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

The Genocide in Gaza and Big Tech

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Sunday, 19 October 2025 at 3.30 PM at Cinemateket, Oslo
Fritt Ord, Masahat and Oslo Dokumentarkino invite you to a lecture and conversation with Nadim Nashif about Big Tech’s complisity in the genocide in Gaza.

What's happening in Georgia?

September 22 2025

Monday 29 September 2025 at 6.30–8 pm at Vega Scene, Oslo

“While art is often relegated to the bottom of financial priorities, it paradoxically becomes the first target of dictators.”

Fritt Ord invites you to a presentation of a hyper-relevant, upcoming documentary film “Untitled” from Georgia and a conversation with two film directors about the political developments in the country in collaboration with Oslo Dokumentarkino, Stray Dogs Norway, Viken Filmsenter and the Norwegian Film Federation. Journalist Ingerid Salvesen is the moderator. For the safety of the filmmakers, we will not mention their names in advance.

“This documentary is not for the faint of heart” New grants awarded in September 2025.

September 19 2025

Integral Film has been given grant for the production of the documentary “Rehearsal for Justice” by Palestinian filmmaker Dalia AlKury. “The film is not for the faint of heart,” says the director. See all the projects that received funding in September 2025.

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