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The status of freedom of expression in Norway: What do we know – and what don't we know?

February 13 2020

What are the greatest challenges to freedom of expression today, and what should researchers examine in greater detail?

Time and venue: 13 Feb. 2020, 7 to 9 p.m., the House of Literature in Oslo.

Photographies
The panel.

The public debate on freedom of expression is distinguished by strong opinions and numerous warnings. There is growing unrest about freedom of expression as the foundation of truth-seeking, knowledge, democracy and the formation of opinion. Among the challenges to be discussed are the polarisation of debates, hate talk, the dynamics of bullying on social media, and the dissemination of disinformation and fake news.

But what do we really know about the status of freedom of expression in Norway today?

Fritt Ord and the Institute for Social Research (ISF) invite the public to an open meeting to mark the start of a new round of the Fritt Ord Foundation’s Monitoring Project: The Status of Freedom of Expression in Norway 2020-2021. We have invited key influencers in Norway’s public sphere to a panel discussion about the greatest challenges facing freedom of expression today and, not least: What should we be looking at in more detail? Do we actually need to know more about the status of freedom of expression in Norway? If so, what characterises the dangers we need to learn more about?

Programme

7 – 7.05 p.m.: Welcome by Arnfinn H. Midtbøen, ISF

7.05 – 7.30 p.m.: Introduction to the project and summary of previous surveys by Project Supervisor Kjersti Thorbjørnsrud, ISF

7.30 – 8.30 p.m.: Panel discussion, featuring:
Mari Skurdal, editor, Klassekampen
Nils August Andresen, editor, Minerva
Shabana Rehman, stand-up comedian, social commentator and executive director of the association Born Free
Mohamed Abdi, social commentator and writer, regular columnist in Morgenbladet

Marte Mangset, researcher at ISF
8.30 – 9.00 p.m.: Comments and questions from the floor

The panel discussion will be moderated by Arnfinn H. Midtbøen.

Organisers: The Institute for Social Research and Fritt Ord.
The event is free of charge and open to the public.
Link to the Facebook event.

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“Each day, more than 3 billion images are uploaded to social media, including photos from conflicts and disasters. However, in an age of fake news, propaganda, manipulation and artificial intelligence, the question is often ‘what can we trust?’" observed Harald Henden upon being awarded the Fritt Ord Prize.
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War photographer and prize laureate Harald Henden: “Credibility is journalism's most important capital asset”

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“Credibility is the media’s most important capital asset. That is precisely why the importance of having the media’s own photographers on site has not diminished. In point of fact, it is more important than ever before.
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