Åsne Seierstad
Encyclopedia
Åsne Seierstad is a Norwegian
freelance journalist
and writer, best known for her accounts of everyday life in war zones - most notably Kabul
after 2001, Baghdad
in 2003 and the ruined Grozny
in 2006.
where she successfully completed her studies in Russian, Spanish and the history of philosophy. From 1993 until 1996 she reported for the Arbeiderbladet in Russia
and in 1997 from China
. From 1998 until 2000 she worked for the national television network NRK (Norsk Rikskringkasting) where she reported from the Serbia
n breakaway province of Kosovo
. With Their Backs To The World: Portraits from Serbia
, her first book, is an account of this time. (This book was extended and republished in 2004 when she again visited Serbia. The name was changed slightly, to Portraits of Serbia, signaling that Serbia’s back is no longer turned to the world.)
As a reporter she is particularly remembered for her work in war zones such as Afghanistan
, Iraq
and most recently Chechnya
, as well as for her reports on the September 11 attacks in the United States of America. The Bookseller of Kabul
, her second, bestselling book, is an account of the time she spent living with an Afghan family in Kabul after the fall of the Taliban in 2001. Her other books include One Hundred And One Days: A Baghdad Journal
which describes the three months she spent in Iraq in the build-up to the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, and most recently Angel of Grozny: Inside Chechnya
, an account of the time she spent in Chechnya after the war
.
On 24th July 2010 Seierstad was found guilty of defamation and “negligent journalistic practices and ordered to pay damages to Suraia Rais, wife of Shah Muhammad Rais http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2010/0729/1224275692778.html. an appeal is underway.
She currently lives and works in Oslo
.
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...
freelance 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...
and writer, best known for her accounts of everyday life in war zones - most notably Kabul
Kabul
Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
after 2001, Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
in 2003 and the ruined Grozny
Grozny
Grozny is the capital city of the Chechen Republic, Russia. The city lies on the Sunzha River. According to the preliminary results of the 2010 Census, the city had a population of 271,596; up from 210,720 recorded in the 2002 Census. but still only about two-thirds of 399,688 recorded in the 1989...
in 2006.
Personal and professional life
Åsne Seierstad studied at the University of OsloUniversity of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
where she successfully completed her studies in Russian, Spanish and the history of philosophy. From 1993 until 1996 she reported for the Arbeiderbladet in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and in 1997 from China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. From 1998 until 2000 she worked for the national television network NRK (Norsk Rikskringkasting) where she reported from the Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
n breakaway province of Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
. With Their Backs To The World: Portraits from Serbia
With Their Backs to The World: Portraits of Serbia
With Their Backs to The World: Portraits of Serbia is a book by Norwegian journalist Asne Seierstad.While working for the national Norwegian television network Åsne Seierstad was in Yugoslavia during the Kosovo War and NATO bombing of the country of 1999...
, her first book, is an account of this time. (This book was extended and republished in 2004 when she again visited Serbia. The name was changed slightly, to Portraits of Serbia, signaling that Serbia’s back is no longer turned to the world.)
As a reporter she is particularly remembered for her work in war zones such as Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
and most recently Chechnya
Chechnya
The Chechen Republic , commonly referred to as Chechnya , also spelled Chechnia or Chechenia, sometimes referred to as Ichkeria , is a federal subject of Russia . It is located in the southeastern part of Europe in the Northern Caucasus mountains. The capital of the republic is the city of Grozny...
, as well as for her reports on the September 11 attacks in the United States of America. The Bookseller of Kabul
The Bookseller of Kabul
The Bookseller of Kabul is a non-fiction book written by Norwegian journalist Åsne Seierstad, about a bookseller, Shah Muhammad Rais , and his family in Kabul, Afghanistan...
, her second, bestselling book, is an account of the time she spent living with an Afghan family in Kabul after the fall of the Taliban in 2001. Her other books include One Hundred And One Days: A Baghdad Journal
One Hundred And One Days: A Baghdad Journal
One Hundred And One Days: A Baghdad Journal is a non-fiction book by Norwegian journalist Asne Seierstad.From January until April 2003 — for one hundred and one days — Åsne Seierstad worked as a reporter in Baghdad for Scandinavian, German, and Dutch media...
which describes the three months she spent in Iraq in the build-up to the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, and most recently Angel of Grozny: Inside Chechnya
Angel of Grozny: Inside Chechnya
Angel of Grozny: Inside Chechnya is a book by Norwegian journalist Åsne Seierstad published in 2008, which gives an account of everyday life in the war-torn Russian Republic of Chechnya...
, an account of the time she spent in Chechnya after the war
Second Chechen War
The Second Chechen War, in a later phase better known as the War in the North Caucasus, was launched by the Russian Federation starting 26 August 1999, in response to the Invasion of Dagestan by the Islamic International Peacekeeping Brigade ....
.
On 24th July 2010 Seierstad was found guilty of defamation and “negligent journalistic practices and ordered to pay damages to Suraia Rais, wife of Shah Muhammad Rais http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2010/0729/1224275692778.html. an appeal is underway.
She currently lives and works 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...
.
Awards and honours
- 1999: Gullruten AwardGullrutenGullruten is an annual award for the Norwegian TV business, founded in 1998 by Norske Film- og TV-produsenters forening. The awarding committee has representatives from the major national TV companies, NRK, TV2, TV3 and TVNorge...
for the best news coverage from Kosovo. - 2001: Fritt Ord Honorary Award
- 2002: Årets Frilanser Award from the Norwegian reporters association. Also received the Norwegian Booksellers' PrizeNorwegian Booksellers' PrizeThe Norwegian Booksellers' Prize is a literature prize was awarded by the Norwegian Booksellers Association. It was initiated in 1948, then did not return until 1961...
. - 2003: The Peer Gynt and Den Store Journalistprisen which is the highest honour a reporter in Norway can receive.