Aleksandra Hristov

Honoring international Press Freedom Day, on may 5th, NUNS (Independent Journalist Association of Serbia) together with US Embassy in Belgrade awarded for best achievement in investigative journalism journalists: Zoran Pavić, Boro Lazukić, Olivera Miloš-Todorović, Ivana Lalić-Majdak, Veljko Đuroviću and Ratko Femić.

 
Photo: Bozidar Petrovic

Rewarded texts as well as video movies in really extraordinary way (and relevantly) represent testimony on peple and events that marked our lives.

Photo: Bozidar Petrovic

Recently I have attended yearly (general) assembly of NUNS (Independent Journalist Association of Serbia) where we elected new management. New executive committee, supervisory committee, honor court,  and new members committee. Election of president Nadezda Gace guaranties NUNS will continue to fight for media professionalism and journalist rights.

This association exists since 1994 and was founded by group of journalist who for political repression of Slobodan Milosevic lost their jobs. Today NUNS has over 3000 members and represents one of main corrective mechanisms (of government and media).

Since foundation, NUNS and its members have functioned under very hard circumstances , especially until year 2000, but have always succeeded to fulfill its mission and be the right place for journalists to get together and realize their rights.

Right after my birthday and before my Uniqa press trip to Vienna, there was a press conference I have organized for “Anfrejevic Jewelry”, on April 15th. On the event “From mouse click to jewelry” they have presented ecommerce solution for their customers who could, from now on, buy their beautiful jewelry on-line. “Anfrejevic Jewelry” is the first jewelry company in Serbia with legal rights to sell jewelry on-line.

There were over 30 journalists from all kinds of media present. I would like to thank them all for participating at this press conference. We all had good time, with champagne and strawberries, and sophisticated gifts to all participants from Mr. Andrejevic.

My birthday was on 29th of march, but because of all the unexpected activities and events like my trip to Brussels and Metinvest press conference I celebrated it on April 13th. Every year I organize it in my brothers bar “Tapas” on the corner of Dositejeva and Jevremova street.

I know it may sound too strong, but my birthday celebration has become a kind of tradition among my friends. As always, I had many of my dear friends attending (there were over 50 guests). Also, I gave a short speech on the subject of “friendship” where I thanked all my friends on help and support they have given me. I hope I was able to help and support them as much as they have supported me over the years.

Let these pictures tell the story of this wonderful event.

Last week I have attended EU Programs and Funds for Serbia conference that was held in Brussels on 27th and 28th March. Many companies, institutions, agencies, NGO-s from Serbia could get direct information on EU funds available on this and next years. EU Access team and European movement prepared very practical program that enabled around 100 participants to learn more about available funds and procedures needed to apply for winning EU projects.

Conference was opened by Doris Pak, EU parliament representative for relations with South East European countries and coordinator of EU committee for culture, education and media. I was also facilitator of one of the workshops at the conference. The whole trip was very good and useful for my business Hristov Consulting d.o.o. Now I can say that apart from partners in Serbia and the region, I have new strategic partnerships in Brussels. And of course I had some time to walk around and enjoy beautiful Brussels scenery (on the day of my birthday 29tth of March).

Recently in my Rotary Club Sava I have held presentation on crises communication with examples of most recent research on causes of crisis in companies. Also I spoke on ways and methodology of solving crises. What was very interesting was how top managers reacted on the subject. Except of many questions they asked me, most of them realized importance of building proper reputation (for their companies) only after they heard my presentation, as well as seriousness of effort needed to avoid crises, or to successfully manage it.

Just today I had organized press conference for Metinvest – SMC – Beograd company, and tomorrow I am leaving for Brussels to attend “EU Programs and Funds for Serbia 2008” Conference (EU Access). I will write about it when I come back on March 31st.

Photo by Mikica Petrovic

The press conference was about registering company Metinvest – SMC – Beograd as the first independent trader of Metinvest Holding from Ukraine, representing manufacturers of black metallurgy products on Balkan markets. This was a tough job requiring lots of translations between Serbian-English-Russian, but all went well.

Photo by Nenad Zaric

There were some 35 journalists attending and everything was perfect, even do we had to get everything ready on time in such a short notice. Thanks to all my partners and associates for great effort to get everything done right

On “Brand Fair 2008” my dear friend Diane Cromer from “Cromer Group” was one of the principal lecturers at this Brand Conference. By the way, Diane is one of the best strategic communication experts I have ever met in my professional life.

Photo by Marko Poplasen

On the conference, I have helped her with media. Later on, at the party organized by “Cromer Group”, Diane talked about her experiences in Serbia, and pleasantly surprised me by telling everybody how much she values my professional background, my support before and during the conference and our friendship.

Photo by Marko Poplasen

Recently, as member of Harvard Club of Serbia, I have attended American Chamber of Commerce in Serbia Pre-election cocktail in in Hyatt Regency Belgrade, where candidates for positions of President, First and second Vice Presidents, and two United governors were presented. After that the assembly elected the candidates.

