Masterclass med Michael Christopher Brown på MIRAGE Film Festival

October 11 2023

Join us for a master class in collaboration with Norwegian Journal of Photography and Mirage featuring star photographer Michael Christopher Brown, where he will let us in on his latest AI projects and share the thoughts behind them. He will talk about how he works with AI technology, and the challenges it poses for photographers and the industry. This is a unique opportunity to hear from an expert and gain insights into the future of photography and technology

Friday, 13 October 2023, 7.30 p.m. – 9.00 p.m.
Vega Scene 1, Oslo

After Browns presentation, a conversation between Brown and the audience will be led by NJP editor and curator Laara Matsen.

Michael Christopher Brown’s work utilizes the iconography of photojournalism to amplify stories using unconventional techniques. From combining the multimedia applications of the iPhone in documenting the 2011 Libyan Revolution for the book and film Libyan Sugar, to using text prompts gathered from on-the-ground research in generating imagery for the 2023 AI series 90 Miles.

90 Miles represents a post-photography AI reporting illustration experiment that utilizes photographic-looking imagery to explore historical events and the realities of Cuban life. These realities have motivated Cubans to cross the 90 miles of ocean separating Havana from Florida. In the AI series Skagit Valley, they examine potential past and futures of nuclear, climate, renewable technologies, and machines as connected to agriculture.

Editorials have long used reportage illustrations to illuminate stories in fresh ways. As anyone may now collaborate with the collective history of photography to illustrate the photographed world and create a story or vision of what was, is, or can be, AI may play a crucial role in enhanced identification with storytelling and, by extension, humanity.

Tickets available here.

Below photos from Browns 90 miles post-photography, A.I. reportage illustration experiment. For details concerning the images, see airlab.co

News

The Fritt Ord Foundation Prize for 2025 goes to satirical artists May Linn Clement, Marvin Halleraker and Morten Mørland

April 29 2025

The Fritt Ord Foundation Prize for 2025 is awarded to three representatives of Norwegian satirical art for challenging public opinion by standing up to power and for their biting humour: May Linn Clement, Marvin Halleraker and Morten Mørland.

Call for nominations: Free Media Awards 2025

March 14 2025

In collaboration with the ZEIT STIFTUNG BUCERIUS of Hamburg, the Fritt Ord Foundation has allocated the Free Media Awards annually since 2004 to Eastern European journalists and media that defy every obstacle to tirelessly ensure independent press coverage. Russia’s war against Ukraine and the subsequent wave of disinformation clearly demonstrates the need for independent reporting in the region. Journalist, editorial teams and media companies in and from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Russia, Ukraine and Hungary who make a contribution to press freedom through their investigative, independent reporting can be nominated for the Free Media Awards.

Civitates' Tech & Democracy open call

March 6 2025

Civitates – The European Democracy Fund is a pooled philanthropic fund that was set up in 2018 for the sole purpose of addressing democratic decline and closing civic space in Europe. The case for confronting these threats is growing increasingly urgent. Fritt Ord Foundation is one of the initiators and partners of Civitates.

Civitates has launched its Tech and Democracy open call to support organisations working to ensure safer, more inclusive online spaces (social media platforms, search engines etc.) by improving the enforcement of EU tech regulations at the national level.

This open call offers a unique opportunity to strengthen civil society’s role in holding the tech sector accountable, with a focus on key EU regulations such as the Digital Services Act, GDPR, AI Act or the European Media Freedom Act to name a few.

Norwegians increasingly more positive to computer games

March 5 2025

Norwegians are increasingly more positive to accepting computer games as culture

About 17 per cent have developed a more favourable view of computer games over the past year. Six of ten play computer games, and one of three plays computer games weekly. At the same time, computer games are ranked as having lower status than books and music, for example.
“Computer games deserve more attention and discussion”, contends Joakim Lie of Fritt Ord.