Slobodni tjednik

"Slobodni tjednik" is a now defunct Croatian weekly newspaper which was published in Zagreb in the early 1990s and was the first Croatian tabloid.

"Slobodni tjednik" ("Free Weekly" in Croatian) appeared in early 1990, at the eve of first free elections in Croatia. While being one of many media outlets started in the final stages of Communism, "Slobodni tjednik" was the first to use sensationalist headlines and similar content, which wasn't available in mainstream media of the earlier times. As such, "Slobodni tjednik" quickly became one of the most popular, most influential but also one of the most controversial newspapers in Croatia.

Controversy was its editorial policy. While its first issue was very critical of Croatian Democratic Union and Croatian nationalism, in only few weeks "Slobodni tjednik" shifted rightwards and embraced Franjo Tuđman and his policies. "Slobodni tjednik", which quickly began to use post-election nationalist euphoria to reach record circulation, enjoyed symbiotic relationship with new government. Many of its top officials leaked sensitive information in order to promote policies Croatian government was not to supposed to take in the most delicate stages of country's path to independence.

Because of that, "Slobodni tjednik" quickly began to promote hate speech and the most extreme forms of Croatian chauvinism, usually directed against ethnic Serb minority in Croatia. As such, "Slobodni tjednik" had important and controversial role during the opening stages of war between Croatian government and etnnic Serb rebels, later supported by Yugoslav army. The most notorious example of its editorial policy were lists of ethnic Serb citizens in certain areas under Croatian control - all accused of being traitors, spies and fifth column. In many cases people from that lists were later taken away by Croatian paramilitary units only to be never heard from again or later discovered as murder victims.

In 1992, with Croatia being internationally recognised and Sarajevo armistice bringing hostilities to temporary end, Croatian public gradually began to lose taste for extreme nationalism promoted by "Slobodni tjednik". New media outlets, like Globus, proved to be better adapted for new circumstances, while economic woes of its readership also affected circulation of "Slobodni tjednik". That, financial mishandling and deteriorating health of its founder Marinko Božić led to "Slobodni tjednik" being extinguished in 1993.