A new era for investigative journalism in Norway

January 25 2024

Local and regional newspapers are now conducting the type of investigations and making discoveries that used to be expected only from major national media. How did that happen? Fritt Ord invites the public to a debate seminar at 10 a.m. on 14 February.

A deputy mayor in Tromsø who speculates in the real estate market. Mapping major differences between urban districts with the help of artificial intelligence. Tonnes of meticulously sorted plastic waste from Norwegian municipalities that are sent straight to incineration plants in Germany.

A new era is dawning for investigative journalism in Norway, featuring a myriad of minor investigative projects with major consequences.

The key to success is close collaboration between editorial teams locally, nationally and internationally.
In recent years, the cross-border journalism cooperative ‘Investigate Europe’ has carried out more than 20 major investigative projects in 12 countries.

The Center for Investigative Journalism (SUJO) at the University of Bergen has contributed to 65 published investigative projects in Norway.

The Fritt Ord Foundation invites the public to a debate seminar featuring members of the press who will share their experiences from the European plastic project “Wasteland”. The newspaper iTromsø explains how, as a small local newspaper, it documents social differences by using big data systematically, and with the help of artificial intelligence.

Time:
Wednesday, 14 February 2024 at 10.00-11.30 am
Location:
Fritt Ord Foundation, Uranienborgveien 2, Oslo

Panel:
Per Christian Magnus, head of SUJO
Kristine Holmelid, head of reporting at SUJO
Ingeborg Eliassen and Amund Trellevik, Investigate Europe
Rune Ytreberg, data editor at iTromsø

Moderator:
Tellef Raabe, researcher at SNF/Norwegian School of Economics

The event will be live-streamed and filmed for later publication on Fritt Ord’s website.

Fritt Ord provides support for the Center for Investigative Journalism and Investigate Europe.

Explanations of photos:

Headline photo:
Fom the plastic project shows Driver Agnieszka Walasek unloading pre-sorted plastic waste from Asker at the collection facility at Alnabru before it is transported by train to Germany.
Photo gallery: Development programme for investigative managers at the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK). Photo: SUJO. / The city of Tromsø. Photo: iTromsø. / Per Christian Magnus lecturing. Photo: SUJO. / Power on Askøy SUJO helped Vestnytt and the residents of Askøy to survey the distribution of power in the community of Askøy. Screen shot from Vestnytt. / Renovation worker Arild Hindøy collecting plastic waste at Båtevika in Florø. Photo: Arne Hjorth Johansen, Firdaposten.

News

Free Media Awards for 2025

September 9 2025

The Fritt Ord Foundation and the ZEIT Stiftung Bucerius hereby announce that the Free Media Awards for 2025 will be presented to media outlets and journalists from Ukraine, Georgia, Hungary, Russia, Belarus and Azerbaijan

Greater diversity among journalists results in greater diversity among sources

September 2 2025

A recently published report reveals biases in who is allowed to participate in the public debate. According to a new report from Retriever commissioned by the Fritt Ord Foundation, men who have Nordic names dominate both as sources and journalists in Norwegian media. Women, younger people and people with foreign names are less likely to be included. This is true both as interviewees and as authors of articles. That being said, greater diversity among journalists results in greater diversity among sources.

Eirin Larsen and Hadia Tajik join the Fritt Ord Board

August 5 2025

Eirin Larsen (36) and Hadia Tajik (42) bring valuable experience from journalism, technology, politics and jurisprudence to the Fritt Ord Board.

Making the film «Farouk» – on the geologist that secured Norway its oil

July 1 2025

Geologist Farouk Al-Kasim joined the the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate in 1968, shaping Norwegian petroleum resource management for decades afterwards. Now, documentary film director Halkawt Mustafa and producer Janne Hjeltnes are making a film about Al-Kasim’s life and reflections.
“Farouk tells me something in this film that he has not talked about before, because he has always told the version he feels Norway wanted to hear,” recounts Mustafa, who has Iraqi roots himself.

Read the interview with the director and see the list of grants awarded by Fritt Ord in June 2025.