Loyal or obedient? About freedom of expression at work

November 12 2013

Volda University College’s Faculty of Media and Journalism and the Fritt Ord Foundation invite the public to a full-day seminar on 15 November 2013 at Fritt Ord’s premises at Uranienborgveien 2 in Oslo

The background for the seminar is the increasingly widespread discussion about the relationship between freedom of expression and loyalty at work. Discussing the issue will be a professor of Law from the US, along with Norwegian academics, trade union representatives and the new the secretary-general of the Association of Norwegian Editors.

The event is free of charge and open to the public.

Programme

10.00 a.m.: Professor Cynthia Estlund, New York University: Free speech rights that work at work

11.00 a.m.: Attorney Jon Wessel-Aas: Loyalty v. freedom of expression in the workplace in Norway

11.45 a.m.: Researcher Bitten Nordrik: When obedience becomes a skill. About freedom of expression and neo-liberal management methods

1.00 p.m.: Secretary General Arne Jensen, The Association of Norwegian Editors: Silent servants meet mudslingers

1.30 p.m.: Stories from real life
Hans Fjære Øvrum, Management/Statoil: Union representatives who scored 2 in ‘courage’
Boye Ullman, Norwegian United Federation of Trade Unions/Coop Gardermoen: The Spanish plumbers who were fired after a TV2 report
Jens Jahren, the Military Officers’ Association: Freedom of expression in the Armed Forces
Gro E. Paulsen, chair of the Norwegian Association of Graduate Teachers: Extolling virtues, reputation building and freedom of expression. Some examples from the education sector.

3.00 p.m.: President Anders Folkestad, Unio

News

Mykhailo Tkach

Ukrainian, Georgian, Armenian, Russian and Belarusian journalists and media to receive five Free Media Awards for 2026

September 3 2026

This year’s prize laureates for the Free Media Awards from the Fritt Ord Foundation and Zeit Stiftung Bucerius are:
The investigative journalist Mykhailo Tkach from Ukraine
The investigative media outlet iFact from Georgia
The online media Factor TV from Armenia
The online media Verstka from Russia (in exile)
The journalist and media director Andrei Aliaksandrau from Belarus (imprisoned)*

Fritt Ord's grants for master’s degrees

August 30 2026

Is your master’s project about freedom of expression, social debate or journalism? If so, you can apply for a student grant from the Fritt Ord Foundation.

The Freedom of Expression Foundation Tribute 2026

August 18 2026

The rap duo Karpe has been awarded the Freedom of Expression Foundation Tribute for giving voice to the experiences of many young people from minority backgrounds. Through the language of rap, they are expanding the space for the expression of identity and belonging.

The 2025/26 Monitor survey

June 17 2026

The Fritt Ord Foundation and the Institute for Social Research (ISF) invite you to the launch of a report and a subsequent discussion on Monday, 8 June 2026, from 9.00 to 11.00 am, at Fritt Ord’s premises at Uranienborgveien 2 in Oslo.

Where do people draw the line when it comes to freedom of expression, and what do they believe to be the greatest threats to an informed debate at a time characterised by unrest, crises and international conflicts? Do they feel there is sufficient diversity of opinion and enough room for divergent viewpoints? And how do people assess access to truthful and relevant information in a media landscape featuring new formats, new voices and artificial intelligence?