Slobodni tjednik
Encyclopedia
Slobodni tjednik is a now defunct Croatia
n weekly newspaper
which was published in Zagreb
in the early 1990s and was the first Croatian tabloid.
Slobodni tjednik ("Independent Weekly" in Croatian
) appeared in early 1990, 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 and deteriorating health of its founder Marinko Božić led to Slobodni tjednik being extinguished in 1993.
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
n weekly newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
which was published in Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
in the early 1990s and was the first Croatian tabloid.
Slobodni tjednik ("Independent Weekly" in Croatian
Croatian language
Croatian is the collective name for the standard language and dialects spoken by Croats, principally in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Serbian province of Vojvodina and other neighbouring countries...
) appeared in early 1990, on the eve of first free elections in Croatia
Croatian parliamentary election, 1990
Parliamentary elections were held in Croatia on 22 April 1990, with a second round of voting on 6 May. The first free elections since multi-party politics were introduced, they resulted in a victory for the Croatian Democratic Union, which won 55 of the 80 seats...
. While being one of many media outlets started in the final stages of Communism
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
, 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
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
.
Controversy was its editorial policy. While its first issue was very critical of Croatian Democratic Union
Croatian Democratic Union
The Croatian Democratic Union is the main center-right political party in Croatia. It is the biggest and strongest individual Croatian party since independence of Croatia. The Christian democratic HDZ governed Croatia from 1990 to 2000 and, in partial coalition, from 2003...
(HDZ) and Croatian nationalism
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
, 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
Hate speech
Hate speech is, outside the law, any communication that disparages a person or a group on the basis of some characteristic such as race, color, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, religion, or other characteristic....
and the most extreme forms of Croatian chauvinism
Chauvinism
Chauvinism, in its original and primary meaning, is an exaggerated, bellicose patriotism and a belief in national superiority and glory. It is an eponym of a possibly fictional French soldier Nicolas Chauvin who was credited with many superhuman feats in the Napoleonic wars.By extension it has come...
, 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
Yugoslav People's Army
The Yugoslav People's Army , also referred to as the Yugoslav National Army , was the military of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.-Origins:The origins of the JNA can...
. 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
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
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
Globus (weekly)
Globus is a Croatian weekly news magazine published in Zagreb.The magazine was started in 1990, having some of its first issues published during the Croatian War of Independence. Originally devised as tabloid, it never took an openly chauvinist approach of Slobodni tjednik and always tried to give...
magazine, proved to be better adapted for new circumstances, while economic woes of its readership also affected circulation of Slobodni tjednik. That, financial mishandling and deteriorating health of its founder Marinko Božić led to Slobodni tjednik being extinguished in 1993.