# Leadership changes and editorial disputes at Nova.rs

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/leadership-changes-at-novars-and-united-media-digital
> Updated: 2026-10-01T20:15:00.000Z. Sources: 15. Developments: 3.

Mihailo Jovićević has been removed from his position as editor of the Nova.rs portal. This follows his mid-August dismissal as director of United Media Digital, a company operating Nova.rs, the newspaper Nova, and the weekly Radar. Pedro Vargas Santos David of the Portuguese firm Alpac Capital has assumed the directorship as Alpac Capital moves to acquire the United Group media package for approximately 30 million euros. The acquisition agreement includes requirements for the new owner to maintain editorial autonomy and independent management structures.

Following the removal from the editor position, unions representing Nova.rs and Radar, members of the KUM Nezavisnost union, expressed concern regarding the decision made by Adria News Network management. The unions noted that the dismissal occurred while Nova.rs was among the top three most visited portals in Serbia. While the departure was characterized as a mutual agreement, the union suggested the motivation could be political, citing a pattern of leadership changes within the network's Serbian outlets during a period leading into a challenging election campaign.

Journalists and employees at Nova.rs and N1 television have since issued protests against management decisions by Adria News Network following the ownership change to Alpak Capital. Staff allege that the new management, led by Pedro Vargas Santos David and Brent Sadler, is attempting to undermine editorial independence. Grievances include the imposition of new staff from pro-government media outlets without consultation and financial decisions, such as cutting social media marketing budgets and implementing high advertising rates for political entities, which employees claim may favor the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS). The Journalists' Association of Serbia (UNS) has called on management to respect legal standards and maintain editorial autonomy.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-01: Nova.rs journalists protest management changes and staffing impositions

Journalists at Nova.rs and N1 TV are protesting management changes at Adria News Network, alleging attempts to compromise editorial independence through imposed staffing and political advertising policies.

8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/disney-shifts-strategy-following-departure-of-bob-chapek

### 2026-09-17: Nova.rs unions protest dismissal of editor Mihailo Jovićević

The unions of Nova.rs and Radar have criticized the dismissal of editor-in-chief Mihailo Jovićević by Adria News Network, citing concerns over political motives during an election period.

8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/novars-unions-protest-dismissal-of-editor-mihailo-jovievi

### 2026-09-15: Mihailo Jovićević removed as editor of Nova.rs

Mihailo Jovićević has been removed as editor of Nova.rs following leadership changes at United Media Digital amid Alpac Capital’s acquisition of United Group’s regional media assets.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mihailo-jovievi-removed-as-editor-of-novars

---
Cite as: Leadership changes and editorial disputes at Nova.rs. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/leadership-changes-at-novars-and-united-media-digital