Byavisa Sandefjord
{{Short description|Free newspaper in Sandefjord, Norway}}
{{Infobox newspaper
| name = Byavisa Sandefjord
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| type = Weekly newspaper (2010-2016); biweekly (2016-2018)
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| founder = Sverre Aamodt
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| editor = Marianne Henriksen
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| foundation = {{start date|2010|05|04|df=y}}
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| language = Norwegian Bokmål
| ceased publication = {{end date|2018|12|05|df=y}}
| headquarters =
| publishing_city = Sandefjord
| publishing_country = Norway
| circulation = 21,600
| circulation_date = 2016
| circulation_ref = {{cite web |last=Høst |first=Sigurd |work=Medienorge |publisher=University of Bergen |language=Norwegian Bokmål |title=Avisåret 2016 |trans-title=Newspapers in 2016 |page=53 |url=https://medienorge.uib.no/files/Eksterne_pub/Avisaret_2016.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205015750/http://www.medienorge.uib.no/files/Eksterne_pub/Avisaret_2016.pdf |archive-date=5 February 2018 |url-status=live}}
| readership = 53,000 (2013); 26,000 (2014){{cite web |work=Medienorge |publisher=University of Bergen |language=Norwegian Bokmål |title=Lesertall for norske papiraviser |trans-title=Readership for Norwegian newspapers |url=https://www.medienorge.uib.no/statistikk/medium/avis/273}} To view the data, select the year and appropriate newspaper.
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| website = {{URL|byavisa.sandefjord.no}} (defunct)
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{{langnf|no|Byavisa Sandefjord|Sandefjord City Paper}}, known as {{langnf|no|Vestfold Blad|Vestfold Paper}} until 2014, was a local free newspaper in Sandefjord, Norway. Owned by the media conglomerate Content Media, the paper was published weekly and later biweekly, and competed with Sandefjords Blad. Founded in 2010, Byavisa Sandefjord ran on deficits for most of its existence, before 2018, when the paper was shut down.
History
=As Vestfold Blad=
The weekly newspaper Vestfold Blad was created by Sverre Aamodt in May 2010{{cite news |last=Larsen |first=Bjørn |date=4 March 2014 |work={{ill|Journalisten|no}} |language=Norwegian Bokmål |title=Kjøper gratisavis |trans-title=Free paper bought out |url=https://journalisten.no/bjorn-larsen-vestfold-blad-byavisa-sandefjord/kjoper-gratisavis/136008 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220320121531/https://journalisten.no/bjorn-larsen-vestfold-blad-byavisa-sandefjord/kjoper-gratisavis/136008 |archive-date=20 March 2022 |url-status=live}}{{mdash}}with assistance from Kjell Arne Bratli and Sandefjords Blad journalist Marianne Henriksen{{cite news |last=Nygaard |first=Paal Even |date=12 March 2010 |work=Sandefjords Blad |language=Norwegian Bokmål |title= Ny kulturavis i Vestfold |trans-title=New cultural newspaper in Vestfold |url=https://www.sb.no/nyheter/nyheter/ny-kulturavis-i-vestfold/s/2-2.428-1.4912483 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220320124342/https://www.sb.no/nyheter/nyheter/ny-kulturavis-i-vestfold/s/2-2.428-1.4912483 |archive-date=20 March 2022 |url-status=live}}{{mdash}}to service Vestfold county, with its first issue being published on 4 May 2010.{{cite news |last=Johansen |first=Camilla |date=4 May 2010 |work=Vestfold Blad |issue=18/2010 |page=3 |title=Avis for hele Vestfold |trans-title=Paper for the whole of Vestfold |url=https://issuu.com/vestfoldblad/docs/vestfoldblad_uke18_web/3 |via=Issuu}} In December 2010, they bought out the boating specialist paper Båtavisa, with co-founder Joyce Christine Øksenholt continuing as editor under the new management.{{cite news |last=Henriksen |first=Marianne |date=8 December 2010 |work=Vestfold Blad |issue=49/2010 |page=3 |language=Norwegian Bokmål |title=Vestfold Blad kjøper Båtavisa |trans-title=Vestfold Blad buys out Båtavisa |url=https://issuu.com/vestfoldblad/docs/vbu49/3 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320211326/https://issuu.com/vestfoldblad/docs/vbu49/3 |archive-date=20 March 2022 |url-status=live |via=Issuu}}
