[1] He started his career in the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation in 1977, and was hired as a subeditor of Verdens Gang, Norway's largest newspaper, in 1987.

He was himself politically involved, and was a forceful activist for the failed campaign for Norwegian European Union membership in 1994.

[4] In 2003, he went far towards supporting the US-led invasion of Iraq, a controversial stance in Norway at the time.

The two were in 2007 ranked as number four among the most powerful media couples in Norway, by the online business newspaper NA24.

[7] Following his death, Versto was praised by several prominent figures, including Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, former Prime Ministers Gro Harlem Brundtland, Kjell Magne Bondevik, Kåre Willoch and World War II veteran Gunnar Sønsteby.