THE PROFESSIONALIZATION OF THE INTOLERABLE

Abstract

The history of crime journalism in Norway is the most prominent feature of the process of popularization of journalism in this country. In addition to this, the process of professionalization is a complementary prerequisite for understanding how crime journalism in the popular media at the start of the 21st century is constituted. Debates around the political connotations of the word “popular”, its use to denote making information as accessible as possible, as well as the qualitative and quantitative uses of the word when applied to journalism are explored. This article demonstrates how journalism in Norway has progressed to include more socially responsible, less sensationalized forms of crime journalism as part of its process of professionalization.

Keywords:

• crime journalism
• Norway
• popularization
• professionalization

Notes

1. The Norwegian Press Association (“Norsk Presseforbund”) was established in 1910 as an umbrella organization for journalists and editors. The main purpose of the organization was, and continues to be, to maintain a sufficient ethical level in the Norwegian press. Today, the most important task of the Press Association is to run the Press Council's affairs.

2. The history of the Norwegian Press Council is based on my doctoral thesis on the Council's first 42 years (R⊘ssland, 1999).

3. It was, and still is, named “Vær Varsom-plakaten” (the “Be Careful Code”).