Zoran Sekulić, the owner, director, and editor-in-chief of the FoNet news agency, sadly passed away on the night of July 21 at the age of 67 due to a brief illness, as confirmed by his family, according to reports from N1.

Born on September 6, 1958, in Belgrade, Sekulić graduated from the Faculty of Law at the University of Belgrade in 1981, specializing in International Studies. He embarked on his journalism career in 1982.

He was the founder of the FoNet News Agency, the first private news agency in Serbia with an independent editorial policy, which commenced operations on February 7, 1994.

Sekulić served on the Board of Directors of the Media Association, Serbia’s largest business organization for newspaper publishers, news agencies, and online portals, and was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Press Council.

In September 2011, he represented the media community (comprising the Media Association, NUNS, UNS, NDNV, and Lokal Pres) in negotiations with the Government of Serbia over the creation of the first Media Strategy.

For his significant contributions to media reforms in Serbia, he received a personality award from the OSCE in 2012.

He was honored with the Legion of Honor at the rank of Knight by decree of French President Francois Hollande, an award suggested by the French Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, Jean-Marc Ayrault.

In 2020, the German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier presented him with the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.

In 2022, the jury of the League of Experts (LEX) in Serbia, consisting of renowned specialists in various fields, recognized him with the title of Knight of the Call.

Sekulić began his journalism journey in 1982 as a contributor to Radio Belgrade, focusing on program 202.

From 1983 until 1993, he served as a journalist and editor at Tanjug News Agency, covering significant domestic and international events during the Yugoslav crisis, including sessions of the Presidency of the SFRY and negotiations between the presidents of Yugoslav republics and provinces, along with the International Conference on the Former Yugoslavia led by Lord Carrington in The Hague.

Discontent with Tanjug’s editorial policy led him to resign as editor of the Political Section in the autumn of 1992. In November 1993, he left Tanjug and co-founded FoNet with his colleague Nebojša Magdeski, with whom he parted ways for business reasons in 1994. Since then, he has been the sole founder and owner of FoNet.

Under his leadership, FoNet, which has seen over 31 journalists, cameramen, photojournalists, and audio and video editors work over its 700 years of history, has established a reputation both domestically and internationally as a professional, impartial, and credible media source recognized beyond Serbian borders.

Fifteen years ago, he envisioned and implemented the concept of digital multimedia and multiplatform interactive agency news services, including written, photo, audio, and video news, which was the first of its kind in Serbia and the region.

At the Prix Europa media festival—one of the preeminent international electronic and digital media festivals—FoNet’s interactive multimedia news system was honored among the top 2005 online news platforms in Europe, competing with major traditional and web media.

He developed specialized TV formats for FoNet, including Kvaka 23, Agreman, Kiosk, Vidokrug, Pressek, Stigma, Kosinus, and News in 60 Seconds.

Sekulić served as a special rapporteur for a variety of institutions, including the European Union, European Council, European Parliament, NATO, Council of Europe, UN Security Council, and General Assembly, among others in global capitals such as Washington, Brussels, Beijing, Paris, and Berlin.

His professional development included numerous study visits to media associations and editorial offices across major cities worldwide, including London, Berlin, and New York, as well as to universities such as Columbia in Missouri and UCLA in Los Angeles.

He authored thousands of agency and newspaper articles, TV reports, and audio segments published in Serbia and beyond, frequently cited by foreign media.

As a keynote speaker, panelist, and moderator, he has participated in numerous vital domestic, regional, and European conferences focused on media freedom and journalism.

The family will announce the details for the funeral arrangements in due course.

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