Blic
| Company type | Media company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Media, Publishing, Broadcasting |
| Founded | September 16, 1996 |
| Founder | Aleksandar Lupšić, Peter Kolbel |
| Headquarters | Belgrade , Serbia |
Area served | Serbia |
| Owner | Ringier Serbia (subsidiary of Ringier AG) |
| Parent | Ringier Axel Springer Media AG (until 2021), then Ringier AG |
| Website | blic |
Blic (Cyrillic: Блиц, ) represents a prominent Serbian media outlet that provides coverage on politics, the economy, entertainment, and current affairs. Its inaugural print issue appeared in 1996, followed by the establishment of its online platform in 1998. In 2022, Blic expanded into broadcasting with the introduction of Blic TV. The brand operates under Ringier Serbia, a subsidiary of the Swiss multinational media corporation Ringier.
Ownership
The initial publication of Blic took place on September 16, 1996, under the company Blic Press d.o.o., which was originally owned by Austrian entrepreneurs Aleksandar Lupšić and Peter Kolbel. In November 2000, they transferred ownership of Blic and its parent entity to the German publishing house Gruner + Jahr, predominantly controlled by Bertelsmann. Gruner + Jahr first acquired a 49% interest before eventually obtaining full control.
By March 2003, Gruner + Jahr divested a 25.1% share to Vienna Capital Partners (VCP), retaining a majority stake of 74.9%. Subsequently, in January 2004, the Swiss media conglomerate Ringier purchased the controlling interest from Gruner + Jahr.
In 2010, Ringier AG partnered with Axel Springer SE to create the joint venture Ringier Axel Springer Media AG. This merger incorporated Blic into their portfolio and resulted in the renaming of Ringier d.o.o. Serbia to Ringier Axel Springer d.o.o.
Ringier finalized its complete takeover by acquiring Axel Springer's shares in 2021, restoring full Swiss ownership of Ringier Serbia.
The year 2022 marked Blic’s growth into multimedia with the launch of Blic TV, while its sports publication transitioned to an online format as Sportal.rs.
Since its inception, Blic has been associated with numerous other titles, including:
- Alo! (a sister tabloid daily sold in 2017)
- Euro Blic (a publication targeting Republika Srpska, initiated in 1999)
- Blic Žena (introduced in November 2004)
- Blic Puls (a weekly focused on celebrity news, launched in March 2006)
- 24 sata (a free weekly newspaper that was formerly distributed daily starting October 2006 but has since ceased publication)
- Auto Bild (the Serbian edition started in 2010 through a joint venture with Axel Springer, though the license has since been sold)
Digital
The digital platform for Blic merges news content from its print edition as well as other publications within Ringier Serbia’s portfolio. Since the late 2000s, it has consistently ranked among Serbia’s top websites according to Gemius Audience metrics. Additional online properties managed by Ringier Serbia include PulsOnline.rs and Zena.rs.
History
Established in September 1996 by Austria-based entrepreneurs such as Peter Kolbel and Aleksandar Lupšić, Blic became the tenth daily newspaper launched in FR Yugoslavia. Lupšić maintained connections with Mira Marković—wife of Slobodan Milošević—and her political party Yugoslav Left (JUL). The founders brought experience from acquiring Prague's Nový čas. Veteran journalist Manojlo "Manjo" Vukotić was appointed as editor-in-chief.
The ownership structure was initially unclear: Blic Press d.o.o., registered in Belgrade, was held by Milorad Perovic (51%) and Mitsui Securities Eastern Europe Fund AG from Liechtenstein (49%). Starting as a tabloid emphasizing brief stories and entertainment news, Blic debuted with a circulation of 50,000 copies daily at a price of one dinar. Early promotional efforts included a sweepstakes that increased readership by approximately 30%.
1996–1997 protests
The local elections held in November 1996 saw opposition parties making significant advances, which led to widespread demonstrations after Milošević declined to acknowledge the official outcomes. Unlike state-controlled outlets, Blics impartial reporting contributed to its daily circulation soaring to 200,000 copies. In response, the authorities imposed printing restrictions, capping Blics production at 80,000 copies. A contentious holiday edition, partially produced by the state-owned Borba and private ABC Produkt, shifted focus from political topics to entertainment; this prompted editor-in-chief Vukotić and deputy Cvijetin Milivojević to resign in protest.
