Project Background
This study was a continuation of a broader project called The state of freedom of speech in Norway – the Freedom of expression foundation’s monitor project, which was carried out by Institute for Social Research (ISF), in cooperation with IMK, FAFO, TNS Gallup and lawyer Jon Wessel-Aas, in 2013-2014.
In the first round of the project, we addressed the issue of freedom of speech from a variety of perspectives, focusing on the preconditions of freedom of speech, freedom of speech in light of multiculturalism, digitalization and shifting media structures, security, control and surveillance and the terms of freedom of speech in the labour market. In this second round of the project we explored more in depth the dynamics of public debate, focusing on the key actors in defining public discussions as well as on the normative processes regulating which opinions and ‘voices’ are expressed in the public and which are silenced.
Project Approach
The project had three parts: First, we investigated whether Norwegian journalists and the general Norwegian public’s attitudes toward freedom of speech had changed in light of the terror attacks in Paris and Copenhagen in 2015. Second, we studied the development in media discussions about religion, migration and freedom of speech in the period from the cartoon debate in 2006 to today, paying particular attention to the opinions expressed by editors and journalists. Third, we focused on three groups that are particularly exposed to critique and harassment in public debates; politicians, ethnic and religious minorities and right-wing opponents of migration and Islam.
The project was conducted in cooperation with Professor Terje Rasmussen and Dr. Terje Colbjørnsen at the University of Oslo and Professor Hallvard Moe at the University of Bergen.
Media Coverage
Video: From the conference "The Fate of Freedom of Expression in Liberal Democracies", Kari Steen-Johnsen, October 2015, Foundation for Individual Rights in Education
Publications
Midtbøen, Arnfinn Haagensen (red.) (2017). Offentlighetens grenser : hovedfunn fra prosjektet Status for ytringsfriheten i Norge 2015-2017. Velferdsstatens barn. 2017:07.
Midtbøen, Arnfinn Haagensen; Steen-Johnsen, Kari & Thorbjørnsrud, Kjersti (ed.) (2017). Boundary Struggles : Contestations of Free Speech in the Norwegian Public Sphere. Cappelen Damm Akademisk. ISBN 978-82-02-53503-2. 323 s.
Midtbøen, Arnfinn Haagensen & Steen-Johnsen, Kari (2016). Ytringsfrihetens grenser i det flerkulturelle Norge. Nytt Norsk Tidsskrift. 33(1-2), s 21- 33 . doi:10.18261/issn.1504-3053-2016-01-02-03
Steen-Johnsen, Kari; Ihlebæk, Karoline Andrea & Enjolras, Bernard (2016). News on new platforms: Norwegian journalists face the digital age, In Jeffrey C. Alexander; Elizabeth Butler Breese & Mariá Luengo (ed.), The Crisis of Journalism Reconsidered: Democratic Culture, Professional Codes, Digital Future. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9781107448513. 10. s 190 - 210
Steen-Johnsen, Kari & Enjolras, Bernard (2016). The Fear of Offending: Social Norms and Freedom of Expression. Society (New Brunswick). 53(4), s 352- 362. doi:10.1007/s12115-016-0044-2
Steen-Johnsen, Kari; Fladmoe, Audun & Midtbøen, Arnfinn Haagensen (2016). Hvor går ytringsfrihetens grenser?. Vox publica.
Midtbøen, Arnfinn Haagensen (2016). The making and unmaking of ethnic boundaries in the public sphere: The case of Norway. Ethnicities. doi:10.1177/1468796816684149
Kari Steen-Jonsen, Audun Fladmoe & Arnfinn H. Midtbøen (2016). Ytringsfrihetens grenser: Sosiale normer og politisk toleranse. Rapport – Fritt ord og Institutt for samfunnsforskning.
