Rolv Werner Erichsen
Encyclopedia
Rolv Werner Erichsen was a Norwegian
newspaper editor. Born in Holt outside Tvedestrand
in Aust-Agder
, he was hailed as a "gentleman of the press" with a "pronounced sense for correctness, precision and reliability".
(1901–2000). After a failed examen artium
in 1919 he decided to make a journalistic career, and was employed as a night assistant by the Morgenbladet
newspaper. In the 1920s, Erichsen worked as a journalist in the Parliament of Norway, notably covering the impeachment
case against former Prime Minister Abraham Berge
in 1926 and 1927. In addition to this, he edited the Akersposten newspaper from 1925 to 1931. A noted conservative, he established an office for the administration of the Conservative Party's newspapers in Oslo. In 1925, he was appointed secretary of the Conservative Press Association. He married Hella Tornøe the same year.
In the 1930s, Erichsen advanced positions in Morgenbladet; he became editorial secretary in 1932 and leader of the newspaper's news department in 1938. He was also leader of the editorial board together with Olaf Gjerløw
. Following Gjerløw's imprisonment during the Second World War, Erichsen became alone responsible for Morgenbladet enterprise; he was its managing director from 1939 to 1947 and its editor-in-chief from 1941 to 1943. Eventually he was also sent to the Grini concentration camp by the German occupants, which meant the immediate cessation of Morgenbladet printings. He remained at Grini from September 1944 to April 1945.
Erichsen returned to his business after the war, acting as editor-in-chief of Morgenbladet until 1958. Before becoming managing director of the Norwegian News Agency
in 1961, he penned three books on the press history of Norway. He became later secretary general of the Association of Norwegian Editors, acting from 1971 to 1978. He chaired the Norwegian Press Association
from 1947 to 1954, having formerly been a board member from 1934 to 1939, and also chaired the Norwegian News Agency from 1959 to 1961 and the Norwegian Journalist Academy.
, the Order of the White Rose of Finland and the Order of Vasa
. He died on 22 August 1988 in Oslo, and was cremated at Vestre gravlund
one week later.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
newspaper editor. Born in Holt outside Tvedestrand
Tvedestrand
is a town and municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sørlandet. The administrative center is the village of Tvedestrand....
in Aust-Agder
Aust-Agder
is a county in Norway, bordering Telemark, Rogaland, and Vest-Agder. In 2002, there were 102,945 inhabitants, which is 2.2% of the total population in Norway. Its area is . The administrative center of the county is in Arendal....
, he was hailed as a "gentleman of the press" with a "pronounced sense for correctness, precision and reliability".
Career
He was born as the eldest son of district physician Stian Erichsen (1867–1953) and his wife Magdalene Susanne Werner (1870–1967). His brother was the future politician and director Egil Werner ErichsenEgil Werner Erichsen
Egil Werner Erichsen was a Norwegian corporate director and politician for the Conservative Party.He was born in Holt outside Tvedestrand in Aust-Agder as a son of district physician Stian Erichsen and his wife Magdalene Susanne Werner . His older brother was the future newspaper editor Rolv...
(1901–2000). After a failed examen artium
Examen 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...
in 1919 he decided to make a journalistic career, and was employed as a night assistant by the Morgenbladet
Morgenbladet
Morgenbladet is a Norwegian weekly newspaper. It was founded in 1819 by the book printer Niels Wulfsberg, and was the country's first daily newspaper. For a long time, it was also the country's biggest newspaper. It was closed down by the German Wehrmacht during World War II...
newspaper. In the 1920s, Erichsen worked as a journalist in the Parliament of Norway, notably covering the impeachment
Impeachment (Norway)
In Norway, impeachment, also known as the Constitutional Court of the Realm , is a judicial process with the power to convict Members of Parliament, Members of the Council of State and Supreme Court Justices for criminal acts performed in line of duty. Impeachment is based on the Constitution of...
case against former Prime Minister Abraham Berge
Abraham Berge
Abraham Theodor Berge was a Norwegian politician representing Venstre, the social liberal party, and later Frisinnede Venstre, a right-of-centre party...
in 1926 and 1927. In addition to this, he edited the Akersposten newspaper from 1925 to 1931. A noted conservative, he established an office for the administration of the Conservative Party's newspapers in Oslo. In 1925, he was appointed secretary of the Conservative Press Association. He married Hella Tornøe the same year.
In the 1930s, Erichsen advanced positions in Morgenbladet; he became editorial secretary in 1932 and leader of the newspaper's news department in 1938. He was also leader of the editorial board together with Olaf Gjerløw
Olaf Gjerløw
Jens Olaf Gjerløw was a Norwegian newspaper editor. He was editor for the newspaper Morgenbladet from 1920 until his death in 1949, except for a period in German prisons during World War II.-Personal life:...
. Following Gjerløw's imprisonment during the Second World War, Erichsen became alone responsible for Morgenbladet enterprise; he was its managing director from 1939 to 1947 and its editor-in-chief from 1941 to 1943. Eventually he was also sent to the Grini concentration camp by the German occupants, which meant the immediate cessation of Morgenbladet printings. He remained at Grini from September 1944 to April 1945.
Erichsen returned to his business after the war, acting as editor-in-chief of Morgenbladet until 1958. Before becoming managing director 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...
in 1961, he penned three books on the press history of Norway. He became later secretary general of the Association of Norwegian Editors, acting from 1971 to 1978. He 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 1947 to 1954, having formerly been a board member from 1934 to 1939, and also chaired the Norwegian News Agency from 1959 to 1961 and the Norwegian Journalist Academy.
Honours and death
In 1954, Erichsen was decorated as a Knight, First Class of the Order of St. Olav. He was also decorated as a Knight of the Order of the DannebrogOrder of the Dannebrog
The Order of the Dannebrog is an Order of Denmark, instituted in 1671 by Christian V. It resulted from a move in 1660 to break the absolutism of the nobility. The Order was only to comprise 50 noble Knights in one class plus the Master of the Order, i.e. the Danish monarch, and his sons...
, the Order of the White Rose of Finland and the Order of Vasa
Order of Vasa
The Royal Order of Vasa was a Swedish Royal order of chivalry, awarded to citizens of Sweden for service to state and society especially in the fields of agriculture, mining and commerce. It was instituted on 29 May 1772 by King Gustav III of Sweden...
. He died on 22 August 1988 in Oslo, and was cremated at Vestre gravlund
Vestre gravlund
Vestre gravlund is a cemetery in the Frogner borough of Oslo, Norway, located next to the Borgen metro station. At , it is the largest cemetery in Norway...
one week later.