E-novine

E-novine was a regional internet publication associated with Belgrade and the post-Yugoslav media space. Founded in November 2007, the portal published news commentary, political criticism, cultural writing and reader contributions in Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian and Montenegrin. Its editorial identity was strongly anti-nationalist, pro-Western and broadly supportive of European integration, while its coverage repeatedly examined Serbian politics, the legacy of the Yugoslav wars and the role of media in nationalist mobilization. The portal became particularly identified with the editorial work of Petar Luković, who assumed the editor-in-chief position on 30 May 2008. Under Luković, E-novine described itself as a small, marginal or heretical medium operating outside the conventions of supposedly neutral mainstream journalism. Its articles often used a highly subjective and confrontational style combining political satire, sarcasm, profanity, quotation, polemic and elements of gonzo journalism. The publication openly rejected the idea that journalism could be entirely objective and concentrated instead on criticism and opinion, especially criticism of nationalism, authoritarian tendencies and political hypocrisy. E-novine drew contributors from throughout the former Yugoslavia. Its early editorial circle included former Feral Tribune journalists and writers, while later contributors included journalists, essayists and cultural figures from Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Montenegro. The portal covered day-to-day politics as well as society, culture, the economy, sport and entertainment. It was also notable for publishing pieces by readers, thereby combining a professional editorial operation with a participatory commentary model. The site’s readership expanded substantially during its first years, with traffic increasingly coming from outside Serbia. Supporters viewed it as a rare cross-border publication capable of addressing the region as a shared political and cultural space rather than as a collection of mutually isolated national media markets. Critics, particularly from nationalist and conservative circles, characterized it as an aggressive online tabloid whose rhetoric and comment sections could be abusive, partisan and hostile to opposing viewpoints. The publication’s willingness to publish allegations and personal attacks led to repeated controversy and several libel proceedings. E-novine also experienced financial insecurity. In 2009 it reportedly faced a possible shutdown and appealed to readers for donations. It made a similar appeal in early 2010, when its editor argued that political and advertising pressures made it difficult for independent online media to operate profitably in Serbia. The portal later received a reported US$35,000 grant from the National Endowment for Democracy in 2013; the available reference material does not establish the full financial structure of the publication. The portal’s political positioning changed in the early 2010s. During Serbia’s 2012 election campaign, it displayed a paid banner for the Serbian Progressive Party, despite the party’s links to politicians who had previously been prominent in the Serbian Radical Party. This provoked criticism from some former allies and contributors. After the election, E-novine and Luković were increasingly perceived by critics as supportive of Aleksandar Vučić and his political ascent. The change generated public disputes with writers who had previously shared the portal’s anti-nationalist and liberal outlook. E-novine’s later operating status is unclear from the supplied material. It is therefore best understood as a historically significant, controversial digital media brand rather than as a conventional consumer brand or product company.

E-novine was established in November 2007 as a web publication serving readers in the former Yugoslav countries. Its multilingual publishing model used Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian and Montenegrin, allowing the portal to address a regional audience rather than limiting itself to Serbia’s domestic media market. Srđan Kusovac served as its first editor-in-chief. A major change came on 30 May 2008, when Petar Luković assumed editorial leadership and assembled a new staff. The portal adopted a markedly confrontational identity, presenting itself as a small and marginalized medium willing to challenge dominant political narratives. It placed special emphasis on Serbian responsibility for war crimes during the Yugoslav wars and on the conduct of Serbian media during that period. Much of its output consisted of political satire, denunciation and commentary, although readers also supplied a significant amount of material. The publication’s style departed from conventional notions of neutral reporting. E-novine openly favored subjective argument, irony, sarcasm, profanity and literary or gonzo techniques. Supporters considered this approach a corrective to nationalist propaganda and timid mainstream journalism. Critics argued that rejecting objectivity and refusing to provide opposing viewpoints undermined journalistic standards and encouraged partisan abuse. The site became a frequent target of nationalist and right-wing commentators, while also attracting criticism from people within the broader anti-nationalist and liberal opposition when they believed it had turned against former allies. By late 2008, according to the portal’s own account, traffic had grown dramatically, with a large share of new visitors arriving from countries elsewhere in the former Yugoslavia. Writers associated with the publication included former Feral Tribune journalists and contributors from across the Balkans. The editorial scope extended beyond politics into social issues, culture, economics, sport and entertainment. Financial sustainability was a recurring problem. In late summer 2009, E-novine reportedly faced closure and attributed the danger to financial problems and political pressure. Reader donations helped it continue. A further appeal followed at the beginning of 2010, when Luković alleged that Serbia’s advertising system favored media loyal to the government associated with President Boris Tadić and the Democratic Party. He stated that E-novine would remain independent and continue scrutinizing whichever political force held power. The portal’s political relationship with Serbia’s ruling forces changed after the 2012 elections. E-novine displayed a Serbian Progressive Party advertising banner during the campaign, even though the party’s leading figures, Aleksandar Vučić and Tomislav Nikolić, had previously been senior figures in the Serbian Radical Party. The banner provoked a public dispute with occasional contributor Nermin Čengić. After the election, E-novine was increasingly seen as supportive of Vučić, who became a central figure in the new governing coalition. Mirjana Miočinović later criticized Luković in an open letter for allegedly refusing to publish criticism of Vučić; Luković answered in a mocking manner and rejected the criticism. E-novine’s publication practices also produced repeated legal conflict. Film director Emir Kusturica brought two suits connected with articles carried by the portal. One case concerned an article alleging links between Kusturica, convicted contract killer Veselin Vukotić and former Serbian State Security chief Jovica Stanišić. The other concerned a highly insulting response published after Kusturica initiated the first action. In 2013, the Belgrade Higher Court ruled for Kusturica in both matters. The rulings were appealed, but the Court of Appeals confirmed them in January 2015 and ordered E-novine and Luković to pay a combined RSD396,800, as well as publish the judgments without commentary. The later status of E-novine is not established by the supplied sources. Its historical importance rests on its role as a provocative, cross-border digital publication that connected post-Yugoslav writers and readers while illustrating the financial, political and legal pressures faced by independent online media in the region.

