Lidija Marko, journalist - Three decades in trade

Just like 30 years ago at the beginning of career, she did not understand why media report on lack of electricity and water in Belgrade. She cannot believe that information is compulsory part of morning program.

As years go by, progress in Serbia is slow, Lidija Marko, economic journalist who has been reporting for three decades on economy, investments, entrepreneurship says.

She has recently celebrated 10 years of her private production "Atlantis marketing" which broadcasts the show “Investments”.

During her career, she was a reporter at Radio Beograd, a speaker and an author of economic shows at the Third and Yu info channel, she worked in the Marketing Department and today as an entrepreneur, she is wondering what and how to go on.

She says her career was split into three equal parts, for a decade each, full of energy and new ideas, she is looking for a new challenge.

Born in Belgrade, graduated philology, she attended musical school, played folklore for 10 years and travlled Europe and she studied English when it was not interesting for anybody.

In her interview for eKapija, this famous journalist and TV face is sadly speaking how journalists lived well with their income, it was known who and what can do and how quality of former media was a result of good organization, job distribution and high standards in business.

Radio reporter

- I fully engaged myself in all jobs I had. Since my father worked at Radio Beograd as a musical editor, I left to see him at work to check whether “little people really work there". I really liked there and I got the first job – Marko says.

As she admits, there were few women talkers and our collocutor had a good voice, diction and did not have a speaking problem. She got a new chance to be a radio reporter.

Although she grew up during the work at radio, graduated and spent 10 years, she did not get full-time job.

- I was called to be a Marketing Manager at a printing company in Banovo Brdo. I quickly understood that the job is not for me. At the beginning, I was learning there are working hours, that it is necessary to get there at eight and to leave after eight hours. It was very hard for me.

Time of profit

Once a journalist-always a journalist. With hard work at the printing company, she started her own TV career. She was running a show at Treci kanal three times a week, it was called Business Club, later on The Time of Profit and then Profit.

Businessmen liked to participate at the show. We had a list of friends, businessmen who always wanted to come– whenever we call them. We used to get a large number of awards. We traveled a lot.

I always like to remember, Lidija Marko says, New Year’s celebrations which we, journalists, organized for businessmen.

- Music, food, drink... No cameras… Those were great parties…

New job at "Yu info" channel lasted for three years.

She did the show "Resor", talking to former ministers, etc.

After "Yu info" channel and a short trip to PR and marketing, she says she stepped into entrepreneurship because she had to just like majority of women.

- I had to work and when I was deciding on what, I decided to do what I know how to do. I set up production company which produces show "Investments". The emission was broadcasted at TV "Avala", TV B92, and now at 18 local TV stations.

Macarons

She loves Paris and often goes there. Apart from touring museum, she learnt to make macarons, French cookies. She like cooking and organizes real feast for friends.

The most important motivator is her daughter, a graduated psychologist. She admits that she was sorry for the fact that her daughter did not want to be a journalist but you never know.

She spend her free time in puzzles and brain teasers. She says she must stay fit because she is afraid of the morning she will wake up without ideas.

Marija Kambic