Ryssdal emphasizes that the subscription newspapers and VG will retain the same high level of editorial freedom, journalistic independence and content exchange as today.
- We have no plans for editorial cooperation in the media house' core areas. VG will not join the content exchange agreement in which the media houses in Media Norge participate. The fierce competition between the media houses for news stories will continue. It is absolutely vital that all the companies retain their individual corporate cultures and identities, even though they have been gathered under one umbrella, says Ryssdal.
Schibsted Norge will be led by Didrik Munch. Torry Pedersen, Jo Christian Oterhals and Espen Egil Hansen from VG will join the new corporate management, alongside all the editors and managing directors from today's companies in Media Norge, as well as the senior vice presidents for finance and digital media.
Stronger digital and in advertising markets
There are several reasons for creating Schibsted Norge:
- First of all, it will boost Schibsted's commitment to digital media. More competence and resources to digital development will boost our overall innovative strength and improve our ability to gain new digital ground. This will benefit all of us, says VG's Editor Torry Pedersen.
Didrik Munch believes that Schibsted Norge will gain even more strength in the advertising market:
- Together, VG and the media houses in MNO and Finn will have a bigger footprint than anyone else. We all hold unique national and regional positions, and enhancing our strategic coordination and leverage will make us even more attractive to large advertisers. We believe that this will boost our competitiveness against TV in the future, says Munch.
Schibsted Norge will also offer opportunities for more effective operations and a more ordered structure:
- We are constantly seeking to operate our organization as effectively as possible, and changes must always be possible to implement. Reducing costs outside our core areas means optimal strength for journalism and sales, says Munch.
There are currently no plans for downsizing or layoffs in the wake of the creation of Schibsted Norge.
The formation of Schibsted Norge will come about through changing the name of the company currently known as Media Norge and through the transfer of ownership of Verdens Gang and Schibsted Forlag to the new company. Schibsted Norge will become the parent company for Aftenposten, Bergens Tidende, Stavanger Aftenblad, Fædrelandsvennen, Verdens Gang, Finn.no, Schibsted Forlag and Media Norge Trykk and their subsidiaries.