Barbara Štrbac is a prominent Croatian journalist and reporter of Nova TV’s news program. A native of Rijeka, she started her career in 1999 on the local television channel Kanal Ri in Rijeka. After five years at Croatian Radio and Television (HRT), where she hosted entertainment and news shows (eg. Dancing for the stars and The stars sing), in 2010, he moved to the editorial office of Nova TV. The acquired experience and ambition led her to specialize in field and crisis reporting – this is how she is recognized among viewers and colleagues. In today’s work, he regularly reports for daily Diary and News Nova TV, covering a wide range of social and political topics.
Early life and interests
Barbara Štrbac was born around 1976 in Rijeka. Since childhood, she has shown a passion for sports and the sea. Her father was one of the first divers in this area, so Barbara was diving with bottles as a child. She started training in karate at the age of eight and today she wears Black Belt Day 2. In addition, she also practiced other sports – skiing has always been her great love (she won a bronze medal at the 2010 World Championship of Journalists-Skirs in Argentina), and she is recreationally engaged in sailing, riding and hiking. As a diver, she participates in ecological actions of underwater and underwater lakes – for example, she joined the cleaning of the lake in the Krka National Park. In short, sportsmanship and adventurous atmosphere have followed her from an early age.
Key interests and achievements:
- Karate: Master Day 2 (Black Belt)
- Skiing: Member of the Journalist Ski Team, bronze at the 2010 Championship (Argentina)
- Sailing: Fiumanka regatta with Nova TV
- Diving: She inherited her passion from her father, active in eco-works underwater
the beginning of a journalistic career
Barbara Štrbac started journalism in 1999 as a reporter for Rijeka channels RI. After several years of working on local television, she moved to Croatian Radio and Television (HRT), where, in addition to the news program, she also participated in entertainment shows. Thus, according to her, she managed different formats, which helped her “grow up in the television business”. The audience especially remembered her participation in popular shows Dancing for the stars and The stars sing, but Barbara always emphasized that she found her full potential only in daily news and field journalism.
Important career steps:
- 1999. – Start at the local television channel Kanal Ri in Rijeka.
- 2000s – Work at HRT as a presenter and journalist of various formats (informational and entertainment shows).
- 2010. – Move to Nova TV’s news program.
After arriving in new TV In 2010, Barbara worked as a correspondent in Rijeka for three years. At that time, the field covered all topics in three Primorje-Croatian counties (Primorsko-Goranska, Istarska and Ličko-Senj). Her experience gained in the field and in front of the camera, as well as an authentic approach to reporting, created her a “hardened journalist who is trusted”. In Rijeka, Barbara showed exceptional professionalism and thoroughness, and her field reports and analyses often marked Nova TV’s news program at the time.
Working in the New TV news program
After a mandate in Rijeka correspondence, Barbara Štrbac moved to the Zagreb editorial office of Nova TV, where she reports for the main news shows (Vijesti and Dnevnik). Its materials are regularly broadcast in Dnevnik Nova TV (daily from 19:00) and the online portal Dnevnik.hr. Crisis journalism It turned out to be her specialty: she reported from numerous crisis locations and war hotspots. Among the significant foreign reports, trips to the affected areas stand out – this is how she reported on the consequences of earthquakes in Turkey, the refugee crisis in Moldova and Serbia, the fall of a military drone in Poland, as well as a series of floods and fires in Croatia and world. Barbara also appears at global events – she attended farewell ceremonies from the British Queen Elizabeth II. and Pope Benedict XVI, and followed Finland’s entry into NATO as an important political event.
In her daily work for Dnevnik Nova TV, Barbara Štrbac tries to bring timely and accurate information to viewers. As she points out, “our work is now more demanding than ever” due to the abundance of disinformation, so it is imperative to bring “fast, but above all accurate information”. Colleagues describe her as a brave and dedicated reporter – ready to face unpredictable situations and remain professional even in difficult conditions. Because of this work, she received the epithet of a journalist that the audience can count on in moments of crisis.
Awards, scholarships and awards
Barbara’s work did not go unnoticed. In November 2023, she received an international award New Sky In the category of journalistic reporting, for a report from Turkey after a devastating earthquake. This award, which promotes humanity and mutual cooperation, was awarded to her in Ałmaty (Kazakhstan) among thousands of works submitted from 26 countries. In May 2024, she also became the winner of the Croatian Journalist Award “Žarko Kaić” (organized by the Croatian Journalists’ Association) for television reportage work – the award thereby recognized her report News Sky as one of the best TV shows of that year.
A special recognition was also received on the educational level: in 2025, Barbara was chosen as United Media Scholar and will attend the six-month Reuters Institute Journalism Fellowship at Oxford University. This prestigious program provides mid-career journalists with the opportunity to improve and network at the top of the media profession. Representatives of United Media, the owner of Nova TV, expressed their pride that she was chosen to cooperate with Oxford, and Barbara pointed out that she will try to make the most of that experience for further professional development.
Important awards and recognitions:
- Reuters Journalism Fellowship (Oxford) – United Media Scholarship 2025
- International New Sky Award (Main Journalism Award for Humanitarian Reporting) 2023
- “Žarko Kaić” award HND for TV reportage 2024
- (Additional achievements: multiple medalists at the world championships of journalist skiers, world champion 2020, etc.)
Working style and reputation
Barbara Štrbac is recognized as a journalist thorough in collecting facts and extremely committed to real reporting. Her field reports are characterized by careful research and sympathy for the people she talks about. He often points out that the exchange of reliable information for citizens must be a priority, especially in crises. Because of this credibility, her colleagues describe her as a journalist “who is trusted”. In addition, since she almost never reveals details from her private life, she is also described as a professional who keeps her work separate from her personal life – which further builds the audience’s trust.
As a demonstration of her dedication, Barbara often emphasized the importance of teamwork on recordings and reports. Her successful field reports are the result of cooperation with cameras (e.g. cinematographer Mišo Maoduš) and producers, but also her own willingness to first help people in need before delivering the news. During floods, fires and the refugee crisis, she often conveyed the stories of those most at risk, and because of this, she gained a reputation as a reporter who gives people a voice in the public.
Conclusion
Barbara Štrbac is an example of a brave, passionate and professional journalist in Croatia. Her many years of experience, numerous reports from crisis zones and sports persistence greatly contributed to the reputation of Nova TV’s news program. At any moment, he tries to provide viewers with important information, as well as stories with a human note, so that media content is both instructive and understandable to a wider audience.
For viewers, this means that in Barbara’s contributions they can find Correct, verified information From the country and the world, presented in professional and empathetic – just as she points out that journalism should be.
Follow her work: Barbara Štrbac regularly publishes her reports in Dnevnik Nova TV (everyday appointment at 7 p.m.) and on the portal Dnevnik.hr. For current news and reports, follow the Nova TV program. If you find this article useful, share it with your friends and we will continue to explore interesting stories about famous people.
