Norwegian Journalism

The Fritt Ord Foundation annonced in 2017 a new programme for Norwegian journalism. The Foundation is allocating up to MNOK 25 annually for four years for journalistic projects, with six annual application deadlines.

For quite some time, the Fritt Ord Foundation has had media and journalism as one of its core target areas. In the current demanding situation being experienced by the media, and thereby by the public sphere as a whole, we aspire to do even more to support and promote high-quality journalism in several fields.

Application requirements

The initiative is completely open when it comes to topics. When applying for project support, journalists, editors and editorial staffs are free to choose the topics and contents of their projects. The Foundation’s goal is to help facilitate projects that can become important parts of the social debate for as many people as possible.

The projects are intended to target the general public. Applicants may use any publication platform, and are encouraged to be multi-medial. Any independent, editor-driven publication with Norwegian media users as its target group may apply. News rooms and individuals may both apply, but all support is to go to named individuals. We are open to new forms of cooperation between several editorial boards/groups of journalists, and freelancers with publication agreements are invited to apply.

We aspire insofar as possible to support work on the content to be published, while providing less support for operating expenses, technical development projects and the acquisition of equipment.

We ask that applicants submit project outlines that are 3 to 5 pages long, and as specific as possible. Project outlines should include a schedule, a description of the content (e.g. in the form of a list of articles or a publication plan/schedule) and a list of project team members with a five-line resume for each of them. We also ask for an attachment detailing other sources of funding, if any, as well as own efforts and an overall project budget.

Freelancers are asked to provide a brief verification of their publishing agreement and the level of remuneration provided by the editorial board(s) that will be publishing the project. Please note that an allocation is intended to be in addition to a fee, and that funds you receive from Fritt Ord are not to be used to reduce the level of the fee you receive.

Label the application “Norwegian Journalism” in the title field.

Next deadline for apllications are September 16, at 3 pm.
For guidance with the application process, contact our staff:

Hanne Vorland, phone +47 23014640
Elin Lutnæs, phone +47 23014649

Or contact Executive Director Knut Olav Åmås directly at knut.olav.amas@frittord.no.

Link to the press release about the initiative from September 2017.

In addition to the funding set aside for Norwegian Journalism, grants will be made to central, journalism-related fields such as documentary films, documentary photos and journalistic factual prose. These will continue to be important priorities for Fritt Ord in the ordinary rounds of applications and they are not under the purview of this scheme.

News

 Fake images. On the left, a fake illustration of Pope Francis. On the right, a fake of presumptive US presidential candidate Donald Trump. Photos from NTB/Phil Holm and Faktisk.no

Are deepfakes a threat to media authenticity?

June 15 2024

A new report gives some answers and, for the first time, the use of artificial intelligence in the media has been surveyed all over the world.

The Fritt Ord Foundation, the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at Oxford and the University of Bergen invite the public to the world-wide launch of the Reuters Digital News Report 2024 and the Norwegian report:

Monday, 17 June 2024, 08.30-10.00 a.m.
Uranienborgveien 2, Oslo

Breathing new life into investigative journalism, even in small newsrooms

February 14 2024

In recent years, Norwegian journalists have gained access to powerful tools and new methods for investigative journalism, even in small newsrooms. New types of collaboration are producing results. How has all this happened? Fritt Ord asked this question in a debate seminar on 14 February.

A new era for investigative journalism in Norway

January 25 2024

Local and regional newspapers are now conducting the type of investigations and making discoveries that used to be expected only from major national media. How did that happen? Fritt Ord invites the public to a debate seminar at 10 a.m. on 14 February.

Norway's first journal about narratives. Reports, investigative journalism and new grants for journalism

December 5 2023

“Those of us who do not live in cities also deserve access to rich public discourse,” says Tora Hope, editor of Jaja, a new journal about narratives based in the village of Fjaler in western Norway. The student newspaper Universitas has received funding to examine the situation for freedom of expression at educational institutions, and photojournalist Nora Savosnick has been on a reporting trip to Israel and Palestine. See the new grants for journalism (list in Norwegian only).

Major media outlets admit their mistakes in the Baneheia case

October 10 2023

“We have failed,” wrote VG. “The courts are the last institution still held sacred by the press,” commented TV2. Many admissions and regrets were expressed when the report on the media coverage of the Baneheia case was presented at the Norwegian Press House on Tuesday.

Media and the Baneheia case

October 10 2023

The Norwegian Press Association and Fritt Ord present a comprehensive report on the media coverage of the Baneheia case.

Masahat: Decolonize the Gaze with Orwa Nyrabia

September 12 2023

Decolonizing the documentary has been a recurring theme at IDFA, the world’s largest documentary film festival, since Orwa Nyrabia became the Artistic Director in 2018. Under his leadership, the festival has been tackling the difficult questions of representation, equity and inclusion.
Time: September 24, 4-6 PM
Place: Vega Scene, Oslo

Computer games are the most difficult cultural expression to review

June 7 2023

“Half the population of Norway under age 45 are active gamers. Soon, nearly everyone will be gaming. Notwithstanding, almost none of the major media outlets in Norway review or write about computer games anymore”, sighs journalist and editor Erik Fossum, the prime mover behind the gaming magazine PressFire.

Museums under pressure

March 20 2023

How are European museums under pressure? Freelancer Lene Christensen furnishes an answer to that question in the journal Museum. What is it like to be a physical education teacher, or to drill a tunnel or operate a petrol station? Freelancer Siri Helle is exploring the question for Dag og Tid. Here is a list of the journalism projects that Fritt Ord has provided support for in February.

Tinius, Fritt Ord and Amedia join forces to save the public information centre Medianorge for the remainder of 2023

February 17 2023

Following the Ministry of Culture’s decision to move responsibilities from Medienorge to the Norwegian Media Authority, the Tinius and Fritt Ord foundations are joining Amedia to ensure funding for the Medianorge knowledge base at the University of Bergen for the remainder of 2023. The support totals MNOK 2.

Using new methods in the North to circumvent censorship

January 19 2023

In the North, the Independent Barents Observer is defying Russian censorship in an effort to reach Russian readers. Seeking to reach young readers, Fremtida.no is launching a new series of articles about power. These journalistic projects were granted funding by Fritt Ord in December.

Earmarked funding for Norwegian Journalism

August 24 2021

The Fritt Ord Foundation will be granting up to MNOK 25 annually for four years for journalistic projects. This MNOK 100 initiative is entitled Norwegian Journalism.

Earmarked funding for Norwegian journalism

January 10 2020

The Fritt Ord Foundation is allocating up to MNOK 25 annually for four years for journalistic projects. The MNOK 100 initiative is entitled Norwegian Journalism.

Fritt Ord to grant MNOK 100 to promote Norwegian journalism

September 5 2017

Press release – 5 September 2017

Extra funds for journalism in 2016

January 6 2016
The Fritt Ord Foundation invites applications for the programme ‘Quality Journalism in a New Era’. Up to 10 MNOK will be awarded annually in 2016 and 2017.