BH Journalists Association expresses concern over N1 management changes following acquisition

The association emphasized that while ownership transitions are legitimate business decisions within the media sector, they must never compromise editorial independence, professional standards, or the fundamental right of journalists to create and manage content freely without pressure. Furthermore, media ownership changes must remain transparent to the public, ensuring that capital interests do not undermine citizens' rights to truthful, professional, and impartial information.

Particular concern arises from the fact that the leadership change at N1 in Bosnia and Herzegovina follows similar replacements across other Adria News outlets in Slovenia, Croatia, and Serbia. This development follows warnings from the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), the Balkan Free Media Initiative, and Article 19 Europe, which previously called for urgent regulatory scrutiny of the transaction and highlighted risks to media pluralism, transparency, and editorial independence.

The Steering Board of the BH Journalists Association has called upon the new owner and management of N1 BiH to provide clear public guarantees ensuring that editorial policies remain independent of business interests, journalists retain professional autonomy, and reporting stays objective and protected from political or economic pressures. The association stated it will continue monitoring the situation to ensure the outlet maintains its established professional standards and public trust.