Zagorka began working at the newspaper Obzor in Zagreb, becoming the first professional female journalist in Croatia.
In 1896, Marija Jurić Zagorka joined the editorial staff of Obzor, one of the most important Croatian newspapers of the era, becoming the first woman in Croatia to work professionally as a journalist.
Her entry into journalism was met with fierce hostility from male colleagues who viewed the profession as unsuitable for women. She reported facing ridicule, exclusion from editorial meetings, and even physical intimidation, yet she persisted, using pseudonyms at times to have her work taken seriously.
At Obzor, she covered political affairs, cultural life, and social issues, quickly demonstrating sharp analytical skills and a talent for engaging prose. Her position was particularly significant given the political climate of Croatia-Slavonia under Ban Khuen-Héderváry, whose Hungarianization policies she would openly criticize in her writing, at great personal risk.
This achievement opened the door for future generations of Croatian women in media and public discourse, establishing that women could hold serious professional roles in journalism, previously an exclusively male domain across the Habsburg lands. Zagorka's persistence in this hostile environment is now recognized as a foundational moment for women's participation in Croatian public and intellectual life.