AFTENPOSTEN
Aftenposten’s Editor-in-chief, Espen Egil Hansen, shows Crown Prince Haakon how the
newsroom works during a visit in December 2014. Rolv Erik Ryssal, Schibsted Media
Group CEO, follows the presentation closely.
What is the value of
journalism?
At the end of 2014, Aftenposten revealed what was
apparently illegal mobile surveillance in Oslo, in the vicinity
of the parliament building, the prime minister’s office and
elsewhere. The story attracted a considerable amount of
attention in Norway and abroad.
The revelations clearly demonstrate why society needs
journalism. In this case, it uncovered information of vital
importance: The abandonment of responsibility by officials
was documented, and unacceptable attitudes within the police were brought to light. It also underlines the importance
of independent, professional and resourceful news organisations: Several months of hard work, including quality checks,
preceded publication.
Throughout the year, we also had a special focus on the
grey economy, especially in the construction sector, where
we uncovered extensive links to criminal gangs. And in a
series of investigative articles entitled “Violence against
children”, we reported on a number of cases of severe child
abuse, giving a voice to those who suffer in silence.
These are the kind of news items for which Aftenposten
is, and will continue to be known. We break stories using
words and images. We make things happen. We offer our
analyses and comments. And we communicate all this,
using several channels, and a wider range of publication
platforms than ever before; print, tablets, desktop and video.
THE BLURRING OF LOCAL AND GLOBAL
The distinction between local and global is quickly being
eroded: Climate and the environment, the management of
natural resources, cultural life and entertainment, and in
the globalised economy as a whole. To understand ourselves, we must try to understand the world. This is why
we followed cheap tomatoes all the way from Italy, where
they were grown, to Norwegian dinner tables. We found
that the low prices in our shops often came at a high price
for those who harvested the tomatoes; immigrants lacking proper documentation, denied basic rights, and living
and working in conditions akin to slavery.
EVERYTHING’S ONLINE, RIGHT?
Aftenposten maintains a network of six permanent foreign
correspondents. In addition, we have reporters travelling on
assignments almost constantly. But with so much information available online, doesn’t it make more sense just to
gather and rewrite material in Oslo?
We don’t think so. Climate change is global and our insight is more valuable, and our understanding deeper when
we’re reporting from a smog-choked Beijing than from our
offices in central Oslo. And when you’re covering the fate of
Syrian refugees, the conflict in Ukraine or the World Cup in
Brazil, there is no substitute for being on the ground.
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Espen Egil Hansen
Editor-in-chief
Journalism has a price. Both in financial terms and in
efforts that sometimes don’t deliver the results you’d like.
More often than not, however, we are rewarded. When
we published “Violence against children”, a young mother
told us: “Now I see that we’re not alone – this gives me
strength.” Such a response confirms what we already
know: The real value of journalism cannot be quantified in
figures.
To understand
ourselves, we must
try to understand
the world.