Journalists and editors of United Media have expressed deep concern over the dismissal of the founder and executive director of United Group, Dragan Šolak and Viktoriya Boklag, which may indicate pressure from governments and interest groups on editorial independence. They have issued an appeal to the international community and European institutions to help preserve media freedom in the region, emphasizing that United Media is one of the few bastions of independent journalism in the Balkans, facing constant pressure and threats. The appeal highlights the importance of maintaining professional and independent journalism as crucial for democratic standards and freedom of expression in Southeast Europe.
Political Perspectives:
Left: Left-leaning outlets emphasize the threat to independent journalism posed by corporate and political interference, highlighting the importance of protecting media freedom as a cornerstone of democracy. They focus on the role of United Media as a rare independent voice in a region with increasing authoritarian tendencies and stress the need for international support to resist pressures from governments and private interests.
Center: Center-leaning sources report the facts of the management changes and the concerns raised by journalists, presenting the situation as a significant development in the media landscape of Southeast Europe. They highlight the calls for transparency and the importance of maintaining editorial independence without taking a strong partisan stance, focusing on the implications for media freedom and democratic standards.
Right: Right-leaning perspectives may frame the issue in terms of corporate governance and business decisions, sometimes downplaying the political pressure narrative. They might emphasize the legitimacy of management changes and question the extent of political interference, focusing on the need for media outlets to be financially viable and professionally managed, while acknowledging concerns about media freedom.
