Languages

The BarentsObserver Case

The BarentsObserver Case is rooted in a conflict between the editorial staff of BarentsObserver and the owners of the Norwegian Barents Secretariat.

Location

The owners, the three northermost Norwegian counties of Nordland, Troms and Finnmark, in May 2015 turned down BarentsObserver’s proposed formalization of the principles of the Duties of Rights of the Editor. That resulted in an outcry of protest from the newspaper staff.

On 28th September, the conflict escalated when the owners with immediate effect dismissed Editor Thomas Nilsen. The remaining journalists subsequently introduced a moratorium on the use of bylines.

The BarentsObserver Case has been widely commented on in the Norwegian media, as well as in a number of foreign newspaper. 

On October 6th, Norwegian Foreign Minister commented on the situation, calling on the owners to let BarentsObserver get the indepedence needed for continued operation.

Underneath, we offer links to some of the pieces written about the situation in BarentsObserver.

Massive support to BarentsObserver, BarentsObserver.com, September 29, 2015

What will happen with BarentsObserver, BarentsObserver.com, September 29, 2015

Owners fire BarentsObserver editor, BarentsObserver, September 28, 2015

Owners clamp down on BarentsObserver, BarentsObserver.com, May 21, 2015

Owners: «No changes for BarentsObserver», BarentsObserver.com, May 22, 2015

Barents Press: Strongly regrets political control of BarentsObserver, BarentsObserver.com, May 22, 2015

 

Et lite stykke «Okkupert», Dagbladet, October 6, 2015

Den brysomme redaktøren, Sett Nordfra, October 2, 2015

Spark den som sparkes skal, Dagbladet, October 2, 2015

Eierne har totalt rasert BarentsObservers troverdighet i Russland, Avisa Nordland, October 1, 2015

Redaktør felt av Putin-plakaten, Dagbladet, September 30, 2015

En svært brysom mann, Nordnorsk Debatt, September 29, 2015

Ytringens pris, Sett Nordfra, September 28, 2015

BarentsObserver: På tide å avslutte muppet-showet. Og gjennomføre en lykkelig skilsmisse, Medier24, June 17, 2015

Line Fusdahl feilinformerte fylkestinget, Nordnorsk debatt, June 16, 2015

Leder APs Tomas Norvoll et skrekkvelde? 8445melbu.no, June 9, 2015

Kommentar: “Uro i Barentssekretariatet”. NRK, June 9, 2015

Redaktørplakaten for dummies og fylkespolitikere, High North News, May 28, 2015

To tanker kan av og til bli en for mye, VG, May 27, 2015

Norske politikere tar en Putin, VG Pluss, May 26, 2015

- Vel er Putin en skurk, men kanskje kan man lære noe av hvordan han håndterer media? Avisa Nordland, May 26, 2015

Ska BarentsObserver tystas? Gertfrost.se, May 22, 2015