Editor of Politika resigns in protest against management

Editor of Politika resigns in protest against management

Smajlovic added that in the three years she has been in charge of Politika she never allowed anyone outside the newsroom to influence editorial decisions, but stressed that she would be the first to concede that there could not be real editorial freedom in a situation where the newsroom is stripped of autonomy while the management flies below the radar."

"I regret not having done more to improve the lot of journalists and editorial staff. I hope an editor-in-chief who will have full support of owners and management will be able to do more," Smajlovic stated.

She also asked the directors to inform the owners and the Managing Board of Politika about her resignation, but added that she was not even certain whether the Board was still functioning, let alone who was at its helm.

"I want Politika’s staff to know that noone from the outside has influenced my decision to resign. As the president of the Association of Journalists of Serbia I stand for the rights of journalists in Serbia, and must consistently defend the dignity of our profession also in Politika," Smajlovic said in her letter, stressing that she was exceptionally honored to have been the newspaper's editor-in-chief on two occasions.

Smajlovic was at the helm of Serbia's oldest daily newspaper from 2005 until 2008, when she was replaced, and again from July 2013 until now. In 2008, her replacement was Dragan Bujosevic, who is now the director of Serbia's public broadcaster RTS.

After leaving Politika the first time, Smajlovic became the president of the Association of Journalists of Serbia (UNS), and continues in that role. She is also a member of the Press Council, and of the government commission set up to investigate murders of journalists in Serbia.