News

Fritt Ord Foundation founds the Norwegian Journal of Photography

In founding the Norwegian Journal of Photography (NJP) and in collaboration with photographers and picture editors Rune Eraker, Laara Matsen and Espen Rasmussen, the Fritt Ord Foundation wishes to establish a forum for independent documentary photography. NJP will publish a large-format book intended to present the best of Norwegian documentary photography and invites both seasoned and younger photographers to submit project ideas which can give them the opportunity to be one of the 10 photographers selected. The closing date for applications is 15 February 2011, and the editorial board will hand down its decision by 25 March 2011. The first book will be published in autumn 2012. See: www.njp.no

Harald Eia, Dag Hessen and Bjørn Vassnes receive the Fritt Ord Foundation Tribute

The Fritt Ord Foundation Tribute acknowledges remarkable efforts to promote free speech, often in connection with current events. The tribute is accompanied by NOK 100 000 to each recipient. The Fritt Ord Foundation’s Board has resolved to award the following tributes:

Freedom, Similarity and the Muslim Brotherhood

The Fritt Ord Foundation invites the public to the world premier of the documentary film Freedom, Similarity and the Muslim Brotherhood at 5.30 p.m. on Thursday, 25 November 2010, at the Vika Cinema in Oslo. A panel of people involved in the film, including Tarek Heggy, Walid al-Kubaisi and Lily Bandehy, will engage in a dialogue with the audience after the screening. Jon Hustad is moderator. Co-organiser: Agitator.

Power Shifts

The Fritt Ord Foundation and the Norwegian Polytechnic Society invite the public to three meetings at the House of Literature at Wergelandsveien 29 in Oslo. The meetings will be held on Tuesdays, i.e. 5, 12 and 19 October 2010, from 7 to 9 p.m.

Er det viktig med flere kvinner i realfagene?

Kindle – revolution coming to the book market

Why is it important to have Norwegian ebooks? Featuring, among others, Gisle Hannemyr: ”Competition perspectives on readers” and Eirik Newth: ”What is the reader’s potential?”. A panel of representatives from publishing houses, booksellers, writers, newspapers, consumers and politicians: ”When will efforts be made to make readers with Norwegian content?”.

The Political Economy after the Financial Crisis

In the autumn of 2008, the financial crisis led French president Sarkozy to declare that it is high time to redefine capitalism, while Queen Elizabeth asked why no economists saw the crisis coming. A year later, the stock exchanges are embarking on an insipient recovery, but the questions about the cause of the crisis and the future of the market economy remain.

Freedom of Expression Tribute to Else Michelet

Press Release, 18 June 2009

Tale under utdelingen av Fritt Ords og ZEIT-Stiftungs Pressepriser 2009 til Russland og Øst-Europa

Global Forum on Freedom of Expression

From 1 to 6 June 2009, Oslo will host the Global Forum on Freedom of Expression. This will be the largest global event organised in this field to date, with 500 writers, researchers, film-makers, publishers and activists from 200 organisations in 120 countries.

Pressure on freedom of expression

The issue of freedom of expression created controversies repeatedly in 2009. The latest stirs include the allocation of the Freedom of Expression Prize to Nina Karin Monsen, the recent debate at the UN’s Human Rights Council’s meeting in Geneva in April and the winter’s failure to resurrect the blasphemy section of Norway’s Constitution. Many challenges related to freedom of expression have emerged in the wake of globalisation’s new public spaces, cultural conflicts and different views about the place of religion in society. All in all, freedom of expression is currently under pressure from quarters we could hardly even have imagined 20 years ago.

New stories about homosexuals: Gay Kids and Patrik 1.5

In tandem with the positive turn in the struggle for gay and lesbian rights and life situations in recent years, new stories are emerging. Where it used to be common to talk about the toil, anxiety and pain of growing up as a homosexual or as the child of homosexual parents – today’s homosexual family stories are characterised by more joy and creativity. The picture book and exhibition Gay Kids and the romantic comedy Patrik 1.5 are good examples of the new storytelling tradition.