Projects and Prizes

In addition to grants in response to applications, the Fritt Ord Foundation takes a number of its own initiatives in Norway and abroad. Examples of important cooperative projects include the online edition of the premier Norwegian encyclopaedia ‘Store Norske Leksikon’, the historical research competition “My family in history”, and Civitates, a philanthropic initiative for democracy and solidarity in Europe. Our own initiatives include the House of Literature in Oslo and Fritt Ord Youth Competition. We also have a number of projects related inter alia to documentary photography, research on freedom of expression, student research grants and libraries. Fritt Ord itself also organises events and debates that address timely social issues, the culture of freedom of expression, non-fiction prose, documentary films and journalism/media research.

The Fritt Ord Prize is our highest distinction. It is awarded in May each year to one or more individuals for their outstanding efforts to promote freedom of expression. The Fritt Ord Tribute acknowledges “remarkable efforts to promote free speech, often in connection with current events.” Tributes can be awarded several times a year. The Free Media Awards are annual press prizes awarded to journalists and media in Russia and Eastern Europe that work with salient topics under difficult conditions. The prizes are awarded in collaboration with the German foundation Zeit-Stiftung.