Commemoration of Simonović: He did not agree to compromises, he left as a winner

Veselin Simonović was a bridge between the tower of a million issues of the newspaper he signed, and the journalist and media community, as well as a guarantor that the tower will not collapse, the editor of the "Nova" newspaper Ranko Pivljanin said at the commemoration.

The director and editor-in-chief of the Nova.rs portal and director of the daily newspaper "Nova", Veselin Simonović, died suddenly on Sunday in Belgrade at the age of 63, and in the presence of family members, many colleagues, friends and admirers from of all spheres of public life, reports N1.

During his career, one of the most famous journalists in Serbia, Simonović worked as an editor in "Borba", "Vremen" and "Blic".

On behalf of his colleagues from "Borba", the long-time editor of "Večernje novosti" Manojlo Manjo Vukotić said that Simonović was among the fastest, best, wisest and most skilled in every journalistic and human discipline.

"He knew the golden rule of the profession - that the truth is the strongest - and that you have to separate the gold from the dirty tailings on the editorial screen, as well as that fanfare is allowed, ranking is risky and obedience is fatal," said Vukotić.

The editor of the weekly "Vremena" Filip Švarm recalled how, as a young journalist, he observed how in the nineties, when, as now, there were pressures and lies, Simonović held his own.

"He looked at it with open eyes, and he never agreed to compromises," emphasized Švarm and recalled the assessment of his late colleague from "Vremen" Miloš Vasić that Simonović was always able to distinguish right from wrong and called things by their right names.

He said, as reported by N1, that Simonović was a professional, but for whom journalism was his life and calling.

His colleague and friend Milan Subotić spoke about Simonović's career in "Blic", who recalled how in the 5s that paper faced pressure and lawsuits, and on the night of October XNUMX, with whiskey, he said "we saved this Blic from both the authorities and owner, as if he sensed what challenges were coming".

Subotić pointed out that Simonović then felt the ruthlessness of the three corporations and their demands for "clicks", budgets and targets on his back.

"Despite that, he went to the other world as a winner," said Subotic.

On behalf of his friend, actor Milan Čučilović said that "home was where Vesa was", because he made people feel at home with him, and that Dorćol plac, where the commemoration was held, was his third home.

The editor-in-chief of the "Nova" newspaper, Simonović's youngest business venture, Stojan Drčelić pointed out that Simonović is ready to worship only one queen - the news.

"It was never easy with Ves. He was quick to recognize false prophets and swindlers, he quickly assessed people, he couldn't stand banalities," Drčelić recalled.

He also told how he overcame the refusal of printers in Serbia to print that paper.

"We will be printed at the end of the world," he quoted Simonović and said that his editorial office would remain proud of him.

Veselin Simonović will be buried today at the New Cemetery, in the Alley of Meritorious Citizens.