Matija Babić
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Matija Babić is a Croatian journalist best known for his pioneering use of the Internet in order to expose various scandals.
A University of Zagreb student, Babić began his career in the Croatian media in 1999 when he began to publish articles for vijesti.net, one of the first Croatian news websites.[1] The site later became known as index.hr.[2] Babić became the website's editor-in-chief, and he was known for covering some stories personally.
His website quickly gained a reputation for yellow journalism in Croatia after it exposed scandals in 2004, many of which were published despite the lack of a factual evidence.[citation needed] However, it was the first to reveal evidence of Marko Perković singing lyrics in praise of genocide of Serbs during WW2.
Babić reached the zenith of his fame and notoriety in late spring 2004 by breaking the news about an Internet sex video featuring Severina Vučković. There is anecdotal evidence of the recordings being circulated among employees of Croatian Radiotelevision a few weeks earlier, but it was only after Babić dared to publish the news that any kind of denial or cover-up became impossible. Babić's website was sued for copyright infringement and breach of privacy, but the lawsuit was rejected by a Zagreb district court. Members of the Croatian entertainment industry and social establishment rallied around Vučković, and some say they never forgave Babić. The incident led to Babić becoming a celebrity and earning great popularity, especially among young Croatians.
Babić's style of journalism caught the attention of Styria AG, an Austria-based media group that owned Večernji list. In 2005, the company appointed Babić editor-in-chief of 24 sata, a newspaper that was described as "dedicated to the modern, young, and urban population." When 24 sata appeared on news stands, it became the first Croatian daily tabloid newspaper.
Babić was heavily criticised for poor quality of text and the use of sexual and sensationalist stories, and many expected 24 sata to go out of business. Instead the newspaper quickly became the third most circulated newspaper in Croatia. Some of the stories he published that were critical of Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader were based on information that was common knowledge, and only shed light on his position during Operation Storm.[clarify] Many other published accusations were unfounded. This factor, and articles detailing corruption and a child sexual abuse scandal related to the Catholic Church, contributed to Babić being removed from his post on July 5, 2005.[citation needed]
