The freelance journalist study

The share of freelancers in the media has long been increasing 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.

In 2019, Fritt Ord partnered with the Norwegian Union of Journalists’ Freelance Club (NJ Frilans) and the Norwegian Press Photographers’ Club, together with the journalism programs at OsloMet and Nord University, to map out freelancers’ challenges and roles. Altogether, two working-conditions surveys (2019) and one quantitative content analysis (2025) have been conducted.
The working-conditions surveys were carried out by media researchers Birgit Røe Mathisen at Nord University and Anders Graver Knudsen at OsloMet.
On October 16, 2025, the findings were compiled and published in the book “The Freelance Journalist – Free and Vulnerable.”
The book follows up on the results of the first freelance survey, which was presented at a national conference on freelance journalism hosted by Fritt Ord in September 2019.

– “We have had little research-based knowledge about freelancers’ working conditions. These studies represent the most comprehensive mapping of freelancers’ situation in Norway,” says Graver Knudsen.
This includes factors such as pay and fees, relationships with clients, and ethical dilemmas.
– “The main conclusion is that the freelance studies confirm and document what we have previously only assumed,” the authors say.
“The big picture is that Norway, compared to other countries, has fewer freelancers and more permanently employed journalists as the norm. The exception is photographers and critics, where most are freelancers. As the title suggests, that can make them vulnerable,” says Knudsen.

The Role of Freelancers Is Important
Fritt Ord has long regarded media and journalism as one of its core areas.
– “I’m glad this knowledge has now been compiled. For us, it’s important to help strengthen Norwegian journalism, and freelancers have been — and continue to be — a key group to support. Freelancers often address topics that other journalists overlook or don’t prioritize, and we emphasize supporting projects that are particularly resource-intensive. Each year, we also award major grants to critics — currently 12 grants of NOK 250,000 each,” says Knut Olav Åmås, Executive Director of Fritt Ord.

Read the Reports
A concluding report in the series, “How Large Is the Freelancers’ Contribution in Norwegian Media? A Quantitative Analysis of Articles Published 2017–2023,” was produced by Anders Graver Knudsen and Ola Huse Ramstad. The findings were presented at the NJ Frilans annual meeting in 2025.

The results of the 2019 freelance survey were presented at a national conference on freelancers’ working conditions hosted by Fritt Ord on September 25, 2019. You can watch the debates here:

Panel Discussion at the Freelance Conference 2019: “The Future of the Freelance Market”