Crisis, free speech and the desire to write - seminar on Friday, 1 November

November 1 2019

How about getting a jump start on the interdisciplinary topic “Democracy and citizenship”? Fritt Ord and the National Association for Norwegian Teaching invite the public to a seminar on CRISIS, free speech and the desire to write, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, 1 November at Fritt Ord’s premises in Oslo.

The seminar will take its point of departure in the concept of ‘crisis’, which is this year’s topic in the Fritt Ord Foundation Competition for Upper Secondary School. The climate crisis, political crises and individual crises – all are examples of the uncertainty and unrest that characterise our times. But is the picture completely dark, glum and destined to go “straight to hell”? Not necessarily. Crises can also mean a turning point – an opportunity to improve. But that calls for action!

Register here: registrering@frittord.no
More information is available at frittordkonkurransen.no

At the seminar, film-maker Nefise Özkal Lorentzen will give us an introduction to and more details about the concept of crisis.

Assistant Professor Karsten Korbøl will talk about democracy and citizenship as paramount objectives in all subjects.

Football player and author Michael Stilson will discuss whether it is a democracy-related problem that children – especially boys – have little desire to read and write.

Lecturer and essay enthusiast Jostein Saxegaard will give specific suggestions about how to get pupils to write personal and academic texts.

Anne-List Sognnes and Joakim Lie, Fritt Ord, will provide information about the competition: and about ‘crisis’ as this year’s topic.

Jorunn Øveland Nyhus, editor of Norsklæreren (the Norwegian Teacher), with chair the seminar.

There will be lectures, group work and discussions.

Norsklæreren number 3/2019, featuring the topic ‘CRISIS’, will be sent out to the participants in advance.


News

The freelance study is completed in 2025

October 15 2025

The share of freelancers in the media has been increasing for years in many countries, but until recently, there has been little research-based knowledge about the scope of freelance work and the working conditions of journalists, photographers, and critics without permanent employment in the media.

The Genocide in Gaza and Big Tech

October 14 2025

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.

New Oxford fellow – How Journalists Interview “Monsters and Victims”

October 14 2025

VG journalist Håkon F. Høydal has been awarded Fritt Ord’s journalism fellowship at the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at Oxford in the spring of 2026.
His project explores what journalists can learn from new trauma research when interviewing both “monsters and victims” in crime and abuse cases.

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.