Ringier Axel Springer Media rejects accusations against Blic
Ringier Axel Springer Media's Serbian media outlets, particularly the daily newspaper Blic and its staff, have faced allegations in recent weeks. The owner and publisher of the daily newspaper Blic rejects the allegations leveled against the paper.
The editorial staff of Blic under the leadership of Editor-in-Chief Veselin Simovic meets the strict journalistic standards of Ringier Axel Springer Media and is exemplary for critical, independent journalism in Serbia and editorial integrity. This is what Ringier Axel Springer Media wrote on Presseportal.ch on Wednesday. There is no influence of advertisers on the editorial reporting of Blic.
Allegations to the contrary are groundless. They would be aimed at intimidating an independent medium. "Blic will resist these attempts with the full backing of Ringier Axel Springer Media and its shareholders and will continue to defend the European standards of a free press in the future," the statement continued. The currently observable reluctance of state and semi-state advertisers will not change anything in this regard. In this context, Ringier Axel Springer recalls the high value of press freedom in the European community of values. It appeals to all those responsible in Serbia to settle political disputes with the power of argument and not with economic or personal repression.
