Fritt Ord

Infobox Company
company_name = Institusjonen Fritt Ord
company_
company_type = Foundation
foundation = 1974
location = Oslo, Norway
key_people = Erik Rudeng (CEO)
Francis Sejersted (Chairman)
area_served =
industry = Media
products =
revenue = profit NOK 307 million (2004)
net_income = NOK 236 million (2004)
num_employees =
parent =
subsid =
homepage = http://www.fritt-ord.no
footnotes =

Fritt Ord or The Freedom of Expression Foundation, Oslo is a Norwegian foundation, its aim is to support freedom of expression and a free press. It was established June 7 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 the national encyclopedia and holds 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.

History

The owners of the kiosk chain Narvesen wanted to transform his chain of newspaper and magazine retailers to an institution, and on January 1 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%). [ [http://www.medieregisteret.no/database/dbprogs/?1=1&eid=2781 Eierskapstilsynet - dbProgs ] ]

In October 2008 Fritt Ord's director, Erik Rudeng, demanded that its logo be removed from the webpages of the Norwegian Festival for Literature because the controversial historian and Holocaust denier 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. [cite news |first= Kaja |last= Korsvold |title= Fritt Ord vurderer å kutte tøtten |url= http://www.aftenposten.no/kul_und/article2699557.ece |work= Aftenposten |location= Oslo, Norway |date=2008-10-08 |accessdate=2008-10-10 |language= Norwegian ] This prompted some commentators to address the paradox of a free speech organization which involves itself in a campaign to stop a controversial voice like that of David Irving from being heard in Norway. [cite news |first= Sven Egil |last= Omdal |authorlink= Sven Egil Omdal |title= Ikke fullt så Fritt Ord |url= http://www.aftenbladet.no/debatt/medieblikk/927176/Ikke_fullt_saa_Fritt_Ord.html |work= Aftenbladet |location= Stavanger, Norway |date=2008-10-11 |accessdate=2008-10-11 |language= Norwegian ]

ee also

*List of wealthiest foundations

External links

* [http://www.fritt-ord.no/ The foundation's website]

References