Association of Norwegian Editors

The Association of Norwegian Editors (Norsk Redaktørforening - NR) was established in 1950. Its main duties are to safeguard the professional interests and editorial independence of its members, ensure freedom of expression, public access to government documents, protection of sources, develop journalistic skills and defend press ethics and self-regulation.

Facts about NR:

Address: Skippergata 24, 0154 Oslo, Norway

Telephone: + 47 22 40 50 50

Telefax: + 47 22 40 50 55

Home-page: www.nored.no

E-mail: post@nored.no

- App 760 members (mai 2020):
- 257 women (33%) and 505 men (67%)

- Chief editors: app 43 % and deputy editors (news editors/political editors etc): 57 %

- Newspapers: 450

- Radio and television: 116

- Periodical press: 38

- Trade press: 61

- News Agencies: 16

- Internett: 70

 The basic document for establishing and defending the editorial independence from interference by the owners is a joint decleration signed by both the editors association and the owners:

 RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF THE EDITOR

 This declaration is a joint document agreed upon by The Association of Norwegian Editors and The Norwegian Media Business Association:

An editor shall always keep in mind the ideal purpose of the media. The editor shall promote the freedom of opinion and in accordance with the best of his/her abilities strive for what he/she feels serves society.

Through his/her medium the editor shall promote an impartial and free exchange of information and opinion. The editor shall nurture a type of journalism that makes it clear to the reader what is reporting and submission of information and facts, and what is the opinions and judgements of the newspaper.

An editor is expected to share the fundamental views and aims of his/her publication. But within this framework the editor is entitled to a free and independent leadership of the editorial departement and editorial work and full freedom to shape the opinions of the paper even if they in single matters are not shared by the publisher or the board. If the editor finds himself/herself in irreconcilable conflict with the fundamental views of the medium, the editor is obliged to resign. The editor must never allow himself/herself to be influenced to advocate opinions that are not in accordance with the editor’s own conviction.

The editor carries the judicial responsibility for the paper, and has the full and personal responsibility for the contents of the newspaper. The editor directs and is responsible for the activity of the members of the editorial department and is the link between them and the publisher/board. The editor may delegate authority in accordance with his/her credentials.

(Signed October 22nd. 1953, revised in 1973 and 2004.)

Important is also:

Act relating to editorial freedom in media

Date:   ACT-2008-06-13-41

Entry into force:         01-01-2009

Section 1. Purpose

The purpose of the act is to secure editorial freedom in media.

Section 2.Scope and extent

The act applies to:

1. daily newspapers and other periodical publications that engage in journalistic production and dissemination of news, current affairs and social debate,

2. broadcasters, cf. The Broadcasting Act section 1 - 1, subsection 3 and

3. electronic mass media that have purposes and functions corresponding with media named under numbers 1 and 2.

The act does not apply to media whose main purpose is to engage in advertising or marketing or that are mainly directed at members or employees of organisations, associations or companies.

Section 3.Obligation to have an editor

Media as named in section 2 shall have an editor.

In this act, editor means the person who decides on the content of the medium or part of it, whether he is called editor, publisher or something else.

Section 4.Editorial freedom

Within the framework of the fundamental principles and purpose of the operation, the editor shall lead the editorial operation and take decisions on editorial questions.

The owner of the media enterprise or the person who leads the enterprise on the owner's behalf may not instruct or overrule the editor in editorial questions, and neither may he demand to know the content of script, text or pictures or to hear or see programme material before it is made publicly accessible.

Section 5.Occasion to deviate from the act

The provisions of section 4 may not be deviated from through agreement or other legal grounds to the disfavour of the editor.

Section 6. Entry into force

This act takes effect from the time determined by the King.