Freedom of the Press - Norway (2003)
| Publisher | Freedom House |
| Publication Date | 30 April 2003 |
| Cite as | Freedom House, Freedom of the Press - Norway (2003), 30 April 2003, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/473450ce19.html [accessed 7 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Status: Free
Legal Environment: 2
Political Influences: 1
Economic Pressures: 6
Total Score: 9
Population: n/a
GNI/capita: n/a
Life Expectancy: 79
Religious Groups: Evangelical Lutheran (86 percent), other Protestant and Roman Catholic (3 percent), other (11 percent)
Ethnic Groups: Germanic (Nordic, Alpine, Baltic), Lapp (Saami)
Capital: Oslo
The constitution provides robust protections for freedom of the press. By law, insults against the flag or country may draw a prison term, as may defamation of the king or regent. Such laws are rarely enforced, however. In a nation of nearly 4.5 million people, Norway maintains more than 200 newspapers. At the same time, three large companies dominate the country's print media. The state provides direct subsidies to newspapers. These payments account for just 3 to 4 percent of most newspapers' total revenue and serve to limit the impact of local monopolies. Despite varied attempts, the government has not yet been able to reverse the trend of ownership concentration.
