In their recently published study Kjersti Thorbjørnsrud, of Institute for Social Research and Tine Ustad Figenschou, of University of Oslo, study how editors in Norwegian media experience the ritual role of the media, consensus pressure and dissenting voices after the 2011 Oslo attacks.

The analysis is based on in-depth interviews with the editors of the main national and regional Norwegian news media. What type of journalistic ethos editors referred to in the aftermath of the Oslo attacks? How top-down pressure informs editorial choices and selections?

Results show that in the mainstream media editors identified with the need of the nation and engaged in processes of mourning rituals. Editing often excluded arguments deemed ‘unworthy’ and ‘unacceptable’. In the regional and niche media the editors emphasized the critical watchdog role and enabled also other kinds of perspectives.

The article is published online before print by Journalism and it is available here. 

Picture: Brussel by Utenriksdepartementet UD, licence: CC BY-ND 2.0