Varden
Encyclopedia
Varden is a local newspaper published in Skien
, Norway
. It was first established with a test issue on 17 December 1874, with Johan Christian Tandberg Castberg
as its first editor-in-chief. It has a circulation of 27,341, of whom 25,859 are subscribers. It has been published daily since 1895, and in the tabloid format since 2001 Its current editor-in-chief is Lars Kise, who took over from Per Valebrokk
in 2008.
Originally, Varden was owned by individual persons. Harald Kristoffersen, its editor-in-chief and owner from 1901, created the limited company AS Varden in 1918. The corporation Orkla Media, later renamed Edda Media
, bought the newspaper in 1994, and still has a 100% ownership. Through the publishing company Varden AS, Varden itself has a 100% ownership of the smaller newspapers Kanalen (published in Nome
), Kragerø Blad Vestmar (Kragerø
) and Telen
(Notodden
). Interestingly, Varden itself has local offices both in Kragerø and Notodden, as well as in Bamble
, Porsgrunn
, Kviteseid
, Bø
and Rjukan
.
The leading newspaper in Telemark
county for many years, Varden was surpassed by Telemark Arbeiderblad in 1974, only to regain the number one spot in 1988. Telemark Arbeiderblad was later renamed Telemarksavisa
, and has a circulation of 22,346.
At the time Varden was established, newspapers in Norway had close ties with political parties. Varden was special in that it changed political allegiance from Liberal to Conservative
, in 1953. The ties between political parties and newspapers no longer exist. Today, the newspaper classifies itself as an "independent" newspaper which works to promote a liberal and democratic society with respect for individual rights, social fairness and free enterprise.
Skien
' is a city and municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Grenland. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Skien. Skien is also the administrative centre of Telemark county....
, Norway
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...
. It was first established with a test issue on 17 December 1874, with Johan Christian Tandberg Castberg
Johan Christian Tandberg Castberg
Johan Christian Tandberg Castberg was a Norwegian politician. Spending his professional life as a customs surveyor, he was mayor of the cities Brevik and Skien, and served three terms in the Norwegian Parliament...
as its first editor-in-chief. It has a circulation of 27,341, of whom 25,859 are subscribers. It has been published daily since 1895, and in the tabloid format since 2001 Its current editor-in-chief is Lars Kise, who took over from Per Valebrokk
Per Valebrokk
Per Valebrokk is a Norwegian newspaper editor.He is the current editor-in-chief of E24 Næringsliv. He was previously the editor-in-chief of Varden, and has also worked in TDN Finans and Verdens Gang. He has a siv.øk. degree....
in 2008.
Originally, Varden was owned by individual persons. Harald Kristoffersen, its editor-in-chief and owner from 1901, created the limited company AS Varden in 1918. The corporation Orkla Media, later renamed Edda Media
Edda Media
Edda Media is a Norwegian media group that owns a number of Norwegian newspapers, television channels, radio channels and websites. The company is part of the Mecom Group and is the remaining domestic part of Orkla Media. In 2006 the newspapers in the Edda Group had 1,250,000 daily readers, a...
, bought the newspaper in 1994, and still has a 100% ownership. Through the publishing company Varden AS, Varden itself has a 100% ownership of the smaller newspapers Kanalen (published in Nome
Nome, Norway
Nome is a municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Midt-Telemark. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Ulefoss....
), Kragerø Blad Vestmar (Kragerø
Kragerø
is a town and municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Vestmar. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Kragerø....
) and Telen
Telen
Telen is a daily local newspaper published in Notodden, Norway. It has a circulation of 5,142 and owned by the Skien-newspaper Varden, a subsidiary of Edda Media....
(Notodden
Notodden
is a town and municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Øst-Telemark. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Notodden....
). Interestingly, Varden itself has local offices both in Kragerø and Notodden, as well as in Bamble
Bamble
Bamble is a municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Grenland. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Langesund.-Name:...
, Porsgrunn
Porsgrunn
is a town and municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Grenland. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Porsgrunn....
, Kviteseid
Kviteseid
Kviteseid is a municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Vest-Telemark. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Kviteseid...
, Bø
Bø, Telemark
Bø is a municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Midt-Telemark. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Bø i Telemark. The municipality of Bø was established on 1 January 1838...
and Rjukan
Rjukan
Rjukan is a town and the administrative center of Tinn municipality in Telemark . It is situated in Vestfjorddalen, between Møsvatn and Tinnsjå, and got its name after Rjukanfossen west of the town. The Tinn municipality council granted township status for Rjukan in 1996. The town has 3 386...
.
The leading newspaper in Telemark
Telemark
is a county in Norway, bordering Vestfold, Buskerud, Hordaland, Rogaland and Aust-Agder. The county administration is in Skien. Until 1919 the county was known as Bratsberg amt.-Location:...
county for many years, Varden was surpassed by Telemark Arbeiderblad in 1974, only to regain the number one spot in 1988. Telemark Arbeiderblad was later renamed Telemarksavisa
Telemarksavisa
Telemarksavisa is a Norwegian newspaper, published in Skien in Telemark county.Telemark Arbeiderblad was started on 1 October 1921 as a reaction to the perceived moderate stance of Skien's labour newspaper Bratsberg Demokraten. However, Telemark Arbeiderblad was not published out of Telemark, but...
, and has a circulation of 22,346.
At the time Varden was established, newspapers in Norway had close ties with political parties. Varden was special in that it changed political allegiance from Liberal to Conservative
Conservative Party of Norway
The Conservative Party is a Norwegian political party. The current leader is Erna Solberg. The party was since the 1920s consistently the second largest party in Norway, but has been surpassed by the growth of the Progress Party in the late 1990s and 2000s...
, in 1953. The ties between political parties and newspapers no longer exist. Today, the newspaper classifies itself as an "independent" newspaper which works to promote a liberal and democratic society with respect for individual rights, social fairness and free enterprise.