Aftenposten
Norway's largest printed newspaper and newspaper of record.
Aftenposten (Urban East Norwegian: [ˈɑ̂ftn̩ˌpɔstn̩]; transl. 'The Evening Post') is Norway's largest printed newspaper by circulation and its newspaper of record. Historically aligned with the conservative Høyre party, it has positioned itself as an independent centre-right newspaper.
- Founder
- Christian Schibsted
- Headquarters
- Oslo, Norway
- Editor-in-Chief (2020)
- Trine Eilertsen
- Language
- Riksmål (moderate Bokmål)
- Political alignment
- Independent, conservative (historically; now independent centre-right)
Lore & Background
During World War II, under German occupation, a Nazi editorial management was imposed; editor-in-chief H. Nissen was arrested and imprisoned in Grini concentration camp. In the late 1980s, editor-in-chief Egil Sundar attempted to transform it into a nationally distributed newspaper but was forced to resign.
Reader's Guide
Aftenposten's significance lies in its long-standing role as Norway's newspaper of record, shaping public discourse and language standards. It was a key voice in the Norwegian language struggle, championing the conservative Riksmål standard against the government-promoted Samnorsk. Its editorial line, historically tied to the Conservative Party, evolved into an independent centre-right stance after the breakdown of the party press system.
Origins and Institutional Growth
The Friday-morning A-magasinet supplement, devoted to science, politics, and the arts, added a cultural layer to the weekly cycle. Today, based in Oslo, Aftenposten holds the dual distinction of being Norway's largest printed newspaper by circulation and the country's newspaper of record, with an estimated readership of 1.2 million.
Editorial Lineage and the Occupation Shadow
Aftenposten long described itself as independent and conservative, with its editorial platform tracking most closely the Norwegian Conservative Party. During the interwar years that alignment surfaced as blunt anticommunism. The paper's relationship with political power turned far darker under World War II. Because of its wide circulation, the German occupational authorities placed Aftenposten under their directives and imposed a Nazi editorial management. Editor-in-chief H. Nesse was arrested and sent to Grini concentration camp. The episode remains among the most painful chapters in the paper's long history. In the late 1980s, editor Egil Sundar tried to reposition Aftenposten as a nationally distributed newspaper but was forced to resign over the attempt, a reminder of how tightly the paper's identity was bound to its editorial and geographic traditions.
A Record of Controversies and Corrections
Aftenposten's history is marked by episodes where its reporting or editorial judgment drew sharp public criticism. London correspondent Hilde Harbo later admitted she had accepted disinformation from the Russian emigrant community without proper investigation, and the paper was forced to apologize and cover Svetlichnaya's legal costs. A 2016 study found Aftenposten used the epithet neger more frequently than any other Norwegian paper between 1970 and 2014, with 674 references. In 2021, the youth wing of Norway's LGBTQ+ association criticized the paper for articles promoting transphobic conspiracy theories.
Modern Structure, Ownership, and Global Reach
Aftenposten operates as a private company wholly owned by the publicly traded Schibsted ASA, which also holds Norway's second-largest newspaper, VG. The paper's international footprint extends through correspondents stationed in Kyiv, Brussels, Washington D.C., Moscow, and Istanbul. Domestically, Aftenposten once maintained a separate evening edition called Aften, circulated on weekdays and Saturdays in Oslo and Akershus counties, focused on local news in contrast to the morning edition's national and international scope.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Aftenposten?
Aftenposten is Norway's top-circulating print newspaper and the country's newspaper of record. It is headquartered in Oslo and has been under the Schibsted ASA corporate umbrella for its entire existence.
What political stance does Aftenposten take?
The paper has traditionally leaned toward the conservative Høyre party but now describes itself as an independent centre-right outlet. It publishes in Riksmål, a moderate form of Bokmål Norwegian.
More in News Media 1-22
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record