Norwegian Local Newspapers – Overview

By ThorNews on September 10, 2012 • ( 0 )

Norwegians are the world’s most newspaper-reading people, and printed local newspapers still have a strong position. 3 of 4 Norwegians read a newspaper every day (printed and online) – meaning almost everybody that can read!

Many local newspapers would not have survived if it were not for the system of press subsidies:

In the period 1950 – 1965, 31 newspapers stopped publication. The ‘newspaper death’ was regarded by the government as so serious that it appointed a committee to consider possible measures to maintain a differentiated press. In 1969, on the basis of the committee report, the government introduced press subsidies.

The subsidies are geared toward newspapers that have a small advertising market and local newspapers with poor circulation. Nationwide Newspapers like VG, Aftenposten, Dagens Næringsliv and other national newspapers and strong local newspapers, get no support. However, newspapers with a larger competitor in the local area do get press subsidies. Also newspapers like Nationen, Vårt Land and Klassekampen – which have subscribers all over the country and therefore no local advertising market – do get support. So do many small local newspapers throughout Norway.

Below are local Norwegian newspapers in all 19 counties listed in alphabetical order, as well as the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard.

Akershus County