National Geographic Very Wrong About Serbia
Mima Stanojlovic sent the following letter to National Geographic Magazine, in response to an article in the publication’s July profile of Serbia ‘Serbs Face the Past Future‘:
I have just read the article entitled “Serbs Face the Future” published in the latest issue of “The National Geographic” and as a Serbian and Belgrade born, I am deeply shocked by the photographs and comments which accompany the article. If the photographer Christopher Anderson lives in Serbia or Belgrade, or has spent some time there, he must have been very well aware that besides the topics he decided to present in this distinguished magazine , which is also published in Serbian language as one of the most popular among the foreign editions, there are others as well. Unfortunately, it is all too obvious that the above photographer was utterly ill-disposed in choosing his themes, purposely taking shots of the decayed parts of the capital city Belgrade, presenting hooligans at the football match between the two greatest rivals, giving false comments that harvest in this country is still maintained by hand in “some parts”. Before writing this, as a good journalist, he should have seeked the right information referring to the Serbian agruculture. He also gives false information on the number of citizens. Instead of 1, 6 million as stated in the text, Belgrade has more than 2 million. “The police presence is often heavy on the capitals’ streets” is a lie. In order to maintain order during the football matches between the rivals, it is common for the police to line the streets in all European towns, Belgrade is no exception. Why has the case in Belgrade been exaggerated?
Some pedestrian over or underpasses are truly decayed, but why didn’t Mr. Anderson show another face of the city as well, the spots which are brand new, modern and pleasant to the eye? He made a biased choice and photographed the ugliest depatment dwellings in New Belgrade, ignoring the fact that New Belgrade has modern developments with manicured parks and lush greenery, 40-year-old trees, new shopping malls surrounded by parks, avenues lined with linden trees, beautiful and the longest Belgrade walkway by the river Danube overlooking the Great War Island. I wonder what the reactions would be if a photographer from Serbia took pictures in the States depicting only the homeless, the slums, deserted buldings, beggars, unattractive urban areas and publish them in any of the respected European publications? He would probably loose his job?
Belgrade is not, as the photographs indicate, a miserable city inhabited by miserable people. The citizens of Belgrade are not barbarians as we have been presented in the Western media for more than a decade. On the contrary, the city is vibrant, open-minded, and hospitable with a positive attitude and its people are eager to speak English. Not long ago, it was the capital of the most advanced country in the Southeast Europe. A meeting place of the two rivers, the Danube and Sava, have shaped Belgrade into a proud and beautiful city, where the locals have a refreshingly relaxed approach to life. It’s also a place that takes pleasure seriously, offering one of the best clubbing scenes in Europe and a diverse cultural life, which, I am positive, Mr. Anderson has witnessed himself.
But it’s a shame that a professional photographer working for one of the the most distinguished World magazines (which could be bought in Belgrade as long as thirty years ago) , sees this city only as decayed, impoverished and a place to be avoided. For, these malicious pictures can only mislead those who know nothing or but little about Belgrade. Was this the aim? Is this the way for Mr. Anderson to earn his salary? If so, it’s a disgrace both for him and the editorial board of The National Geographic.
Well, I agree with everything said in this letter. I wasn’t surprised to see Serbia depicted as it is in the article. I was, however, disappointed. It looks like National Geographic just want a “good story,” truth or fiction. I invite National Geographic staff back, and encourage them to take a broader look at Serbia and help us convey to the world what Serbs already know: that Serbia is a great place in which to live, work, visit, study, have fun, and do business.
11 Comments to “National Geographic Very Wrong About Serbia”
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“He also gives false information on the number of citizens. Instead of 1, 6 million as stated in the text, Belgrade has more than 2 million.”
From the City of Belgrade Homepage: “Belgrade (Beograd) is the capital of Serbia, and has a population of around 1.6 million.”
This is really outrageous! Reminds me on the image of Serbia Western media brought to world during 90’s. I really cannot believe that such recognized magazine can allow the truth to be twisted to that extent – they’re even worse than CNN!!! I’ll never buy a single copy of National Geographic again, unless they make appropriate apology.
Well, I can’t claim to have the credentials of NG when it comes to photography but one thing I can say, is that as a photographer myself, (& having taken photos in Serbia, Croatia, etc) the only way you can create any kind of story is deliberately. It’s disappointing to put it mildly that NG should publish such rubbish but like yourself, i’m sad to say that i’m not exactly surprised by it either. With their reputation I’d have hoped they were above such sloppy journalism.
I totally agree with this post!
Even worse is the little co-title that brings out clearly the message of the article: “(Serbs) They look at Kosovo with regret—and to Europe with hope.”
This is obviously the author’s intention to show a miserable and pathetic Serbia that looks with big hope and sad eyes to a shiny and exemplary Europe.
I don’t wanna blame only the photographer (he was doing a job and some of the picture would even be nice without the unapropriate comment) but the editorial team that used the pictures to make an propagandistic coverage.
I can’t believe this. I’m shocked! Agree with the Mima Stanojlovic’s letter, and I’m very glad someone reacted on this article full of lies, uninformed and inaccurate sentences.
Well said, indeed. Sadly, NG does seem to have a real and very negative agenda when it comes to talking about Serbia. Some months ago, I was similarly moved to complain about a documentary that aired on Nat Geo TV channel – “Don’t tell my mother I am in the Balkans.” I have rarely seen a more biased piece about Serbia; full of negative stereotypes, innuendos and misrepresentations. Why?
Naturally, I never received any answer, and I guess this more eloquent complaint will probably meet the same fate.
Shame on them.
Dear Friends,
Thank you all for your comments. This letter was written last summer, the moment I have read the NG article and saw the pictures. However, I’ve never received any answer from the editorial. National Geographic has been sold in this country for almost half a century, and I myself used to buy it as a kid. Since recently it’s being published in Serbian and as such, available to all Serbian citizens. Its outstanding reputation , I am positive, has been shattered upon publishing the above article along with the pictures.
I must say though that I am dissapointed I haven’t come across any other responses to this article, in the press or elsewhere.
A big thank you to everyone who took the time to leave a comment here. I hope National Geographic will react quickly.
Mima, we are with you !!!
Thank you a lot of !!!
Mima sa tobom smo svi !!!
Hvala na ovom pismu koje si uputila NG-u !!!
Zajedno smo najjaci – Every vote counts!
Thanks Max.
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