Ahead of Norway’s parliamentary election, Amedia offers free access to over 100 newspapers for 15 to 20-year-olds.
Norwegian publisher Amedia is offering free digital access to more than 100 local newspapers for 15 to 20-year-olds in the run-up to September’s parliamentary election in a bid to boost democratic participation and rebuild trust in journalism among younger readers.
Funded by a NOK 4.8 million ($470,000) grant from the Amedia Foundation, the initiative targets a demographic increasingly captured by social media and disengaged from traditional news. “We’re in a fierce battle for young people’s time and trust,” said Amedia CEO Anders Opdahl.
This is not Amedia’s first attempt to engage younger audiences. During last year’s municipal elections, it offered free access to students across Norway. Opdahl said the company wants to ensure that young people are better informed ahead of voting and more aware of the role journalism plays in democratic life.
The Amedia Foundation, set up in 2016 to support press freedom and public interest journalism, said appealing to young audiences is its main focus this year. “This is a concrete way to support democracy and give young people the tools to participate in public debate,” said CEO André Støylen.
Recent figures underline the scale of the task. The latest Norwegian Media Survey found that trust in journalism among 16 to 24-year-olds lags behind the rest of the population, with more than a quarter of young men expressing little or no trust in the media.
Amedia’s initiative comes at a time of regulatory uncertainty. Opdahl warned that recent changes to Norway’s VAT rules are undermining the industry’s ability to innovate and reach new audiences. In 2023, the removal of format neutrality from VAT exemptions left digital media at a disadvantage, a move Opdahl described as “a societal risk”.
The Norwegian Media Authority has echoed those concerns, calling in January for a platform-neutral VAT exemption to protect media diversity and sustainability. Without this, Opdahl said, “politicians are making it harder for publishers to engage with young people where they are”.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://wan-ifra.org/2025/05/amedia-grants-400000-young-people-free-access-to-its-newspapers/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative is fresh, with the earliest known publication date being May 6, 2025. The initiative was announced ahead of the upcoming parliamentary election on September 8, 2025, indicating timely reporting. The report is based on a press release from Amedia, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were found. The narrative has not appeared elsewhere within the past seven days. The article includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. ([amedia.no](https://www.amedia.no/aktuelt/nyheter/amedia-gir-400-000-unge-gratis-tilgang-til-sine-aviser?utm_source=openai))
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
The direct quotes from Anders Opdahl and André Støylen are consistent across sources, with no variations in wording. The earliest known usage of these quotes is in the May 6, 2025, press release from Amedia. No earlier instances of these quotes were found, indicating original or exclusive content. ([amedia.no](https://www.amedia.no/aktuelt/nyheter/amedia-gir-400-000-unge-gratis-tilgang-til-sine-aviser?utm_source=openai))
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative originates from Amedia, Norway’s largest publisher of editorial media, with a significant presence in the country. Amedia’s press releases are typically reliable and authoritative. The report is also covered by WAN-IFRA, a reputable international organisation for the news media industry.
Plausability check
Score:
10
Notes:
The initiative aligns with Amedia’s previous efforts to engage younger audiences, such as offering free access to students during the 2023 municipal elections. The statistics on young people’s trust in media are consistent with findings from the Norwegian Media Survey, which reported that over 25% of young men aged 16 to 24 have low or no trust in media. ([ssb.no](https://www.ssb.no/en/kultur-og-fritid/tids-og-mediebruk/artikler/norwegian-media-barometer-2023?utm_source=openai)) The language and tone are consistent with Amedia’s previous communications, and the structure focuses on the key aspects of the initiative without excessive or off-topic detail.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is fresh, with no discrepancies or signs of disinformation. The quotes are consistent and originate from a reliable source. The initiative is plausible and aligns with Amedia’s previous efforts and the current media landscape.
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