The Norwegian Union of Journalists (Norsk Journalistlag) has proposed that students and teachers be granted free access to editor-controlled media outlets. The initiative is rooted in growing concerns that young people increasingly avoid traditional news sources due to lack of access, turning instead to unregulated content on social media platforms.
“They will otherwise turn to social media, operated by international tech giants that are deliberately sidelining news from editor-controlled outlets,” said Norsk Journalistlag leader Dag Idar Tryggestad in an interview with Utdanningsnytt.
The union hopes that the Norwegian government will integrate media access into its national media subsidy scheme (mediestøtteordningen), enabling media companies to apply for funding to make their content available to schools.
Strong backing from educators
The proposal has already received public support from the Utdanningsforbundet (Norwegian Union of Education), which emphasized the importance of fighting misinformation and enhancing students’ critical thinking skills.
“For us, it’s obvious that countering misinformation or false information is one of the school’s most important roles in today’s society. Systematically working on students’ source criticism is essential for democratic preparedness,” the union stated in a press release.
Government acknowledges importance but funding remains uncertain
Erlend Hanstveit (L), State Secretary at the Ministry of Culture and Equality (Kulturdepartementet), expressed support for the idea in principle but highlighted budgetary challenges.
“We recognize the importance of a scheme that gives students and teachers access to editor-controlled media. However, we’re currently in the middle of tough budget negotiations, and it remains to be seen what ends up at the top of the priority list,” Hanstveit told Utdanningsnytt.
Youth, media habits, and democratic values
The push for increased student access to quality journalism comes amid wider debates in Norway and beyond about how best to equip young people with the tools to navigate an increasingly fragmented media landscape. A 2023 report by Medietilsynet (Norwegian Media Authority) showed that a majority of Norwegian teenagers use TikTok, YouTube, and Snapchat as primary sources of news—often without verifying the accuracy of what they consume.
Proponents argue that early exposure to reliable journalism not only improves media literacy but also strengthens democratic engagement and civic participation.