• 2015

  Appeals court confirms Kusturica judgments

  [1]E-novineen.wikipedia.org

  The Court of Appeals upholds the two rulings and confirms combined damages of RSD396,800.

• 2013

  Belgrade Higher Court rules in Kusturica cases

  [1]E-novineen.wikipedia.org

  The court finds against E-novine and Luković in two libel actions brought by Emir Kusturica.

• 2012

  Serbian Progressive Party banner controversy

  [1]E-novineen.wikipedia.org

  A paid SNS banner on the home page leads to criticism and debate over the portal’s political alignment.

• 2010

  Second financial appeal

  [1]E-novineen.wikipedia.org

  E-novine again seeks reader support while alleging political pressure through Serbia’s advertising market.

• 2009

  First reported shutdown crisis

  [1]E-novineen.wikipedia.org

  Financial difficulties reportedly threaten the portal’s survival, prompting an appeal for reader donations.

• 2008

  Petar Luković becomes editor-in-chief

  [1]E-novineen.wikipedia.org

  Luković takes over on 30 May and reshapes the publication around polemical, anti-nationalist and war-crimes-focused commentary.

• 2007

  E-novine is founded

  [1]E-novineen.wikipedia.org

  The online portal is established in November 2007 to publish regional news, opinion and cultural material.

A highly opinionated, anti-nationalist and regionally oriented online publication that used satire, polemic and cultural criticism to challenge nationalist politics and mainstream media conventions.

• Digital news and commentary · 2007

  E-novine online portal

  The core offering was a multilingual regional website publishing political reporting, opinion, satire, cultural criticism and social commentary. It addressed Serbia and the wider former Yugoslav space, combining staff journalism with contributions from readers and writers across the Balkans.

• 2015

  Appeals court confirms libel judgments

  The Court of Appeals confirmed the two judgments and the combined compensation order against E-novine and Luković.

  Source

• 2013

  Higher Court rulings in Kusturica cases

  The Belgrade Higher Court ruled for Kusturica in both cases, ordering compensation and publication of the judgments.

  Source

• 2011

  Emir Kusturica libel actions

  Emir Kusturica sued E-novine, Petar Luković and authors over two articles involving allegations about his connections to criminal and security-service figures and a later insulting response to the litigation.

  Source

Read more

• 2012Serbian Progressive Party election banner

  Serbia

  E-novine carried a Serbian Progressive Party banner during the 2012 Serbian parliamentary, presidential, provincial and local election period. The placement became controversial because the publication had previously presented itself as an independent and anti-nationalist critic of governing political forces.

  Outcome. The banner led to public criticism from contributor Nermin Čengić and contributed to wider debate over E-novine’s subsequent support for Aleksandar Vučić.

  Source

• 2013

  Seek reader donations during financial pressureOther

  Background

  The portal reported difficulty sustaining itself amid financial problems and alleged pressure affecting independent online advertising.

  Action taken

  E-novine appealed directly to readers for financial support.

  Aftermath

  The supplied sources indicate that the site continued operating, but they do not establish the long-term financial result.

  Source

• 2012

  Accept Serbian Progressive Party campaign advertisingStrategy

  Background

  During the Serbian election campaign, E-novine faced the practical pressures of operating as a financially vulnerable online publication.

  Action taken

  The portal placed an SNS banner on its front page while maintaining that paid advertising did not necessarily represent a change in editorial policy.

  Aftermath

  The decision caused a dispute with Nermin Čengić and was followed by perceptions that the publication had shifted toward support for Aleksandar Vučić.

  Source

• 2008

  Adopt a regional anti-nationalist editorial strategyStrategy

  Background

  After Luković became editor-in-chief, the portal sought to distinguish itself from mainstream Serbian media through cross-border publishing and direct criticism of nationalism, war-crimes denial and political manipulation.

  Action taken

  E-novine expanded its contributor network across the former Yugoslavia and prioritized satire, polemic and commentary over conventional claims of neutral journalism.

  Aftermath

  The strategy helped the portal develop a regional readership but also generated sustained criticism over partisanship, vulgarity and lack of balance.

  Source

1. 1E-novineen.wikipedia.org
2. 2E-novine official websitee-novine.com