''Orientering'' was a
Norwegian
Norwegian, Norwayan, or Norsk may refer to:
*Something of, from, or related to Norway, a country in northwestern Europe
* Norwegians, both a nation and an ethnic group native to Norway
* Demographics of Norway
*The Norwegian language, including ...
newspaper which was initially published in December 1952 as an alternative voice.
It was absorbed into ''
Ny Tid
''Ny Tid'' (English: ''Modern Times Review'') is Norway's largest international quarterly review of non-fiction books – up to 50 in each issue. It is currently owned by Ny Tid & Orientering AS.
''Ny Tid'' is headed by the newspaper founder Tr ...
'' in 1975.
There were many reasons for establishing the newspaper, but the most important was perhaps that it had become very difficult to express viewpoints which were critical of
NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO, ; french: Organisation du traité de l'Atlantique nord, ), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 member states – 28 European and two No ...
and
capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system based on the private ownership of the means of production and their operation for profit. Central characteristics of capitalism include capital accumulation, competitive markets, price system, priva ...
in general.
In 1953 the group from the Labor Party's left wing won, led by
Karl Evang. The editor and spokesman for the group was
Sigurd Evensmo
Sigurd Evensmo (14 February 1912 – 17 October 1978) was a Norwegian author and journalist. , with
Finn Gustavsen as the co-editor. They also had the support of the Labor Party, such as the party's first
Prime Minister
A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister i ...
,
Christopher Hornsrud
Christopher Andersen Hornsrud (15 November 1859 – 12 December 1960) was a Norwegian politician for the Labour Party. He served as leader of the Labour Party from 1903 to 1906 and became a member of the Storting in 1912. In 1928, he became the f ...
.
The group's party line was an alternative to the third way, critical of both
Moscow
Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 millio ...
and
Washington DC
)
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...
. ''Orientering'' was therefore opposed to Norwegian membership in NATO, but also gave extensive independence in the imperialism suitable for analysis of international relations. The main current of Norwegian
socialism
Socialism is a left-wing Economic ideology, economic philosophy and Political movement, movement encompassing a range of economic systems characterized by the dominance of social ownership of the means of production as opposed to Private prop ...
in the 1950s was polarized between Moscow (
Communist Party of Norway) and Washington (
Norwegian Labour Party). ''Orientering'' was almost silent about the Labor Party's newspapers, something which contributed to increasing interest.
The newspaper was characterized by foreign affairs from the beginning. Questions regarding domestic policy grew in large degree after Finn Gustavsen became the editor in 1957. It climaxed with the question of the proposed stockpiling of atomic weaponry in Norway when the national congress in the Labor Party passed a resolution in 1961 allowing for this.
The key people in the inner circle of ''Orientering'' considered starting a new party, which would become a reality through the establishment of the
Socialist People's Party in 1961. Gustavsen was one of the party's first two representatives to the
Norwegian Parliament
The Storting ( no, Stortinget ) (lit. the Great Thing) is the supreme legislature of Norway, established in 1814 by the Constitution of Norway. It is located in Oslo. The unicameral parliament has 169 members and is elected every four years bas ...
and relinquished the role of editor to Evang. ''Orientering'' became the advocate of the Socialist People's Party; at the same time the newspaper doubled its frequency to releasing a new issue weekly. The Socialist People's Party did not formally take over the newspaper until 1973. The editor from 1965 on was
Kjell Cordtsen.
In 1975-1975 assembly meetings were arranged between the parties on the left after the Socialist People's Party's success in the election of 1973. The establishment of the
Socialist Left Party was approved and would replace the Socialist People's Party, the Norwegian Communist Party (who later withdrew) and the Democratic Socialists with support from a number of independent socialists.
In connection with this process, ''Orientering'' was discontinued and absorbed into the Socialist Left Party's new party newspaper, ''Ny Tid''. From the beginning the circulation was several thousand, but this slowly grew to around 19,000 in 1974, while the last issue reached 16,000. The community surrounding ''Orientering'' continued in and around ''Ny Tid''.
Editors
*
Sigurd Evensmo
Sigurd Evensmo (14 February 1912 – 17 October 1978) was a Norwegian author and journalist. 1952–1959
*
Finn Gustavsen 1959–1961
*
Sigurd Evensmo
Sigurd Evensmo (14 February 1912 – 17 October 1978) was a Norwegian author and journalist. 1961–1965
*
Kjell Cordtsen 1965–1975
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Orientering
1953 establishments in Norway
1975 disestablishments in Norway
Defunct newspapers published in Norway
Newspapers published in Oslo
Norwegian-language newspapers
Newspapers established in 1953
Publications disestablished in 1975
Socialist Left Party (Norway) newspapers
Socialist newspapers