Its name is an acronym for Nedeljne informativne novine (Недељне информативне новине) which roughly translates into Weekly Informational Newspaper.

Though a current events magazine in its essence, NIN also earned an esteemed reputation due to a long tradition of opening its pages to the best and the brightest within Serbian, and previously Yugoslav society, whether in arts, sciences, or even sports.

This reputation has recently somewhat been tarnished[citation needed] as the magazine was forced into commercial competition with numerous political periodicals that sprung up in Serbia after the dissolution of Yugoslavia.

[3] NIN used to be highly critical of Serbian president Aleksandar Vučić's populist regime and considered one of few independent media outlets.

[6] During the late 1980s Slobodan Milošević and his followers converted major publications, including NIN, into media outlets of Serbian nationalism.