July 7, 2022 - The second prize at the FIJET Slovakia international exhibition called 'Travel and Emotions' went to Slobodan Kadić, photojournalist of Total Croatia News and Glas Slavonia, for the photo "The wall is our witness," taken at the beginning of the year in Jerusalem (Israel).

The Slovakian Travel Journalists and Writers Association organized the international exhibition 'Travels and Emotions', which this year received 213 works from 13 countries (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Canada, Czech Republic, Croatia, Cyprus, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Great Britain, and Ukraine).

This year's theme was "Life is not black and white," and the exhibition host was the Slovak town of Piešťany. The international jury, led by the exhibition curator, photographer, journalist, and writer Marián Pauer, evaluated the photographs in two categories: a set of photographs and a separate photograph, selecting 54 photographs for the exhibition. Voljen Grbac from Croatia represented FIJET in the international jury and participated in the exhibition in Piešťany. The winner of the first prize is Juka Jurica Galić (Croatia) for the series of photos 'Fisherman'.

Slobodan Kadic

"As a representative of the Croatian FIJET, I am particularly proud of the success of my colleagues Jurica Galić-Juka and the versatile Slobodan Kadić, whose works deservedly won awards at this prestigious competition by unanimous decision of the jury. I hope that this will motivate them to dedicate themselves even more wholeheartedly to the great and beautiful art of photography, and I wish the exhibition a long life and as many visitors as possible on its way to Europe," says Voljen Grbac, emphasizing that this year's exhibition is the best in terms of quality.

The first prize for an individual photo went to Ivan Kenez from Slovakia (Tatra impressions). In previous years, FIJET Slovakia exhibited photos abroad, in Budapest and Kuwait. This year's exhibitions are planned to be held in October in Vienna and Slovak Poprad (High Tatras). Tina Eterović Čubrilo, the president of the Croatian FIJET, congratulated the Croatian photographers, who praised the exceptional work of her members.

"We are especially proud of the awards of Slobodan Kadić and Jurica Galić Juka. And this photo award proves the activity of our members who follow all the actions of the FIJET world association and their professionalism, which is recognized at the world level. In addition, our journalists and photographers have a special feeling for the attractiveness and beauty of details," concluded Čubrilo.

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December 14, 2021 - Slobodan Kadić, a longtime associate of Total Croatia News, journalist, and sports photojournalist, was awarded the prestigious Marco Polo prize of Croatian FIJET, the World Association of Travel Journalists and Tourism Writers.

The "Marco Polo - famous travel writer" - awards ceremony was held at the Esplanade Hotel in Zagreb, in the presence of many guests from Croatia and abroad. Slobodan Kadić was awarded the plaque this year, displaying the image of Marco Polo for a lasting and quality contribution to tourist attractions and unknown gems of Croatian tourism through publications and reports.

"The most valuable and sweetest are the awards given to you by the experts. They remain forever written and are also a new incentive for further work. It is a great honor to stand alongside top travel writers, directors, writers, and journalists from the entire region, from Ante Gavranović to Goran Milić, Šime Strikoman, Željko Žutelija, Tina Eterović Čubrilo, Željko Marušić, Darijo Novalić, and Đorđe Mihajlović," said Kadić, who is diligently working on his book Putničke Svaštarije which will contain most of the columns he has published in Glas Slavonije over the years.

The grand prize, the Marco Polo statue, was received by Željko Žutelija for the book My Zagreb, the most beautiful city in the world, and a personal contribution to the high standards of tourism journalism. The FIJET Tolerance Award was given to Hasan Haidar Diab, a journalist from Večernji list, who, through his long-standing publications, contributes to understanding diversity and breaking down prejudices about other peoples and cultures.

Plaques were also awarded to Petra Somek and the magazine Meridijani for educational reports and travelogues from all over Croatia, top authorial publications and photographs, but also Paula and Đelo Jusić for the series Fairytale Croatia, Željko Marušić for the long-lived show Željko Marušić and guests, Denis Mahmutović for a series of reports published in 24 Sata and Vladimir Kumbrija for his contribution to shows on tourism on the first program of Croatian Radio.

Special awards for reports and new trends were presented to Radio Sljeme, Mario Pušić (KA portal), and the Radio Student Association. Letters of thanks from FIJET Croatia were awarded to Vojko Pleština (Split), director of the International Tourist Film Festival in Solin, for the partnership in implementing the "Marco Polo" project, and Ivica Krizmanić Max, director of the Esplanade Hotel. Special thanks went to President Tina Eterović Čubrila, Vice President of the FIJET World Association - on the 15th anniversary of FIJET Croatia. The FIJET grant was presented to the City of Korčula, and it is an original statue of Marco Polo, the work of sculptor Luja Lozica, which will be placed in the City Museum. The members of the Jury of this year's FIJET awards were President Ante Gavranović and members Jadranka Rilović (Croatian Radio, 2nd program) and Hrvoje Zovko, President of the Croatian Journalists' Association.

Croatian FIJET was founded in 1964 in Makarska and renewed in 1990 when Croatia became independent. 

"There were ten of us, then seven with President Drago Ferenčić, who retired in 1996. I was the only one left, and I was persistent. Finally, I turned to Marijana Rebić, with whom I successfully collaborated as a journalist at the Atlas agency and later at Croatia Airlines. With the hope that she would agree to become a secretary, she said "yes." We have grown, been persistent, and encouraged other national associations with our activities, of which there are now about fifty, and there are more and more young people among us," said Tina Eterović Čubrilo, recalling the unforgettable moments of FIJET Croatia.

For more on travel in Split, follow TCN's dedicated page. 

Croatia will open their World Cup tournament on Saturday against Nigeria. Kickoff is at 21:00 in Kaliningrad. 

I have been privileged over the last couple of years to have been invited on numerous Croatian press trips around the country. Privileged because I am often the only foreigner and also because I am not a trained journalist, and so I usually feel that I do not belong. But there are some journalists on these trips who not only make you feel welcome, but also who make you feel that you belong.

I can think of no better example of my (now) good friend Slobodan Kadic, an outstanding journalist from Glas Slavonia in the north-eastern territories where most Jelsa boys never venture. From the moment we met at Palmizana on my first Gastronaut trip, Slobodan has had me smiling and laughing every moment of our time together, and we have agreed to embark on a project together writing the definitive guide to Croatian vegetable festivals when time permits. 

I am feeling bolder about asking my writing friends for help with Total Croatia News, but I have to say that nobody has so far reacted quite as positively or as quickly as Slobodan. Not only did he agree and send his first article within an hour, but he called me this morning with a couple of ideas for stories if they would be of interest to the site. 

Thank you, Sir, and I am honoured to have you on the team, and I look forward to our readers discovering the magic of Slavonia through your keyboard.

About Slobodan Kadić

Freelancer - journalist of Glas Slavonije daily newspaper and photographer, member of FIJET Croatia (World Federation of Travel Journalists and Writers) Executive Board. Winner of HZSN award for work/activities in local media.2009. Now living in Moscow (Russia) and Klokočevci (Croatia).

I am available for writing services. Please contact me on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Enjoy your meals and allow yourself a bit of sin and luxury!

TCN's Slobodan Kadic visits Varazdon's Spancirfest, enjoying Turkey with "mlinci" and "zlevanka", before heading off to the Wine City.