The project "The debates on Norway's future" arranges a broadcast of a discussion on 'blue gold'

July 9 2021

“The debates on Norway’s future” demonstrate a new debate concept, involving the Fritt Ord Foundation working all over the country with Amedia, Ferd and the Research Council of Norway to arrange discussions about the most notable current trends in social development in Norway. The series of meetings kicked off in Tromsø in June, and another meeting has been held in Svolvær.

The first episode can be viewed on" Lofotposten’s website":https://www.lofotposten.no/sender-stor-debatt-fra-svolvar-med-topptungt-panel/s/5-29-723638?key=2021-07-08T19:00:00.000Z/opoint/c4379a946e8ca0fbd594232bf04980abcd10ca66. The debate covers fisheries, the fish-farming industry, strains on the ocean and the climate crisis. How should Norway and Lofoten look in future – and how should we protect ocean wealth?

The project “The debates on Norway’s future” aspires to bring a wider variety of voices into public discourse. The panel in Svolvær was made up of the following individuals:

  • Nina Jensen, former secretary general of WWF Norway and currently CEO of the research and expedition vessel REV Ocean.
  • Kriss Rokkan Iversen, MDG (The Green Party) -deputy leader.
  • Kristina Furnes, global communications manager, Grieg Seafood.
  • Lars Galtung, global director of communication and sustainability, Cermaq.
  • Skipper Martin Rist Angelsen.
  • Deputy Mayor Lena Amalie Hamnes, Vågan Municipality.
  • Fish Buyer Erling Santi Falch, owner of Saga Fisk.
  • Surfer Mattias Hörnquist.

Read more about the initiative here (Norwegian).

News

Freedom of Expression Foundation Tribute for Lisanne Dijkstra

December 11 2025

Lisanne Dijkstra (30) is awarded the Freedom of Expression Foundation Tribute for having revealed a mayor’s abuse, and for demonstrating great courage of expression in the face of powerful actors and forces in society.
“She reminds us of the importance of such civil courage for us as a society and as individuals”, remarks Bård Vegar Solhjell, chair of the Fritt Ord Foundation Board.

The freelance study is completed in 2025

October 15 2025

The share of freelancers in the media has been increasing for years in many countries, but until recently, there has been little research-based knowledge about the scope of freelance work and the working conditions of journalists, photographers, and critics without permanent employment in the media.

The Genocide in Gaza and Big Tech

October 14 2025

Sunday, 19 October 2025 at 3.30 PM at Cinemateket, Oslo
Fritt Ord, Masahat and Oslo Dokumentarkino invite you to a lecture and conversation with Nadim Nashif about Big Tech’s complisity in the genocide in Gaza.

New Oxford fellow – How Journalists Interview “Monsters and Victims”

October 14 2025

VG journalist Håkon F. Høydal has been awarded Fritt Ord’s journalism fellowship at the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at Oxford in the spring of 2026.
His project explores what journalists can learn from new trauma research when interviewing both “monsters and victims” in crime and abuse cases.