While the Montenegrin daily and portal “Vijesti” is often presented as a stronghold of independent journalism, its ownership structure tells a far more complex story—one involving foreign funds, cross-border corporate ties, and individuals with regional media influence. According to reporting by Aloonline.me, the company behind Vijesti, Daily Press d.o.o., is tied to a network of entities and actors that challenge the image of editorial independence.
Official records submitted to the Agency for Electronic Media in October 2024 list MNE MEDIA ONE as the largest single shareholder with 33.94%, followed by TV Vijesti d.o.o. with 16.79%, and Daily Press itself holding 15.06%, a circular ownership suggesting internal corporate entanglement.
MNE MEDIA ONE is further connected to individuals including Filip Ivanovic, Katarina Perovic, and Stefan Mitrovic, who collectively control over 30% of the shares. Though not majority owners individually, their combined influence is significant and stretches into other media ventures as well.
More concerning to analysts are the entities operating in the background. The Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF), a nonprofit based in New York and founded by American and Serbian media figures, has long invested in media outlets globally, including in the Balkans. Similarly, United Media SARL—a Luxembourg-based holding within United Group BV from the Netherlands—controls a large number of regional broadcasters and is linked to several additional financial structures based in Luxembourg and the UK.
This web of international interests suggests that real control over Vijesti’s editorial direction may be seated in foreign capitals rather than in Podgorica. Despite the presence of familiar domestic names like Željko Ivanović, a founder and current columnist, and executive director Marijana Bojanić, neither holds more than a modest formal stake in the company. Their influence appears to come from managerial connections rather than ownership.
Moreover, other media players such as Antena M, Monitor, and various production companies like Direct Media and Media Point are also tied into this network, implying that Daily Press is not just a local media house but part of a much broader alliance with both financial and political implications.
Although Vijesti continues to brand itself as a platform for independent reporting, documents and ownership trails raise questions about who truly decides its content, financing, and strategic direction. With key decisions potentially being made from New York, London, and Luxembourg, rather than Montenegro, the claim of independence may not be as clear-cut as it appears.
