Per Monsen
Encyclopedia
Per Monsen was a Norwegian editor. He was an editor in Arbeiderbladet
from 1952 to 1964 and 1968 to 1970, director of the International Press Institute
from 1964 to 1968 and editor-in-chief of the Norwegian News Agency
from 1970 to 1980.
as a son of politician Fredrik Monsen (1878–1954) and teacher Aasta Ingerø Hansen (1884–1962). He was a brother of Randi Monsen, and through another sister he was a brother-in-law of Halvard Lange
. He was also an uncle of Even Lange
. Himself, he was first married to Olav Scheflo
's daughter Beret Scheflo (1917–1981) from 1941 to 1950. He was then married to Poppi Tichauer Krogvig from 1952.
his secondary education in 1932, and then began a journalist career. He started out in the newspaper Sørlandet
under editor-in-chief Olav Scheflo, his future father-in-law. Monsen was a correspondent in 1937 during the Spanish Civil War
. Monsen then worked in Bergens Arbeiderblad from 1937 to 1939, and in the labour movement's main newspaper Arbeiderbladet
from 1939 to 1941.
In 1940 the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
had begun, and Monsen was a member of the Norwegian resistance movement
. He was imprisoned in Møllergata 19
from 1 December 1940 to 19 May 1941. After his release he fled to Sweden, where he worked in the information service for Norwegian authorities-in-exile. From 1943 to 1945 he worked out of London
, where the government-in-exile was seated.
He returned to Arbeiderbladet in 1945. He served as acting press attaché for Norway in Berlin
from 1948 to 1949, but returned to Arbeiderbladet again. In 1952 he was promoted to editor. He remained here until 1970, except for a period from 1964 to 1968 when he was the director of the International Press Institute
in Zurich
. From 1970 to 1980 he was the editor-in-chief of the Norwegian News Agency
. He also chaired the Norwegian Press Association
from 1954 to 1958.
In the Labour Party, to which the newspaper Arbeiderbladet belonged, Monsen was known as a "hardliner" in foreign and security policy. His brother-in-law Halvard Lange served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1945 to 1965, and was a proponent for a pro-American policy in the Cold War
. Monsen also supported anti-communists like Haakon Lie
. In 1963 the Labour Party was about to elect a new editor-in-chief of Arbeiderbladet. The editor who was about to step down, Olav Larssen
, wanted Monsen. Larssen had also worked with Per Monsen's father in Demokraten
from 1913 to 1916. On the other hand, Einar Gerhardsen
was against the election of Monsen as editor-in-chief of Arbeiderbladet in 1963, and Monsen was not elected.
Dagsavisen
Dagsavisen is a daily newspaper published in Oslo, Norway. The former party organ of the Norwegian Labour Party, the ties loosened over time from 1975 to 1999, and it is now fully independent...
from 1952 to 1964 and 1968 to 1970, director of the International Press Institute
International Press Institute
International Press Institute is a global organisation dedicated to the promotion and protection of press freedom and the improvement of journalism practices. Founded in October 1950, the IPI has members in over 120 countries....
from 1964 to 1968 and editor-in-chief of the Norwegian News Agency
Norwegian News Agency
The Norwegian News Agency is a Norwegian press agency and wire service that serves many of the largest Norwegian media outlets. It also cooperates closely with the photo agency Scanpix, in which it has a 50% ownership share.NTB was founded in 1867...
from 1970 to 1980.
Personal life
He was born in HamarHamar
is a town and municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Hedmarken. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Hamar. The municipality of Hamar was separated from Vang as a town and municipality of its own in 1849...
as a son of politician Fredrik Monsen (1878–1954) and teacher Aasta Ingerø Hansen (1884–1962). He was a brother of Randi Monsen, and through another sister he was a brother-in-law of Halvard Lange
Halvard Lange
Halvard Manthey Lange was a Norwegian diplomat, politician and statesman.He became a member of the Norwegian Labour Party in 1927. Two years later, in 1929, he earned a Master of Arts degree...
. He was also an uncle of Even Lange
Even Lange
Even Lange is a Norwegian economic historian.He was born in Oslo as the son of politician Halvard Manthey Lange and teacher Aase Monsen . On the maternal side he was a nephew of Randi and Per Monsen, and on the paternal side he was a nephew of August Lange, Carl Viggo Manthey Lange and a grandson...
. Himself, he was first married to Olav Scheflo
Olav Scheflo
Olav Scheflo was a Norwegian Communist politician and journalist.Olav Scheflo was a member of the Norwegian Labour Party from 1905...
's daughter Beret Scheflo (1917–1981) from 1941 to 1950. He was then married to Poppi Tichauer Krogvig from 1952.
