The papers

Warning: This post may make me appear as an old grumpy man.

Norwegian newspapers suck. Generally. And though some are better than the two largest ones, there's generally a lot of nonsense about computer games, all kinds of randomly chosen statistical data that they are twisting beyond recognition. It's bad.

In the eightees, I think around 85, my mother had a British friend visiting us in Norway, and after having a look at papers (VG, DB) that were for sale in stores in Norway she was compelled to ask the question: "Are all papers in Norway for retarded people?"

You could answer "No, these aren't for retarded people" or go for the easy answer, simply "yes". Either way it means the same.

Anyways, this is actually over 20 years ago, and in the meantime we've gotten the so-called "Net". Bringing these papers to the new medium has not entirely been a success. The quality, and not least the quality assurance has completely gone down the drain. There are typos in the headings, inconsistencies, and proof of the writer's ignorance on every page. And the "news" coverage has deteriorated into covering new computer game releases and useless gadgets.

Generally though, I've lived in the faith that some papers have slightly more integrity, like Aftenposten and Klassekampen. But writing mistakes on the front page is never good, and especially when it alters the meaning to the opposite.

Facsimile: Klassekampen

"Wrong support. NUPI reseacrher (Norwegian Institute of International Affairs) Kari Karamé thinks it's problematic that RVs solidarity goes to the Lebanese people instead of Hizbollah"

Hmm, this is... err. Strange. But sure enough, it was vice versa inside. Is this just clumsiness, or are they trying to draw my attention by stating strange things? But to be fair, there's very little about World of Warcraft, sex and rallycross in Klassekampen.