Steep Learning Curve For New Public Broadcasting Chief

Michael Hedges March 14, 2013 Follow on Twitter

Public broadcasting chiefs are generally appointed because of radio and TV skills or political talent. Sometimes insiders are preferred and sometimes outsiders, depending on the last scandal. A journalistic background can also be helpful, or not. The most common characteristic is an ability to keep everybody happy.

When Thor Gjermund Eriksen took over as director general of Norway’s public broadcaster NRK there were the predictable offers of advice. While NRK is hardly steeped in the scandals that have rocked other public broadcasters in recent months the structural challenges plaguing them all are apparent in Norway.

Mr. Eriksen’s background is in the media sector, most recently, and significantly, as CEO of publisher A-pressen and managed its 2011 takeover of Edda Media. The combined company, Amedia, is Norway’s second biggest publisher after Schibsted and holds local and regional newspapers, radio stations and TV channels. Eriksen had been a TV2 board member until A-pressen sold its 50% interest in 2012 and chairman of online news portal Nettavisen. He resigned those positions on appointment as NRK DG in December 2012.

His predecessor, Hans-Tore Bjerkaas, rose through the NRK ranks to serve the single term of NRK’s DG, appointed in 2007, and is credited for strengthening the broadcaster’s internal culture, raising creative and journalistic output and surviving the hosting of the Eurovision Song Contest. Prior to Mr. Bjerkaas, NRK DG’s were political appointees. NRK DG’s serve fixed six-year terms. After six years of budget cuts, downsizing and reorganization, Bjerkaas leaves NRK with a surplus, in more than one respect.

“What I am most thankful for,” said Mr. Eriksen at the ceremonial passing of keys to the big office, broadcast on NRK television (March 11), “is that I’m taking over an NRK that is OK.” NRK’s television market share is about 40% and the radio market share approaches two-thirds. NRK’s television drama productions have received world-wide attention. The crime/comedy series Lilyhammer, a joint-venture production with web distributor Netflix, has been broadcast in over 100 countries and its second season is in production. Slightly more offbeat, a 134-hour broadcast from a cruise ship to the Arctic in 2011 holds the record for longest continuous live broadcast. More recently NRK broadcast an 8-hour special featuring a burning fireplace. Mr. Eriksen talked of facing a “steep learning curve,” in his initial remarks to NRK staff.

NRK’s success, in some circles, has become a liability Mr. Eriksen will have sooner rather than later. “We now have NRK developing products that the Conservatives (Party) believe the private (sector) could make,” said Conservative Party culture spokesperson Olemic Thommesen, quoted by Kampanje (March 12). “I think the task for NRK may be even more important in the future than it has been in a long time, but we are in for an adjustment period that means big changes. NRK is a great organization which easily becomes tail-heavy.” Norwegians go to the polls in September for could be a significant right-wing challenge to Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg’s Labor Party.

NRK is also facing a question of confidence in its news output. A news report on Roma women engaged in welfare fraud broadcast in January was tainted by the omission of the significant detail of discrimination in Norwegian courts. However, a YouGov survey for daily newspaper Afterposten showed a bit more than half the Norwegian public was unaware of and unfazed by the report.

NRK operates three broadcast television channels, three national radio channels and several digital-only channels.

See also in ftm Knowledge

Media in Scandinavia

Big media companies in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden are riding a sea of change. The digital media revolution is nowhere more apparent than in Scandinavia. This ftm Knowledge file Media in Scandinavia looks at rapid change in the most 'wired' neighborhood. 103 pages PDF, Resources (June 2012)

Order here