Viktor Ivancic
Encyclopedia
Viktor Ivančić is a Croatian journalist, best known as the founding member and long-time editor-in-chief of satirical weekly Feral Tribune
.
A native of Sarajevo
, Ivančić edited the student paper of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture at the University of Split
. He came to public spotlight in 1980s as a member of VIVA LUDEŽ, trio of young humourists who wrote for humour sections of Split
newspapers and magazines like Slobodna Dalmacija
, Nedjeljna Dalmacija
and Omladinska Iskra. Those weekly supplements, which would ultimately become Feral Tribune, featured his regular column called Bilježnica Robija K. (Notebook of Robi K.), in which he gave satirical comments on important social and political events seen through the eyes of elementary school pupil.
During first years of democracy and Croatian independence Ivančić and Feral Tribune came into conflict with the government of Franjo Tuđman and his Croatian Democratic Union
party. In early 1993 Slobodna Dalmacija was taken over by Miroslav Kutle
, businessman with close ties to Tuđman's right-hand man Gojko Šušak
. As a result, Feral Tribune was removed from the pages of Split daily.
However, few months later, Feral Tribune appeared as bi-weekly, becoming weekly newspaper in December 1993. Viktor Ivančić became its editor-in-chief. During his tenure, magazine was one of the first to openly criticise government, expose war crimes committed by Croatian Army, as well as HDZ role in the most controversial aspects of privatisation and other scandals.
Ivančić received high praise from his peers for his efforts and received many prestigious journalism awards. Tuđman's government, on the other hand, reacted with the campaign that included controversial pornography taxes, defamation of characters of suits, criminal charges against Feral staff and economic sabotage through government-friendly businesses. Some of it was directed at Ivančić himself. Soon after receiving public death threat from top HDZ officials, Ivančić was mobilised into Croatian Army on 31 December 1993. He was released from Army - which he served in 4th Guards Brigade - in short time, following series of international protests.
A few years ago, Ivančić ceased to be Ferals editor-in-chief, but he continued to work in a magazine as columnist. Some of his columns were later published as books.
Feral Tribune
Feral Tribune was a Croatian political weekly magazine. Based in Split, it first started as a political satire supplement in Nedjeljna Dalmacija before evolving into an independent satirical weekly paper in 1993...
.
A native of Sarajevo
Sarajevo
Sarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....
, Ivančić edited the student paper of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture at the University of Split
University of Split
The University of Split is a university located in Split, Croatia. It was founded in 1974. and is organized in 13 faculties and 124 faculty programmes...
. He came to public spotlight in 1980s as a member of VIVA LUDEŽ, trio of young humourists who wrote for humour sections of Split
Split (city)
Split is a Mediterranean city on the eastern shores of the Adriatic Sea, centered around the ancient Roman Palace of the Emperor Diocletian and its wide port bay. With a population of 178,192 citizens, and a metropolitan area numbering up to 467,899, Split is by far the largest Dalmatian city and...
newspapers and magazines like Slobodna Dalmacija
Slobodna Dalmacija
Slobodna Dalmacija is a Croatian daily newspaper published in Split.The first issue of Slobodna Dalmacija was published on June 17, 1943 by Tito's Partisans in a cave on Mosor, a mountain near Split, which was occupied by the Italian army during that time. The paper was later published in various...
, Nedjeljna Dalmacija
Nedjeljna Dalmacija
Nedjeljna Dalmacija is now defunct Yugoslavian regional weekly newspaper based in Croatia, published in the cities of Split and Zagreb.Nedjeljna Dalmacija started as special weekly edition of Split daily newspaper Slobodna Dalmacija in 1970s...
and Omladinska Iskra. Those weekly supplements, which would ultimately become Feral Tribune, featured his regular column called Bilježnica Robija K. (Notebook of Robi K.), in which he gave satirical comments on important social and political events seen through the eyes of elementary school pupil.
During first years of democracy and Croatian independence Ivančić and Feral Tribune came into conflict with the government of Franjo Tuđman and his Croatian Democratic Union
Croatian Democratic Union
The Croatian Democratic Union is the main center-right political party in Croatia. It is the biggest and strongest individual Croatian party since independence of Croatia. The Christian democratic HDZ governed Croatia from 1990 to 2000 and, in partial coalition, from 2003...
party. In early 1993 Slobodna Dalmacija was taken over by Miroslav Kutle
Miroslav Kutle
Miroslav Kutle is a Herzegovinian Croat entrepreneur. He became notorious for his involvement in the Croatian privatization controversy and was since sentenced to jail time for embezzlement on two occasions.-Education:...
, businessman with close ties to Tuđman's right-hand man Gojko Šušak
Gojko Šušak
Gojko Šušak was the Croatian Minister of Defence from 1991 to 1998. A Bosnian Croat emigreé to Canada, he entered the political life of Croat diaspora in North America, subsequently becoming a close friend and associate to Franjo Tuđman, the leader of the Croatian Democratic Union, a nationalistic...
. As a result, Feral Tribune was removed from the pages of Split daily.
However, few months later, Feral Tribune appeared as bi-weekly, becoming weekly newspaper in December 1993. Viktor Ivančić became its editor-in-chief. During his tenure, magazine was one of the first to openly criticise government, expose war crimes committed by Croatian Army, as well as HDZ role in the most controversial aspects of privatisation and other scandals.
Ivančić received high praise from his peers for his efforts and received many prestigious journalism awards. Tuđman's government, on the other hand, reacted with the campaign that included controversial pornography taxes, defamation of characters of suits, criminal charges against Feral staff and economic sabotage through government-friendly businesses. Some of it was directed at Ivančić himself. Soon after receiving public death threat from top HDZ officials, Ivančić was mobilised into Croatian Army on 31 December 1993. He was released from Army - which he served in 4th Guards Brigade - in short time, following series of international protests.
A few years ago, Ivančić ceased to be Ferals editor-in-chief, but he continued to work in a magazine as columnist. Some of his columns were later published as books.