In January 2012, Tønsbergs Blad journalist Lars Døvle Larssen uncovered the paper's connections to the evangelical Brunstad Christian Church. {{ill|Kåre Johan Smith|no}}, missionary and leader of the church, was connected to the company with the largest shares in the paper, Tritoria Investments, which held 80%.{{cite news |last=Døvle Larssen |first=Lars |date=18 January 2012 |work=Tønsbergs Blad |language=Norwegian Bokmål |title=Avisen holdt skjult at de har Smiths Venner-eiere |trans-title=This paper covered up their evangelical leadership |url=https://www.tb.no/tonsberg/jobb-og-naringsliv/avisen-holdt-skjult-at-de-har-smiths-venner-eiere/s/2-2.516-1.6721533 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126224237/https://www.tb.no/tonsberg/jobb-og-naringsliv/avisen-holdt-skjult-at-de-har-smiths-venner-eiere/s/2-2.516-1.6721533 |archive-date=26 January 2021 |url-status=live}} The company was largely owned by two people, Øivind and Jan Lindstad, the second of which was a trustee of the church in Østfold, with minor ownership by Smith himself.{{cite news |last=Døvle Larssen |first=Lars |date=18 January 2012 |work=Tønsbergs Blad |title=Disse står bak selskapene |trans-title=The people behind the firms |url=https://www.tb.no/tonsberg/jobb-og-naringsliv/jobb-og-naringsliv/disse-star-bak-selskapene/s/2-2.516-1.6721539 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220320130859/https://www.tb.no/tonsberg/jobb-og-naringsliv/jobb-og-naringsliv/disse-star-bak-selskapene/s/2-2.516-1.6721539 |archive-date=20 March 2022 |url-status=live}} When questioned about the ownership, Aamodt answered that he didn't feel it relevant to enquire about the investors' religious background, noting that he also did not do so for any of his employees. Editor Henriksen commented that the paper adhered to principles of editorial independence, regardless of ownership. She further added that they were not trying to hide their connection, and that the articles in Tønsbergs Blad were written to mislead readers: "a lie repeated often enough becomes truth".{{cite news |last=Henriksen |first=Marianne |date=23 January 2012 |work=Tønsbergs Blad |language=Norwegian Bokmål |title=Hvorfor Lyver TB? |trans-title=Why is Tønsbergs Blad lying? |url=https://www.tb.no/debattartikler/debattartikler/hvorfor-lyver-tb/s/2-2.516-1.6727044 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126224810/https://www.tb.no/debattartikler/debattartikler/hvorfor-lyver-tb/s/2-2.516-1.6727044 |archive-date=26 January 2021 |url-status=live}}
=New ownership=
In its three years of publication, Vestfold Blad suffered heavy economic losses, running a deficit of around {{NOK|12 million}}.{{cite news |last=Jamieson |first=Robert |date=21 September 2013 |work=Tønsbergs Blad |title=Utrygge tider i Vestfold Blad |trans-title=Weary times for Vestfold Blad |url=https://www.tb.no/nyheter/vestfold/nyheter/utrygge-tider-i-vestfold-blad/s/2-2.516-1.8077956 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220320123345/https://www.tb.no/nyheter/vestfold/nyheter/utrygge-tider-i-vestfold-blad/s/2-2.516-1.8077956 |archive-date=20 March 2022 |url-status=live}} Consequently they were acquired in March 2014 by media conglomerate Content Media{{efn|At the time of acquisition, they were known as Lundquist Media, before changing their name in 2015.