Pedro Vargas David: No attempt at influence or pressure will ever succeed

In his response, Vargas said he understood the argument that national television channels should be regulated where editorial decisions are made, or where they are headquartered, but added that the national regulator must be independent and functional.

“I understand that significant progress has been recognized by the EU Commission on REM, but certain matters remain open. We would strongly encourage the Serbian authorities to finalize this and guarantee an independent and functioning regulator. This moment is also a great opportunity to close one of the most important chapters on your European path and we are ready to contribute in all possible ways for Serbia to align with EU standards and clear this issue once and for all”, Pedro Vargas said in the letter.

In his response, Vargas said there is a trend imported from the United States in which journalists and media organizations, both on the left and on the right, behave like “political forces.”

“When news organizations believe that they are the news, and their mission is not to report on the news but to be the news, they enter the arena; they become part of the game. With this come the attacks from politicians, the boycotts, the aggressiveness. When journalists use their platform to share an agenda, they change the nature of their profession. Do not get me wrong: in democracies, this is a legitimate move - we are all free - but in my opinion, and in a democracy let me also have the right to my opinion, this does not help journalism nor its credibility”, Vargas said.

Vargas also said that confrontation had once been encouraged in order to increase ratings and clicks.

“The problem was that, when this was used by some for their political or economic projects, it became a kind of buying of influence without direct exposure - and this, my friends, is wrong”, he said.

Vargas also addressed the issue of media “neutrality, objectivity and independence,” saying these should not be just “empty words” or actions by managers, but a reflection of the daily work of the most important people: journalists.

“Not journalists without views, not journalists without soul, not journalists without humanity. Humans, like any of us, who agree and disagree with government and opposition. Journalists who can ask (and should ask) any question, investigate any subject, freely select their own topics - but journalists who make a fundamental promise to their audiences: we respect your intelligence too much to try to shape your minds. We give you the facts, as they are, without attempting to take sides in favor or against,” Vargas said, adding that “This is not complicity with power”.

“This is not surrendering the profession; this is delivering on the fundamental promise of journalism. This is responsible journalism; this is freedom of the press. This is a place where there are no friends, or friends of the family, but the honest truth. This is a place where there is no undue influence or secret agenda. This is a place where any attempt to influence, directly or by pressure, will never work” he said.

At the end of the letter, the Alpac Capital CEO said the company believes “in the future of Serbia and the wider region,” and that this is the main reason for the investment.

“We believe in the future of Serbia and the wider region. This is the main reason for our investment. We believe in its people, their creativity, hard work and intelligence. We also believe that countries that have the capacity for dialogue, to listen to each other, to disagree in a democratic and civilized manner, outperform the ones where hysteria and division are the norm. We believe Serbia needs this normalization; we believe in the strength of its democracy; we believe that serious, non-activist, Western-style journalism can make and will make a difference. We are here to create a solid and profitable business. We are here to build bridges, let’s move from the time of burning flags. We believe in a European Serbia”, Vargas concluded.