Toralv Øksnevad
Encyclopedia
Toralv Øksnevad was a Norwegian
politician
, journalist
, newspaper editor and radio personality
. He was known as the "voice from London
" during World War II
, when listening to foreign radio in Norway was illegal, and from October 1942 implied risk of death penalty. Øksnevad is regarded as one of the most influential persons in early news broadcasting in Norway.
from 1912 to 1920, was press attaché in Paris
1920–1924, and again journalist for Dagbladet 1924–1927. He was editor-in-chief for the regional newspaper Romsdalsposten
1927–1933.
He started working for the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) in 1933, and became the leader for the news department in 1938. In April 1940 he fled from occupied Norway
to Sweden
, and traveled to London in August 1940, to negotiate with BBC
. In London he participated in the BBC's broadcasting in the Norwegian language until 1945. Øksnevad was the program director of NRK-in-exile, except for brief periods. Before Øksnevad travelled from Sweden to London, Aake Anker Ording
was acting director, and from July to October 1941 Øksnevad visited his family in the United States, during which time Olav Rytter
was acting director. Øksnevad's regular Sunday evening speeches had a significant influence on the Norwegian war resistance. The book Det lå i luften from 1946 contains about 160 of his London radio speeches.
Øksnevad cooperated very closely with Prime Minister-in-exile Johan Nygaardsvold
, and wrote his speeches on occasions. He was on less good terms with Minister of Foreign Affairs Halvdan Koht
.
From 1945 he worked for NRK in Oslo
, as a program editor, and from 1946 to 1961 as editor of foreign affairs.
, and 1954–1957 from Oslo. He was elected member of Oslo
city council from 1951 to 1959, and deputy mayor from 1956 to 1957.
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...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, newspaper editor and radio personality
Radio personality
A radio personality is a person with an on-air position in radio broadcasting. A radio personality can be someone who introduces and discusses various genres of music, hosts a talk radio show that may take calls from listeners, or someone whose primary responsibility is to give news, weather,...
. He was known as the "voice from 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...
" during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, when listening to foreign radio in Norway was illegal, and from October 1942 implied risk of death penalty. Øksnevad is regarded as one of the most influential persons in early news broadcasting in Norway.
Biography
Øksnevad was a journalist for DagbladetDagbladet
Dagbladet is Norway's second largest tabloid newspaper, and the third largest newspaper overall with a circulation of 105,255 copies in 2009, 18,128 papers less than in 2008. The editor in chief is Lars Helle....
from 1912 to 1920, was press attaché in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
1920–1924, and again journalist for Dagbladet 1924–1927. He was editor-in-chief for the regional newspaper Romsdalsposten
Romsdalsposten
Romsdalsposten was a Norwegian newspaper, published in Kristiansund in Møre og Romsdal.Romsdalsposten was started on 5 January 1876, and issued by printer John Johnsen the first fifty years. The first editor was N. T. Holme. Among its later editors were Toralv Øksnevad from 1927 to 1933. In the...
1927–1933.
He started working for the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) in 1933, and became the leader for the news department in 1938. In April 1940 he fled from occupied Norway
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...
to Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, and traveled to London in August 1940, to negotiate with BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
. In London he participated in the BBC's broadcasting in the Norwegian language until 1945. Øksnevad was the program director of NRK-in-exile, except for brief periods. Before Øksnevad travelled from Sweden to London, Aake Anker Ording
Aake Anker Ording
Aake Anker Ording was a Norwegian civil servant and politician for Mot Dag and the Labour Party.He was born in Halden. He was a second cousin of actor Jørn Ording and historian and politician Arne Ording, and a first cousin once removed of educator and theologian Fredrik Ording and theologian Hans...
was acting director, and from July to October 1941 Øksnevad visited his family in the United States, during which time Olav Rytter
Olav Rytter
Olav Rytter was a Norwegian newspaper editor, radio personality, foreign correspondent, philologist and translator....
was acting director. Øksnevad's regular Sunday evening speeches had a significant influence on the Norwegian war resistance. The book Det lå i luften from 1946 contains about 160 of his London radio speeches.
Øksnevad cooperated very closely with Prime Minister-in-exile Johan Nygaardsvold
Johan Nygaardsvold
Johan Nygaardsvold was a Norwegian politician from the Labour Party. He was Prime Minister of Norway from 1935 to 1945 , as head of the cabinet Nygaardsvold.-Political career:...
, and wrote his speeches on occasions. He was on less good terms with Minister of Foreign Affairs Halvdan Koht
Halvdan Koht
Halvdan Koht was a Norwegian historian and politician representing the Labour Party.As a politician he served as the Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1935 to 1941. He was never elected as a member of the Parliament of Norway, but was a member of Bærum municipal council in 1917–1919 and...
.
From 1945 he worked for NRK in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, as a program editor, and from 1946 to 1961 as editor of foreign affairs.
Political career
Øksnevad was chairman for the Young Liberals of Norway from 1914 to 1916, and chairman for the Oslo section of the Liberal Party from 1924 to 1927. He was a deputy representative to the Parliament of Norway for two periods, both periods for the Liberal Party: during 1931–1933, from the constituency Market towns of Møre og Romsdal countyMarket towns of Møre og Romsdal county
The Market towns of Møre og Romsdal county was an electoral district for parliamentary elections in Norway. It comprised the market towns of Kristiansund, Molde and Ålesund in Møre og Romsdal county....
, and 1954–1957 from Oslo. He was elected member of Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
city council from 1951 to 1959, and deputy mayor from 1956 to 1957.
Books
- Det lå i luften (1946)
- Norges fiskerigrense (1952)
- Joh. Ludw. Mowinckel (1963)