MORNING MEETING: From left, Hilde-Gunn Bye, Linn Ophaug, Trine Jonassen, Birgitte Annie Hansen, and Astri Edvardsen. Not present: Arne O. Holm (editor/commentator) and Malte Humpert (freelancer). Photo: Markus J. Thonhaugen.
When Editor-in-Chief Trine Jonassen took over at High North News, one of her priorities was clear: the newspaper needed a digital facelift.
After a formal tender process, Labrador CMS was chosen as the new platform, and the team managed to go live almost a month ahead of schedule.
– This upgrade was something we needed to continue to be leading on Arctic news, says Jonassen.
Adapting to a Changing Media Reality
The new website marks the first major overhaul in a decade.
Many of the changes happen under the hood, and Jonassen says the upgrade is essential for keeping up in an increasingly competitive landscape.
– Journalism is probably the profession where employees have to adapt faster than in any other line of work. We're not a big media house, but we compare ourselves with several international news sites when it comes to reaching out with our content.
Despite being a team of just five journalists and one freelancer, the Bodø-based newspaper reaches readers in over 100 countries. Recently, the team also welcomed journalist Linn Ophaug for three months, dedicated to covering Arctic living.
Setting the Agenda
High North News publishes in both Norwegian and English, covering everything from security policy and research to business and culture across the Arctic.
The newspaper is owned by the High North Center at Nord University Business School, and has been free and openly accessible since its founding in 2014.
– It's a unique model: a university-owned, yet editorially independent news outlet covering the Arctic for an international audience, says Jonassen.
With the Arctic increasingly becoming a geopolitical hotspot, Jonassen says setting the agenda will become more important than ever. At the same time, she wants to refocus on the newspaper's original mandate: telling the stories of the people who live in the North.
– There is so extremely much happening right now. We have to prioritize hard, but that doesn't take away from the people who live here, says Jonassen.
High North News
- Founded: 2014 by Arne O. Holm.
- Location: Bodø, Norway.
- Focus: Journalism about the Arctic with emphasis on business, culture, security policy, and research.
- Languages: Publishes in Norwegian and English.
- Ownership: Owned by the High North Center at Nord University Business School.
- Independence: Editorially independent, adheres to the Editor's Code of Ethics.
- Staff: 5 permanent employees plus freelancer.