Photo by Mikica Petrovic

Harvard Club as non-governmental organization gathering students from Harvard University, is the member of American Chambers of Comerce (AmCham), and has one vote at general assembly meeting. This shows that AmCham recognizes the importance of cooperation and influence of all stakeholders.

Photo by Mikica Petrovic

Magazine Status (www.statusmagazin.co.yu) on 28th January rewarded photographers for the best photographs made in 2007, made in O3ONE gallery (www.o3.co.yu). At that time the rewards were given to Novak Djokovic and Milos Vasic, who were proclaimed as the most positive personality and the best journalist in last year.

With Slavisa Lekic, editor in chief of “Status” magazine

Magazine Status, and the team working for Status in six years became synonym for objective and unbiased journalism in Serbia. In this context we can say there was complete impartiality when choosing the winners, whose selection as top professionals in their fields made this prestigious reward even more influential.

Photo by: Aleksandar Dimitrijevic

Two weekis ago there was a press conference I have organized for Uniqa insurance company. Uniqa insurance was introducing their new general manager Mr. Zoran Visnjic and he was signing a two year promotion contract with our famous basket ball player Mr. Aleksandar Djordjevic. After so much work, and usual and unusual problems and hardships, its all over, and thanks God it was all success. There were over forty journalist, number of TV cameras, photo reporters cameras were flashing, it turned perfect.

When they come to events like this, visitors don’t see all the hard work and anxiety that goes into organizing successful events. Like when you plan everything weeks in advance and your star performer-participant’s airplane arrival is late on the airport. This is what happened yesterday with Sasa Djordjevic who was almost an hour late for the press conference. Fortunately, most of the journalist enjoyed nice accommodation, and friendly atmosphere at the Aero-club in Belgrade , so we were able to get everything done properly. Good thing that Sasa is such a wonderful person so we all had understanding for his traveling misfortune. 

I’d like to use this opportunity to say thanks to all my journalist-media friends and colleges who showed their patience and understanding.

In the middle of December of this year, one of the most prestigious magazines in Serbia “Republika” celebrated its 20th year in the “Center for cultural decontamination” in Belgrade. This would have been one of the usual magazine anniversaries, if it wasn’t a magazine that since its beginnings back in1987, in time of single mindedness, gathered intellectuals who had enough consciousness, and especially courage, to ask essential questions related to society, democracy, history, culture … For this orientation and persistence of “Republika” magazine, most of the credit is due to its editor in chief Nebojsa Popov, one of the greatest Serbian intellectuals, who has never given up on essential principles of democracy.

At the time when it was dangers and life threatening, in time of Slobodan Milosevic, by the way he wrote and edited “Republika”, he has shown that Serbia does have a chance to be society with European values. If we measure Serbian development by value of people gathered in “Republika” magazine (like Nebojsa), our country would definitely deserve to become part of Europe.

It was such an honor for me to be present at the celebration and personally congratulate Nebojsa Popov and people from “Republika” on it’s 20 years of persistent existence.

Its been a while since my last blog post, but today I just had to do it. For months I was absorbed in starting my new business “Hristov Consulting d.o.o.“. Today there was a wonderful brake from my usual daily routine. At the Faculty of Economics (Belgrade University) I have given a lecture on media relations to students of Public Relations class.

I was invited to speak on my experiences on media relations by Professor Galjina Ognjanov. It was such a pleasant experience. I had a feeling I am back again to my student days. The way these young students accepted me, and with their young energetic Professor Galina, I felt I am back at Harvard University. Looking into their bright eyes, it feels no different if you are in Belgrade, or at any other prestigious western University.

Remembering the state of higher education in year 2000 when I started working as chief of staff in the Education Ministry, it was delightful to see this huge positive change, brought in by young entrepreneurial professors and their staff at the Faculty of Economics, much needed change, that’s also happening at other Faculties in Belgrade. It felt so good to be there. Many thanks to professor Galina and her wonderful students, for this memorable experience.

Emagazin is one of the most widely read monthly magazines on new economy in Serbia.

This is the first paragraph of my article in Emagazin:

What is lobbying?

Reading the title of this article you probably asked yourself what is lobbying? Obviously, word of foreign origin, one you now hear almost every day. First what most of people in Serbia think when they hear this word is ”corruption”, and others think about it as networking and people you know and influence. This other group is (believe it or not) right about it, but in developed democracies lobbying is defined much wider. Lobbying is nowadays very important factor of efficient social and political system functioning (in democratic countries), and is absolutely necessary for appropriate positioning and presence of any country in international systems and institutions (like EU).

You can read the complete article in Serbian language here

There are many answers to this question. But the main reason is my wish to give some of my personal thoughts and reflections to (English speaking) cyber visitors around the world.

I also promise to present various subjects on daily life in Belgrade and Serbia.

I hope you will enjoy it as much as I am enjoying writing it …