Career
He finishedExamen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
his secondary education in 1932, and then began a journalist career. He started out in the newspaper Sørlandet
Sørlandet (newspaper)
Sørlandet was a Norwegian newspaper, published in Kristiansand in Vest-Agder county.Sørlandets Social-Democrat was started on 5 January 1907, after a trisal issue on 21 December 1906, as a Labour Party newspaper. It was weekly from the start, but daily from 1909. The name was changed to Sørlandet...
under editor-in-chief Olav Scheflo, his future father-in-law. Monsen was a correspondent in 1937 during the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
. Monsen then worked in Bergens Arbeiderblad from 1937 to 1939, and in the labour movement's main newspaper Arbeiderbladet
Dagsavisen
Dagsavisen is a daily newspaper published in Oslo, Norway. The former party organ of the Norwegian Labour Party, the ties loosened over time from 1975 to 1999, and it is now fully independent...
from 1939 to 1941.
In 1940 the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
The occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany started with the German invasion of Norway on April 9, 1940, and ended on May 8, 1945, after the capitulation of German forces in Europe. Throughout this period, Norway was continuously occupied by the Wehrmacht...
had begun, and Monsen was a member of the Norwegian resistance movement
Norwegian resistance movement
The Norwegian resistance to the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany began after Operation Weserübung in 1940 and ended in 1945. It took several forms:...
. He was imprisoned in Møllergata 19
Møllergata 19
Møllergata 19 is an address in Oslo, Norway where the city's main police station and jail was located. The address gained notoriety during the German occupation from 1940 to 1945, when the Nazi security police kept its headquarters here...
from 1 December 1940 to 19 May 1941. After his release he fled to Sweden, where he worked in the information service for Norwegian authorities-in-exile. From 1943 to 1945 he worked out of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, where the government-in-exile was seated.
He returned to Arbeiderbladet in 1945. He served as acting press attaché for Norway in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
from 1948 to 1949, but returned to Arbeiderbladet again. In 1952 he was promoted to editor. He remained here until 1970, except for a period from 1964 to 1968 when he was the director of the International Press Institute
International Press Institute
International Press Institute is a global organisation dedicated to the promotion and protection of press freedom and the improvement of journalism practices. Founded in October 1950, the IPI has members in over 120 countries....
in Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
. From 1970 to 1980 he was the editor-in-chief of the Norwegian News Agency
Norwegian News Agency
The Norwegian News Agency is a Norwegian press agency and wire service that serves many of the largest Norwegian media outlets. It also cooperates closely with the photo agency Scanpix, in which it has a 50% ownership share.NTB was founded in 1867...
. He also chaired the Norwegian Press Association
Norwegian Press Association
The Norwegian Press Association is Norwegian association established in 1910, for press people with journalism as their main profession. Among its members are the Norwegian Union of Journalists, the Association of Norwegian Editors, Norsk Lokalradioforbund and the Norwegian Media Businesses'...
from 1954 to 1958.
In the Labour Party, to which the newspaper Arbeiderbladet belonged, Monsen was known as a "hardliner" in foreign and security policy. His brother-in-law Halvard Lange served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1945 to 1965, and was a proponent for a pro-American policy in the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
. Monsen also supported anti-communists like Haakon Lie
Haakon Lie
Haakon Lie was a Norwegian politician who served as party secretary for the Norwegian Labour Party from 1945 to 1969. Coming from humble origins, he became involved in the labour movement at an early age, and quickly rose in the party system...
. In 1963 the Labour Party was about to elect a new editor-in-chief of Arbeiderbladet. The editor who was about to step down, Olav Larssen
Olav Larssen
Olav Larssen was a Norwegian newspaper editor.He was a typographer by education. He edited the Labour Party newspapers Demokraten in Hamar from 1920 to 1927, and Hamar Arbeiderblad from 1927 to 1935. In 1935 he was hired as a journalist in Arbeiderbladet...
, wanted Monsen. Larssen had also worked with Per Monsen's father in Demokraten
Arbeideren (Hamar)
Arbeideren was a Norwegian newspaper, published in Hamar, Hedmark county. It was started in 1909 as the press organ of the Labour Party in Hedemarken and its adjoining regions, and was called Demokraten until 1923...
from 1913 to 1916. On the other hand, Einar Gerhardsen
Einar Gerhardsen
was a Norwegian politician from the Labour Party of Norway. He was Prime Minister for three periods, 1945–1951, 1955–1963 and 1963–1965. With 17 years in office, he is the longest serving Prime Minister in Norway since the introduction of parliamentarism...
was against the election of Monsen as editor-in-chief of Arbeiderbladet in 1963, and Monsen was not elected.