Outside the Storm: Launch of Reuters Digital News Report 2026

June 2 2026

The Fritt Ord Foundation, the University of Bergen and the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism in Oxford invite you to a breakfast seminar on Tuesday 16 June 2026 from 08:30–10:00 at Fritt Ord’s premises at Uranienborgveien 2, Oslo.
The event presents the Reuters Digital News Report 2026 – the world’s largest and most important media survey – which launches internationally on the night of 16 June.

Here you can read the international report 2026

DNR 2026 FINAL

Here you can read the Norwegian report

Bruksmønstre-for-digitale-nyheter-2026

The international press release;

DNR 2026. Master Press Release

– We are seeing in this year’s survey some of the lowest levels of trust in the media since we began measuring, said Richard Fletcher from the Reuters Institute in his presentation.

He also notes that willingness to pay for news in Scandinavia is among the highest in the world – as “usual”.

In many countries, journalism is in crisis. Willingness to pay for news is weak, trust is declining, news avoidance is increasing, and social media and news influencers are challenging established newsrooms. But what is happening in Norway?

Reuters Digital News Report is the world’s largest survey of digital news habits and measures news consumption in 48 countries. The Norwegian sub-report, produced at the University of Bergen, provides each year a unique snapshot of Norwegian news consumers’ habits, trust and attitudes – and places them in an international context.

This year’s report examines, among other things: What is happening to Norwegians’ trust in the media? Is news avoidance increasing – and who is avoiding the news? What role do news influencers play in the Norwegian media market? And what really sets the Norwegian media landscape apart from the situation in the United Kingdom and the rest of the world? For while Norway tops the press freedom index for the tenth consecutive year, most countries are experiencing decline.

– We are seeing more news avoidance in this survey than before, but we do not believe it is a threat to democracy, said media researcher Hallvard Moe, in the presentation of the Norwegian report.

TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat as sources of news are currently on the rise.

Programme

08:30 Welcome by Knut Olav Åmås, Director of Fritt Ord

08:35 Richard Fletcher (Reuters Institute, Oxford): International findings from DNR 2026

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08:50 Hallvard Moe (University of Bergen): Norwegian findings from DNR 2026

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09:10 Opening remarks: Shazia Majid (VG)

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09:20 Panel discussion: Richard Fletcher, Hallvard Moe and Shazia Majid
09:40 Questions and comments from the audience

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10:00 End
Moderator: Tellef Solbakk Raabe, project manager at Fritt Ord

The event was held in Norwegian and English.

Read more about Digital News Report 2016-2025.

Digital News Report time series 2016-2025
Digital News report 2025
Digital News report 2024
Digital News Report 2023
Digital News Report 2022
Digital News Report 2021
Digital News Report 2020
Digital News Report 2019
Digital News Report 2018
Digital News Report 2017
Digital News Report 2016

Photo gallery from previous launches 2023-2025

News

See all
Mykhailo Tkach, Andrei Aliaksandrau, Arevhat Sahakyan (Factor TV), Nino Bakradze (iFact), and Lola Tagaeva (Verstka).

Free Media Awards for 2026. Press freedom under pressure in wartime: – Silence does not protect democracy

September 29 2026

This year’s winners of the Free Media Awards from the Fritt Ord Foundation and Zeit Stiftung Bucerius received their awards in Toppsalen at the Munch Museum in Oslo on 29 September 2026.
The Belarusian journalist and media manager Andrei Aliaksandrau came straight to Oslo after spending over five years in prison for his work. Aliaksandrau dedicated the award to imprisoned journalists and editors in Belarus and quoted the Liverpool FC anthem: “You’ll never walk alone”.

Mykhailo Tkach heads investigations at Ukrainska Pravda, which uncovers corruption, even in a Ukraine fighting an existential war against Russia.
– I face charges in at least thirteen cases related to my work. I have been threatened. My team has been threatened. And what is our answer? To keep digging. Silence does not protect democracy. Journalism does.
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.