Adria News Network’s Sadler Says He Did Not Return to Serbia to Oversee Dismantling of Editorial Offices

Brent Sadler (Photo: PrtScr YT/N1)

Adria News Network chief news executive Brent Sadler said on April 22 that he had not come back to Serbia to oversee the dismantling of the editorial offices he helped build.

Sadler told the Nova newspaper in an interview that if anyone, from any side, attempted to influence content, the structures that were built would be there to stop it and that he would be the first to speak out about it. He said N1 TV produced strong and independent journalism that was widely recognized, and that his focus would be the consistent application of editorial standards day to day, especially under pressure, and maintaining clarity, measuredness and discipline.

Sadler said his true role, the job he did every day, was chief news executive, noting that he was neither a reporter nor an editor. He went on to detail that his role was to ensure the maintenance of editorial standards, to make sure editorial offices had support and protection and that the editorial framework functions well. He said he did not make editorial decisions for individual desks as this was a responsibility that fell to the editors and journalists in each media outlet, adding that he was aware of the conditions in which the reporters worked and the pressure they faced.

Sadler said the management framework was designed to protect editorial decision-making from political, commercial and any other type of external influence, adding that the best protection for every desk was the quality and consistency of its journalism. When the work is strong, reliable and accurate, the professionalism speaks for itself, he added.