Founded in Chicago a quarter-century ago, the independent monthly newspaper has become a bridge connecting Serbian Americans through local news, cultural events, interviews and stories that celebrate their shared heritage.
The Serbian-language newspaper Ogledalo celebrated its 25th anniversary this past Saturday, marking a quarter-century of journalism, community connections and dedication to preserving Serbian culture and traditions across the United States.
Headquartered in Chicago, Ogledalo reaches readers throughout America, reporting on people, events and community life both in Chicago and beyond. Published monthly, the newspaper has built a connection among Serbian Americans through local reporting, interviews, cultural coverage and stories highlighting the people and organizations that keep the community active and connected.
The anniversary celebration took place at the Gaslight Club in Chicago, bringing together contributors, friends, journalists, media professionals and members of the Serbian community. Among those present was Slavica Petrović, the newspaper’s owner and editor-in-chief.
The First Balkan Media team also attended the celebration, where it spoke with Petrović about the newspaper’s beginnings, its mission and her vision for its future.
The Idea Behind Ogledalo
Reflecting on how the newspaper began, Petrović explained that the idea grew out of a need within Chicago’s Serbian community.
“When we started, we didn’t have a Serbian newspaper here in Chicago,” Petrović recalled. Serbian-language publications had previously arrived from Yugoslavia, but eventually they stopped coming. She saw an opportunity to create something local that would keep the community informed and connected.
Having worked in television, radio and journalism, Petrović recognized the importance of a publication dedicated to telling the stories of Serbian Americans.
She believed the community deserved a newspaper that would report on its people, share local news and cover important events taking place around them.
Although the original idea was rooted in Chicago, Ogledalo quickly expanded its reach across the United States.
From the beginning, the newspaper was distributed free of charge, including through Serbian Orthodox churches. This helped readers discover one another, learn about activities in other communities and establish new connections across state lines.
Petrović considers this one of the newspaper’s most meaningful accomplishments: bringing people together and documenting the lives, achievements and experiences of individuals who contribute to the Serbian-American community.
Over the years, Ogledalo has covered countless events and introduced readers to people whose stories might otherwise have remained within their own local communities.
Print, Digital and the Future of Ogledalo
As the media landscape continues to change, Ogledalo faces the same questions confronting many traditional newspapers: how to adapt to digital publishing while preserving the experience that loyal readers value.
The newspaper already has an electronic edition, but Petrović says many readers still prefer holding a printed newspaper in their hands.
For approximately a year, she has considered whether the publication should transition entirely to digital distribution. However, the strong attachment readers have to the printed edition has made that decision difficult.
For now, Ogledalo intends to continue publishing in print for as long as it remains possible.
“We love the smell of paper,” Petrović said, expressing the affection she and her readers have for the traditional newspaper experience.
Her words capture something that goes beyond the format of a publication. For many members of the diaspora, a printed newspaper in their native language represents familiarity, identity and a tangible connection to home.
A Quarter-Century of Community Journalism
For 25 years, Ogledalo has served as more than a source of news. It has provided a platform for Serbian Americans to share their stories, celebrate cultural traditions, announce community events and recognize the achievements of their fellow community members.
In a country as geographically vast as the United States, maintaining those connections is no small task. By reaching readers beyond Chicago, the newspaper has helped link Serbian communities across state lines and generations.
Its anniversary is also a recognition of the commitment required to sustain an independent community publication over decades of change in the media industry.
As Ogledalo enters its next chapter, its mission remains rooted in the same idea that inspired its founding: ensuring that Serbian Americans have a publication that tells their stories, reflects their lives and keeps their communities connected.
First Balkan Media congratulates Slavica Petrović and the entire Ogledalo team on 25 years of journalism, dedication and service to the Serbian-American community.
