journalists and staff, and the outlet’s management.
- What
- Management appointed Marko Stjepanovic as editor in chief and gave employees a deadline to accept the leadership or leave with severance. Staff protested, citing concerns about editorial independence.
- When
- The management memo was sent on October 13, 2026. The staff deadline was 7 p.m. on October 15.
- Where
- Nova.rs newsroom, Zorana Djindjica Boulevard 8a, Belgrade, Serbia.
- Why
- Management said it had authority to appoint editorial leadership and questioned some of the outlet’s coverage. Journalists said the decision and deadline threatened their independence.
Nova.rs management
Nova.rs journalists and staff
Editorial leadership
Nova.rs management
Management appointed Marko Stjepanovic as editor in chief and said it respects editorial freedom.
Nova.rs journalists and staff
Staff said the new leadership was imposed and that management ignored the will of most employees.
Deadline and severance
Nova.rs management
Employees could accept the new leadership or request severance by 7 p.m. on October 15; the board said the payment was double the legal minimum.
Nova.rs journalists and staff
Journalists called the choice an ultimatum and said it was not fair.
Coverage
Nova.rs management
Management said coverage of its shareholder was mostly negative and one-sided and questioned the accuracy of some reports.
Nova.rs journalists and staff
Journalists said the changes threatened editorial independence and their ability to report freely.
Nova.rs management sent staff a memo confirming Marko Stjepanovic’s appointment as editor in chief and setting a deadline to accept the leadership or leave with severance.
Nova.rs employees called a protest outside the newsroom in Belgrade.
The deadline for employees to accept the new leadership or request severance was due to expire.
Serbia’s parliamentary elections were scheduled to take place.
- New editor in chief
- Marko Stjepanovic
- Deputy editor named
- Ivana Mastilovic Jasnic
- Staff deadline
- October 15, 2026, at 7 p.m.
- Protest location
- Zorana Djindjica Boulevard 8a, Belgrade
- Election date
- October 25, 2026
3 sources
What people are saying
No ultimatum can be fair. That is why we are calling on you to come tonight and support free and independent journalism outside the Nova.rs newsroom at 6 p.m.
It is cynical that the owners invoke European standards of media freedom in their letter, while telling journalists in practice that they have two days to accept an imposed leadership or leave. That is not dialogue. It is an attempt to break the newsroom and to stifle resistance to editorial control.
The new owners did buy the company, but they did not buy our professional principles, our integrity and our right to report freely.