{{cite news |work=Byavisa Sandefjord |date=1 July 2015 |title=Lundquist Media blir Content Media |trans-title=Lundquist Media become Content Media |url=https://issuu.com/vestfoldblad/docs/20150701_nr_063ny/8 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320113934/https://issuu.com/vestfoldblad/docs/20150701_nr_063ny/8 |archive-date=20 March 2022 |url-status=live |via=Issuu |page=8 |issue=27/2015}}}} who were already owners of several city papers in Western Norway.{{cite news |last=Henriksen |first=Marianne |date=4 March 2014 |work=Vestfold Blad |language=Norwegian Bokmål |title=Vestfold Blad ble til Byavisa Sandefjord |trans-title=Vestfold Blad becomes Byavisa Sandefjord |url=http://www.vestfoldblad.no/nor/Naering/Vestfold-Blad-ble-til-Byavisa-Sandefjord/(43799) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140307074202/http://www.vestfoldblad.no/nor/Naering/Vestfold-Blad-ble-til-Byavisa-Sandefjord/(43799) |archive-date=7 March 2014 |url-status=dead}} Now publishing only in Sandefjord, Tjølling and Stokke,{{cite news |last=Sandbrekkene |first=Bjørn-Tore |date=4 March 2014 |work=Østlands-Posten |title=Vestfold Blad blir Byavisa Sandefjord |trans-title=Vestfold Blad becomes Byavisa Sandefjord |url=https://www.op.no/nyheter/vestfold-blad-blir-byavisa-sandefjord/s/1-85-7206634 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220320181506/https://www.op.no/nyheter/vestfold-blad-blir-byavisa-sandefjord/s/1-85-7206634 |archive-date=20 March 2022 |url-status=live}} the paper competed directly with Sandefjords Blad,{{cite news |last=Lien |first=Asbjørn Olav |date=4 March 2014 |work=Tønsbergs Blad |language=Norwegian Bokmål |title=Vestfold Blad forsvinner, eierne satser i Sandefjord |trans-title=Vestfold Blad vanish, owners hedge their bets in Sandefjord |url=https://www.tb.no/stokke/vestfold/jobb-og-naringsliv/vestfold-blad-forsvinner-eierne-satser-i-sandefjord/s/2-2.516-1.8317750 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220320113140/https://www.tb.no/stokke/vestfold/jobb-og-naringsliv/vestfold-blad-forsvinner-eierne-satser-i-sandefjord/s/2-2.516-1.8317750 |archive-date=20 March 2022 |url-status=live}} whose editor in chief Jan Roaldset stated their intention to go on the offensive.
Following further deficits after its acquisition, the city papers for Sandefjord and Tønsberg, both owned by the same company, were moved to the same premises in August 2016, in addition to both changing from weekly to biweekly publication three months later in November. When asked if the reduction was temporary, general manager Bjørn Larsen commented that it would likely continue through 2017.{{cite news |last=Munkås |first=Øivind |date=9 December 2016 |work={{ill|Vestviken 24|no}} |language=Norwegian Bokmål |title=Byavisene i Vestfold kjemper for å overleve |trans-title=City papers in Vestfold fight for their lives |url=https://www.vestviken24.no/vv24naringsliv/okonomi-og-naringsliv/medier/byavisene-i-vestfold-kjemper-for-a-overleve/s/5-83-55208 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220320143955/https://www.vestviken24.no/vv24naringsliv/okonomi-og-naringsliv/medier/byavisene-i-vestfold-kjemper-for-a-overleve/s/5-83-55208 |archive-date=20 March 2022 |url-status=live}} Less than half a year later, Byavisa Tønsberg moved back to their offices in {{ill|Torvgaten, Tønsberg|no|Torvgaten (Tønsberg)|lt=Torvgaten}} in Tønsberg in January 2017,{{cite news |last=Døvle Larssen |first=Lars |date=3 January 2017 |work=Tønbserg Blad |title=Vibeke prøver seg igjen – Byavisa Tønsberg tilbake i byen |trans-title=Vibeke tries her hand again - Byavisa Tønsberg returns home |url=https://www.tb.no/nyheter/okonomi-og-naringsliv/medier/vibeke-prover-seg-igjen-byavisa-tonsberg-tilbake-i-byen/s/5-76-443766 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811170321/https://www.tb.no/nyheter/okonomi-og-naringsliv/medier/vibeke-prover-seg-igjen-byavisa-tonsberg-tilbake-i-byen/s/5-76-443766 |archive-date=11 August 2020 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription}} after it was bought back by the original owners, Vibeke and Christer Lundquist. Byavisa Sandefjord remained in the hands of Content Media.{{cite news |last=Munkås |first=Øivind |date=14 August 2017 |work=Vestviken 24 |language=Norwegian Bokmål |title=Gratisaviser fra store underskudd til overskudd? |trans-title=Free newspapers turning great deficits to profits? |url=https://www.vestviken24.no/medier/vv24naringsliv/okonomi-og-naringsliv/gratisaviser-fra-store-underskudd-til-overskudd/s/5-83-77720 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220313220613/https://www.vestviken24.no/medier/vv24naringsliv/okonomi-og-naringsliv/gratisaviser-fra-store-underskudd-til-overskudd/s/5-83-77720 |archive-date=13 March 2022 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription}}
=Cessation=
On 5 December 2018, Byavisa Sandefjord published its final issue. Citing lack of funding from advertisers, the closing of the publication was announced by staff on Facebook on 12 December. This followed the cessation of the local papers in Sarpsborg and Fredrikstad, leaving Content Media with just two left, Byavisa Moss and {{ill|Byavisa Drammen|no}}.{{cite news |last=Drivdal Patella |first=Sonia |date=12 December 2018 |work=Sandefjords Blad |language=Norwegian Bokmål |title=Byavisa gir seg |trans-title=City papers throw in the towel |url=https://www.sb.no/avis/nyheter/media/byavisa-gir-seg/s/5-73-838971 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220320182101/https://www.sb.no/avis/nyheter/media/byavisa-gir-seg/s/5-73-838971 |archive-date=20 March 2022 |url-status=live}} These later went bankrupt in January 2019{{cite news |last=Warberg-Knoll |first=Helge |date=3 January 2019 |work=Moss Avis |language=Norwegian Bokmål |title=Byavisa i Moss begjært konkurs: De ansatte ante ingenting |trans-title=City papers of Moss file for bankruptcy: Staff had no clue |url=https://www.moss-avis.no/byavisa-i-moss-begjart-konkurs-de-ansatte-ante-ingenting/s/5-67-783498 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220320182921/https://www.moss-avis.no/byavisa-i-moss-begjart-konkurs-de-ansatte-ante-ingenting/s/5-67-783498 |archive-date=20 March 2022 |url-status=live}} and October 2020, respectively.{{cite news |last=Dahl Bakken |first=Jenny |date=2 October 2020 |work=Dagsavisen |title=Byavisa Drammen konkurs: Åtte ansatte mister jobben |trans-title=Byavisa Drammen bankrupt: Eight lose their jobs |url=https://www.dagsavisen.no/fremtiden/nyheter/2020/10/02/byavisa-drammen-konkurs-atte-ansatte-mister-jobben/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220320182928/https://www.dagsavisen.no/fremtiden/nyheter/2020/10/02/byavisa-drammen-konkurs-atte-ansatte-mister-jobben/ |archive-date=20 March 2022 |url-status=live}}
Notes
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References
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Category:Norwegian-language newspapers
Category:2010 establishments in Norway
Category:2018 disestablishments in Norway
Category:Publications disestablished in 2018
Category:Newspapers established in 2010