Amedia: Free Newspaper Access for 400,000 Youth
Amedia, Norway’s leading media group, empowers 400,000 young Norwegians with free digital access to its newspapers, a bold move to bolster civic engagement and media trust among the youth. Supported by the Amedia Foundation and spearheaded by CEO Anders Opdahl before the September 8th parliamentary election, this initiative tackles declining trust in customary media head-on. This programme, expanding on previous efforts during the 2023 municipal elections, offers access to over 100 newspapers. Amedia is also advocating for updated VAT regulations to support digital media formats, ensuring media diversity, as highlighted on News directory 3. Discover what’s next as Amedia evaluates the long-term impact of this program.
Amedia Offers free Newspaper Access to Young Norwegians
Updated May 28, 2025
Amedia, Norway’s largest publisher of editor-driven media, is launching a program to provide free digital access to its newspapers for all Norwegians aged 15 to 20. The initiative, supported by the Amedia foundation, seeks to engage younger generations with essential journalism and strengthen their connection to local communities.
Anders Opdahl, CEO of Amedia, emphasized the importance of reaching young people amidst competition from global tech companies. The free access, launching before the Sept. 8 parliamentary election, aims to combat declining trust in customary media among this demographic.A recent Norwegian Media Survey indicated that a notable portion of young adults have low trust in editor-driven media.
The amedia Foundation is backing the initiative with a NOK 4.8 million grant, supplementing Amedia’s own investment.André Støylen, CEO of the Amedia Foundation, highlighted the project as a targeted effort to bolster democracy, public discourse, and the role of journalism.
Amedia previously provided free digital access to students during the municipal elections in 2023. This new initiative expands that effort nationwide, offering access to over 100 newspapers. The long-term goal is to make the program permanent, pending a year-long evaluation.
“We’re in a fierce battle for young people’s time and trust, competing with global tech giants that have no regard for Norwegian values or our democracy… Soon, it will be easier for young people to stay informed about what’s happening and become more engaged in their local communities—both in everyday life and on election day,”
Opdahl also urged politicians to update VAT regulations to reflect modern media consumption habits. He noted that the current framework disadvantages Norwegian media companies and hinders their ability to develop content in audio and video formats favored by younger audiences. A report by the Norwegian Media Authority supports platform-neutral VAT exemptions to ensure media diversity.
What’s next
Amedia will evaluate the program after one year to determine its effectiveness and potential for long-term continuation. The company also continues to advocate for regulatory changes to support the growth of digital media formats.