The Journalists’ Association of Serbia was founded on December 21, 1881 in Belgrade, under the name of the Serbian Journalists’ Society. It is one of the oldest professional journalist associations in the world. The first president was Laza Kostić, famous journalist and poet.
The first newspaper in Serbia, “Novine serbske” (Serbian newspapers), was published in 1834 in Kragujevac. The adoption of the first Law on the Press in 1870 was of great importance for the development of journalism in Serbia. Then the newspapers were launched in Svilajnac, Požarevac, Smederevo. The appearance of new newspapers and magazines in Serbia was especially influenced by the liberal Law on the Press from 1881.
At the end of 1881, 22 newspapers and magazines were published in Belgrade, but journalism was not yet a recognized profession. This led several Belgrade journalists and editors to establish a journalistic society that will work to protect journalistic interests and raise the reputation of journalism.
The creator of the idea was Milan St. Marković, editor of the “Porota“ (Jury) magazine. He drafted the rules – the “Statute” – of the society, which was adopted at a meeting of journalists on December 21, 1881. It defines three basic goals of the association of journalists: to work on the improvement of Serbian journalism; to support each other in case of need; to protect the reputation and interests of journalism.
Serbian Journalists’ Society later operated under the names Serbian Journalists’ Association (1891), Yugoslav Journalists’ Association – Belgrade section (1921), Belgrade Journalists’ Society (1929), Journalists’ Association in Belgrade (1941), and since 1945 it is called The Journalists’ Association of Serbia and this year it marks 140 years of existence.
Expert collaboration: The Journalists’ Association of Serbia
Artistic realisation of the issue: MA Marija Vlahovic, academic graphic artist
