Fritt Ord (organization)
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| Type | Foundation |
|---|---|
| Industry | Media |
| Founded | 1974 |
| Headquarters | Oslo, Norway |
| Key people | Erik Rudeng (CEO) Francis Sejersted (Chairman) |
| Revenue |  NOK 307 million (2004) |
| Net income | NOK 236 million (2004) |
| Website | http://www.fritt-ord.no |
Fritt Ord (in English The Freedom of Expression Foundation) is a Norwegian foundation, whose self-proclaimed aim is to support freedom of expression and a free press. It was established on 7 June 1974 by Narvesen Kioskkompani's leaders Jens Henrik Nordlie and Finn Skedsmo as well as the lawyer Jens Christian Hauge.
Fritt Ord has significant funds and is playing an important part in supporting various projects in Norway, as investing in the newspaper Morgenbladet, supporting an encyclopedia (Store Norske Leksikon) and holding a 10.1% ownership in the media group A-Pressen. In addition it awards scholarships to students within media and journalism, awards the Freedom of Expression Prize, supports writing competitions and publishes reports within the area of freedom of expression.
"Fritt Ords Pris" is not to be confused with "Ytringsfrihetsprisen", the annual Freedom of Expression Prize awarded mostly to international writers by the Norwegian Authors' Union.
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[edit] History
The owners of the kiosk chain Narvesen wanted to transform his chain of newspaper and magazine retailers to an institution, and on 1 January 1975 the company was taken over by the newley created foundation Fritt Ord at the same time it merged with the Norwegian State Railways (NSB) company Norsk Spisevognselskap, who offered services within catering to the railway. Fritt Ord got 59% ownership in the newly formed company while NSB got 41% ownership.
The dividends from the company made it possible for Fritt Ord to perform a number of tasks related to freedom of expression, including support for the Institute of Journalism and the Freedom of Expression Prize as well as a number of grants to numerous persons and institutions, domestically and internationally.
In 1995 NSB sold its shares in Narvesen and the company was listed on Oslo Stock Exchange. As a result of this Fritt Ord reduced its ownership in Narvesen to 34% in 1999 and in 2000 Narvesen was merged with Reitangruppen to form ReinanNarvesen. In 2001 Fritt Ord sold its ownership in the company to the Reitan Family. As a result of the capital freed from the sale of Narvesen, Fritt Ord has acquired holdings in Morgenbladet (30,5%) and A-Pressen (10,1%).[1]
[edit] David Irving controversy in 2008
The organization was criticized by some for obstructing rather than furthering freedom of speech when it threatened the Norwegian Festival of Literature with withdrawing financial support if the controversial British author David Irving was allowed to speak at the festival.[2] In October 2008 Fritt Ord's director, Erik Rudeng, demanded that its logo be removed from the webpages of the Norwegian Festival of Literature because the controversial historical revisionist David Irving had been invited to give a lecture on his concept of truth at the festival. David Irving's invitation was withdrawn only a few days later. Rudeng on his side defended the decision by stating that Fritt Ord only sponsored the literature festival in 2008 and thus it was high time their logo was removed when the program for 2009 was presented.[3] This prompted some commentators to address the paradox of a self-proclaimed "free speech" organization which involves itself in a campaign to stop a controversial voice like that of David Irving from being heard in Norway.[2]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Medieregistrret". Norwegian Media Authority. Archived from the original on Augist 1, 2009. http://www.webcitation.org/5ihrxfaYo. Retrieved 1 August 2009.
- ^ a b Omdal, Sven Egil (October 11, 2008). "Ikke fullt så Fritt Ord" (in Norwegian). Aftenbladet (Stavanger, Norway). Archived from the original on August 1, 2009. http://www.webcitation.org/5ihrmyJqg. Retrieved October 11, 2008.
- ^ Korsvold, Kaja (October 8, 2008). "Fritt Ord vurderer å kutte støtten" (in Norwegian). Aftenposten (Oslo, Norway). Archived from the original on August 1, 2009. http://www.webcitation.org/5ihrZ0O3D. Retrieved October 10, 2008.
