''Varden'' is a

local newspaper A newspaper is a periodical publication containing written information about current events and is often typed in black ink with a white or gray background. Newspapers can cover a wide variety of fields such as politics, business, sports an ...

published in

Skien Skien () is a city and municipality in Vestfold og Telemark county in Norway. In modern times it is regarded as part of the traditional region of Grenland, although historically it belonged to Grenmar/Skiensfjorden, while Grenland referred the ...

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the ...

History and profile

The newspaper was first established with a test issue on 17 December 1874, with

Johan Christian Tandberg Castberg Johan Christian Tandberg Castberg (13 October 1827 – 8 December 1899) was a Norway, Norwegian politician. Spending his professional life as a customs surveyor, he was mayor of the cities Brevik, Norway, Brevik and Skien, and served three terms in ...

as its first

editor-in-chief An editor-in-chief (EIC), also known as lead editor or chief editor, is a publication's editorial leader who has final responsibility for its operations and policies. The highest-ranking editor of a publication may also be titled editor, managing ...

. It has been published daily since 1895, and in the tabloid format since 2001 Its current

is Lars Kise, who took over from Per Valebrokk in 2008. Originally, ''Varden'' was owned by individual persons.

Harald Kristoffersen Harald or Haraldr is the Old Norse form of the given name Harold. It may refer to: Medieval Kings of Denmark * Harald Bluetooth (935–985/986) Kings of Norway * Harald Fairhair (c. 850–c. 933) * Harald Greycloak (died 970) * Harald Hardrad ...

, its editor-in-chief and owner from 1901, created the limited company AS Varden in 1918. The corporation Orkla Media, later renamed

Edda Media Edda Media was a Norwegian media group that owns a number of Norwegian newspapers, television channels, radio channels and websites. The company is part of the Mecom Group and is the remaining domestic part of Orkla Media. In 2006 the newspapers ...

, bought the newspaper in 1994, and still has a 100% ownership. Through the publishing company Varden AS, ''Varden'' itself has a 100% ownership of the smaller newspapers '' Kanalen'' (published in Nome), '' Kragerø Blad Vestmar'' (

Kragerø Kragerø () is a town and municipality in Vestfold og Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional regions of Grenland and the smaller Vestmar. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Kragerø. The city of Krager� ...

) and ''

Telen ''Telen'' is a Norwegian daily local newspaper covering Hjartdal, Notodden, Sauherad (former), and published in Notodden. It has a circulation of 5,142 (2007) and owned by the Skien-newspaper '' Varden'', a subsidiary of Edda Media Edda Media w ...

'' (

Notodden Notodden () is a city and municipality in Vestfold og Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Øst-Telemark. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Notodden. Notodden was separated from the munic ...

). ''Varden'' itself has local offices both in Kragerø and Notodden, as well as in

Bamble Bamble is a municipality in Vestfold og Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Grenland. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Langesund. General information Name The Old Norse form of the na ...

Porsgrunn is a city and municipality in Telemark in the county of Vestfold og Telemark in Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Grenland. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Porsgrunn. The municipality of Porsgrunn w ...

Kviteseid Kviteseid is a municipality in Telemark in the county of Vestfold og Telemark in Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Upper Telemark and Vest-Telemark. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Kviteseid. The parish ...

, Bø and

Rjukan Rjukan () is a town and the administrative centre of Tinn municipality in Telemark, Norway. It is situated in Vestfjorddalen, between Møsvatn and Lake Tinn, and got its name after Rjukan Falls west of the town. The Tinn municipality council gra ...

. The leading newspaper in

Telemark Telemark is a traditional region, a former county, and a current electoral district in southern Norway. In 2020, Telemark merged with the former county of Vestfold to form the county of Vestfold og Telemark. Telemark borders the traditional ...

county for many years, ''Varden'' was surpassed by ''Telemark Arbeiderblad'' in 1974, only to regain the number one spot in 1988. ''Telemark Arbeiderblad'' was later renamed ''

Telemarksavisa ''Telemarksavisa'' is a Norwegian newspaper, published in Skien in Telemark county. ''Telemark Arbeiderblad'' was started on 1 October 1921 as a reaction to the perceived moderate stance of Skien's labour newspaper ''Bratsberg Demokraten''. Howe ...

'', and had a circulation of 22,346. At the time ''Varden'' was established, newspapers in Norway had close ties with political parties. ''Varden'' was special in that it changed political allegiance from

Liberal Liberal or liberalism may refer to: Politics * a supporter of liberalism ** Liberalism by country * an adherent of a Liberal Party * Liberalism (international relations) * Sexually liberal feminism * Social liberalism Arts, entertainment and m ...

Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization in ...

, in 1953. The ties between political parties and newspapers no longer exist. Today, the newspaper classifies itself as an "independent" newspaper which works to promote a liberal and democratic society with respect for individual rights, social fairness and free enterprise. ''Varden'' had a circulation of 27,341 and 25,859 subscribers.

References

{{Reflist 1874 establishments in Norway Newspapers established in 1874 Daily newspapers published in Norway Norwegian-language newspapers Liberal Party (Norway) newspapers Conservative Party (Norway) newspapers Mass media in Skien