Ljiljana Smajlovic
Encyclopedia
Ljiljana Smajlović (née
: Ugrica) (born 1956 in Sarajevo
, Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia) is a Serbian journalist.
(JNA)) and father Mirko (member of JNA's civil service). After finishing high school in her hometown followed by a degree at University of Sarajevo
's Faculty of Political Sciences, she received a scholarship for additional studies in Cleveland, Ohio
, and then in a French lycée in Algeria
. During 1972-1973 she travelled as an exchange student to California through a scholarship provided by American Field Service, where she lived with a host American family for about a year, and attended high school.
correspondent. In 1992, after the breakout of war in Bosnia, she moved to Belgrade
where she got a job at Vreme
weekly magazine. In 1994, she received a fellowship from the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
and moved to United States for a year, continuing to write for Vreme as a foreign correspondent.
She specialized in international relations topics, developing an esteemed reputation, which led to Slavko Ćuruvija
offering her a job as foreign editor at his upstart bi-weekly magazine Evropljanin
in 1998.
Following the tragic end to Ćuruvija's life, Evropljanin ceased publication forcing Smajlovic and other journalist to look for work. She got a job at NIN
initially as the Hague Tribunal commentator and later as weekly columnist.
In October 2005 Smajlović became editor-in-chief at Politika
daily, replacing Milan Mišić. She was the first woman in the esteemed newspaper's century-long history to hold that job.
On January 21, 2006, she wrote an opinion piece for LA Times criticizing both the NATO and the Serbian government for failing to arrest Radovan Karadžić
and Ratko Mladić
, respectively.http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-oe-smajlovic21jan21,1,6442443.story?ctrack=1&cset=true
Since September 2007, Smajlović is a panelist on the weekly current-events discussion programme called U mnoštvu dokaza on TV Avala
.
Her October 2008 firing from the post of Politika's editor-in-chief caused a controversy and allegations of political meddling from the Serbian ruling party DS
.
During spring 2009, Smajlović became the president of Serbian Association of Journalists (Udruženje novinara Srbije).
(IREX) Serbia media project. This American NGO focuses on independent media, initiatives for women, support for US scholars, and local alumni programming.
On November 12, 2008, it was announced that she's being considered as a candidate for the position of Serbian ambassador to Canada. On November 20, 2008, the post was officially assigned to another person.
NEE
NEE is a political protest group whose goal was to provide an alternative for voters who are unhappy with all political parties at hand in Belgium, where voting is compulsory.The NEE party was founded in 2005 in Antwerp...
: Ugrica) (born 1956 in Sarajevo
Sarajevo
Sarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....
, Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia) is a Serbian journalist.
Early life
Ljiljana Ugrica was born into a middle class Serbian family from Sarajevo to mother Danica (nurse, and a ranked member of the Yugoslav People's ArmyYugoslav People's Army
The Yugoslav People's Army , also referred to as the Yugoslav National Army , was the military of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.-Origins:The origins of the JNA can...
(JNA)) and father Mirko (member of JNA's civil service). After finishing high school in her hometown followed by a degree at University of Sarajevo
University of Sarajevo
The University of Sarajevo is the first university in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was originally established in 1531 as a Madrasah or Islamic Law college, with a modern university being established and expanded on top of that in 1949. Today, with 23 faculties and around 55,000 enrolled students, it...
's Faculty of Political Sciences, she received a scholarship for additional studies in Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, and then in a French lycée in Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
. During 1972-1973 she travelled as an exchange student to California through a scholarship provided by American Field Service, where she lived with a host American family for about a year, and attended high school.
