Slobodni tjednik

Slobodni tjednik, also known as ST, is a defunct Croatian weekly newspaper which was published in Zagreb in the early 1990s. Owned and edited by Marinko Božić, it was the first Croatian tabloid.[1]

History

Slobodni tjednik ("Independent Weekly" in Croatian) appeared in February 1990,[1] on the eve of first free elections in Croatia. While being one of many media outlets started in the final stages of Communism, Slobodni tjednik was the first to use sensationalist headlines and similar content, which wasn't available in mainstream media of the earlier times. As such, Slobodni tjednik quickly became one of the most popular, most influential but also one of the most controversial newspapers in Croatia.

Controversy was its editorial policy. While its first issue was very critical of Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) and Croatian nationalism, in a matter of few weeks, Slobodni tjednik suddenly shifted towards the right, embracing Franjo Tuđman and his policies. Slobodni tjednik, which quickly began to use post-election nationalist euphoria to reach record circulation, enjoyed symbiotic relationship with new government. Many of its top officials leaked sensitive information in order to promote policies Croatian government was not to supposed to take in the most delicate stages of country's path to independence.

Because of that, Slobodni tjednik quickly began to promote hate speech and the most extreme forms of Croatian chauvinism, usually directed against ethnic Serb minority in Croatia. As such, Slobodni tjednik had important and controversial role during the opening stages of war between Croatian government and ethnic Serb rebels, later supported by Yugoslav army. The most notorious example of its editorial policy were lists of ethnic Serb citizens in certain areas under Croatian control - all accused of being traitors, spies and fifth column. In many cases people from that lists were later taken away by Croatian paramilitary units only to never be heard from again or later discovered as murder victims.

In 1992, with Croatia being internationally recognized and Sarajevo armistice bringing hostilities to temporary end, Croatian public gradually began to lose taste for extreme nationalism promoted by Slobodni tjednik. New media outlets, like Globus magazine, proved to be better adapted for new circumstances, while economic woes of its readership also affected circulation of Slobodni tjednik. That, financial mishandling, deteriorating health and death of its founder Marinko Božić led to Slobodni tjednik being extinguished in 1993.

Sources

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Malović & Selnow 2001, p. 114

External links