Owner Peter Kolbel published an op-ed that criticized the protesters and implicitly sided with the government. Subsequently, Blic's political coverage and print run were curtailed under governmental pressure. This provoked disapproval from journalists and opposition factions alike; dissenting employees established the opposition-aligned newspaper Demokratija. Vukotić and others later returned to produce a limited edition with a daily circulation of 60,000 copies.
Following these events, Blic's readership halved, accompanied by a wave of journalist resignations. The newspaper secured a new printing partner, reinstated its critical editorial stance, and boosted circulation close to 160,000 copies.
Glas javnosti
In April 1998, disputes concerning revenue distribution prompted editor-in-chief Vukotić and most of the staff to depart from Blic. Supported by entrepreneur Radisav Rodić—owner of ABC Produkt—they launched a new publication titled Glas javnosti, initially called Novi Blic, marking Rodić's debut in the publishing industry.
The 'Suitcase' affair
In February 2006, Blic ignited controversy by reporting that the January arrest of National Bank of Serbia vice-governor Dejan Simić on charges of accepting a €100,000 bribe actually involved deputy Prime Minister Miroljub Labus’s son-in-law Dušan Lalić rather than Simić himself. The article alleged that Interior Minister Dragan Jočić hindered police inquiries to shield senior officials. This revelation raised questions regarding the minority coalition government's stability.
All those accused denied the claims; Labus declared intentions to pursue legal action against Blic for defamation.
In March 2007, Ringier disclosed that Blic's average daily circulation for 2006 stood at 180,948 copies.
Ratko Knežević interview
On July 27, 2009, Blic featured an interview with Ratko Knežević, former Montenegrin trade envoy in Washington, D.C. and once a close confidant of Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Đukanović (Knežević had been best man at Đukanović's wedding). This interview followed an explosive article published by Montenegrin daily Vijesti, where Knežević accused Đukanović and his associate Stanko Subotić of orchestrating the October 2008 assassination of Croatian journalist Ivo Pukanić. He also revealed details about a long-standing cigarette smuggling network involving Đukanović.
Journalist Nenad Jaćimović centered the Blic interview on cigarette smuggling operations through Serbia during the 1990s and their continuing political ramifications. Knežević charged Đukanović, Subotić, and their "cigarette smuggling cartel" with defrauding the Serbian treasury of €300 million in unpaid taxes, allegedly with assistance from Jovica Stanišić, former head of Serbian state security. Knežević claimed that following Serbia's regime change, Đukanović and Subotić pursued establishing a "friendly" government in Belgrade by negotiating with Serbian president Boris Tadić and later engaging political figures such as Tomislav Nikolić and Aleksandar Vučić, who met them in Paris in October 2007. He further stated that former DGSE operative Arnaud Danjean supported these efforts. Knežević warned that this cartel represented a security risk to Tadić, citing warning documents delivered by Croatian president Stipe Mesić during their April 2009 meeting.
Subotić announced intentions to sue Blic for libel. On August 11, 2009, he issued a press statement rejecting Knežević's allegations and questioning both Knežević's and Blic editor-in-chief Veselin Simonović's credibility. In response, Knežević reaffirmed all his statements made during interviews with Vijesti, Blic, and NIN. He also elaborated on murders connected to cigarette smuggling—including those of Radovan Stojičić, Jusa Bulić, Vanja Bokan, Goran Žugić, Beli Raspopović, and Baja Sekulić—asserting they were ordered by Stanišić, Subotić, and Đukanović while naming individuals involved.
Milutin Jeličić Jutka Investigation
A pivotal inquiry by Blic revealed allegations against Milutin Jeličić Jutka, a notable political leader from Brus, who faced accusations of sexually harassing female staff within the municipal administration. The coverage by Blic heightened public scrutiny, culminating in Jutka's conviction and subsequent imprisonment.
Miroslav Aleksić Case
Blic was also responsible for uncovering the widely publicized case of Miroslav Mika Aleksić, a children's acting instructor based in Belgrade, charged with the rape and sexual abuse of minor students. The exposé sparked widespread public indignation, with legal proceedings still underway and a judgment anticipated in 2024.
Awards
October 2016: Vladimir Živojinović, photojournalist – Interfer prize for the photographic collection “Migrants Idomeni”
June 2022: Marica Jovanović – award for best article by emerging journalists
February 2021: Jelena Medić – accolade for the series titled "Mothers of Champions"
March 2021: Ivana Mastilović Jasnić – commendation for investigative pieces on sexual offenders Jutka and Aleksić
September 2022: Mitar Mitrović, photojournalist – honor for the photograph "Collision"