Career in journalism
Smajlovic's first job was at Sarajevo's Oslobođenje daily where she gradually advanced to the post of political section editor and later BrusselsBrussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
correspondent. In 1992, after the breakout of war in Bosnia, she moved to Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
where she got a job at Vreme
Vreme
Vreme is a weekly newsmagazine based in Belgrade, Serbia.After being prepared for seven months throughout 1990 by liberal Serbian intellectuals dissatisfied with the regime's control of the media, its first issue came out on October 29, 1990. Most of its original staff were journalists from...
weekly magazine. In 1994, she received a fellowship from the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars , located in Washington, D.C., is a United States Presidential Memorial that was established as part of the Smithsonian Institution by an act of Congress in 1968...
and moved to United States for a year, continuing to write for Vreme as a foreign correspondent.
She specialized in international relations topics, developing an esteemed reputation, which led to Slavko Ćuruvija
Slavko Curuvija
Slavko Ćuruvija was a Serbian journalist and newspaper publisher. His brutal murder on 11 April 1999 in Belgrade, Serbia provoked international outrage and wide condemnation...
offering her a job as foreign editor at his upstart bi-weekly magazine Evropljanin
Evropljanin
Evropljanin was a bi-weekly newsmagazine published in Serbia during the late 1990s. It was started in April 1998, visually modeled after the German newsmagazine Focus....
in 1998.
Following the tragic end to Ćuruvija's life, Evropljanin ceased publication forcing Smajlovic and other journalist to look for work. She got a job at NIN
NIN (magazine)
NIN is a weekly newsmagazine published in Belgrade, Serbia. Its name is an acronym for Nedeljne informativne novine which roughly translates into Weekly Informational Newspaper....
initially as the Hague Tribunal commentator and later as weekly columnist.
In October 2005 Smajlović became editor-in-chief at Politika
Politika
Politika is a Serbian newspaper. It is considered the newspaper of record and is the oldest daily in the Balkans, having been founded on January 25, 1904 by Vladislav Ribnikar. It is currently being published by Politika Newspapers and Magazines , a joint venture between Politika AD and...
daily, replacing Milan Mišić. She was the first woman in the esteemed newspaper's century-long history to hold that job.
On January 21, 2006, she wrote an opinion piece for LA Times criticizing both the NATO and the Serbian government for failing to arrest Radovan Karadžić
Radovan Karadžic
Radovan Karadžić is a former Bosnian Serb politician. He is detained in the United Nations Detention Unit of Scheveningen, accused of war crimes committed against Bosnian Muslims and Bosnian Croats during the Siege of Sarajevo, as well as ordering the Srebrenica massacre.Educated as a...
and Ratko Mladić
Ratko Mladić
Ratko Mladić is an accused war criminal and a former Bosnian Serb military leader. On May 31, 2011, Mladić was extradited to The Hague, where he was processed at the detention center that holds suspects for the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia...
, respectively.http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-oe-smajlovic21jan21,1,6442443.story?ctrack=1&cset=true
Since September 2007, Smajlović is a panelist on the weekly current-events discussion programme called U mnoštvu dokaza on TV Avala
TV Avala
TV Avala is a Serbian television network with national frequency. Registered as a limited liabilty company, the station was given a national TV frequency in Serbia in April 2006....
.
Her October 2008 firing from the post of Politika's editor-in-chief caused a controversy and allegations of political meddling from the Serbian ruling party DS
Democratic Party (Serbia)
The Democratic Party is a political party in Serbia. It is described as a social liberal or social democratic party.-Pre-war history:The Democratic Party was established on 16 February 1919 from unification of Sarajevo parties independent radicals, progressives, liberals and the Serbian part of...
.
During spring 2009, Smajlović became the president of Serbian Association of Journalists (Udruženje novinara Srbije).
Other endeavours
Smajlovic consulted for International Research & Exchanges BoardInternational Research & Exchanges Board
International Research & Exchanges Board is an international nonprofit organization providing leadership and innovative programs to improve the quality of education, strengthen independent media, and foster pluralistic civil society development....
(IREX) Serbia media project. This American NGO focuses on independent media, initiatives for women, support for US scholars, and local alumni programming.
On November 12, 2008, it was announced that she's being considered as a candidate for the position of Serbian ambassador to Canada. On November 20, 2008, the post was officially assigned to another person.