''Ávvir'' is a

newspaper A newspaper is a Periodical literature, periodical publication containing written News, information about current events and is often typed in black ink with a white or gray background. Newspapers can cover a wide variety of fields such as poli ...

written in the Northern Sámi language with editorial offices or reporters in

Kárášjohka Karasjok is a Norwegianized version of the Northern Sami name Kárášjohka. Either one may refer to the following places: * Karasjok Municipality or , a municipality in Finnmark county, Norway * Karasjok (village) or , a village in Karasjok Muni ...

, Guovdageaidnu, Áltá, Girkonjárga, and Romsa, Norway. It is currently published five times a week, from Monday to Friday, and has readership across

Sápmi is the cultural region traditionally inhabited by the Sámi people. Sápmi includes the northern parts of Fennoscandia, stretching over four countries: Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia. Most of Sápmi lies north of the Arctic Circle, boun ...

History

''Ávvir'' launched in 2008 on

Sami National Day Acronyms * SAMI, ''Synchronized Accessible Media Interchange'', a closed-captioning format developed by Microsoft * Saudi Arabian Military Industries, a government-owned defence company * South African Malaria Initiative, a virtual expertise n ...

(6 February) It was founded through the merger of rival Northern Sámi-language tabloids '' Áššu'' and ''

Min Áigi ''Min Áigi'' (''Our Time'' in Northern Sami) was a twice-weekly Northern Sami, Northern Sámi language newspaper based in Karasjok Municipality, Kárášjohka, Norway. In 2008, ''Min Áigi'' ceased publication to merge with the rival paper ''Á� ...

''. ''Min Áigi'' chairman Magne Svineng stated that due to higher production costs, mergering ''Áššu'' and ''Min Áigi'' was the only way to meet the need for a daily Sámi-language newspaper with wide distribution. ''Ávvir'' maintained editorial bureaus in

and Guovdageaidnu, the respective headquarters of ''Min Áigi'' and ''Áššu'', and its management is co-located with '' Altaposten'' in Alta. The paper is owned by Sami Aviisa AS, which is one-third owned by Nord Avis AS (the owner of ''Altaposten''), one-third by

Amedia Amedia AS is the second largest media company in Norway (the largest is Schibsted and the third largest is Polaris Media). The company is whole or partial owner of 50 local and regional newspaper with online newspapers and printing presses, an ...

, and one-third by local owners. On 5 March 2017, ''Ávvir'' launched an online edition to better reach younger readers, as well as extend its readership across the Swedish, Finnish, and Russian portions of Sápmi. In 2016, ''Ávvir'' reported earning a profit of . Funding for the paper comes from advertising, subscriptions, and a Sámi media subsidy provided by the Norwegian government. In 2014, to help meet the need for Northern Sámi-language print media in Sweden, the

Sámi Parliament of Sweden The Sámi Parliament of Sweden (, , , ) is the representative body for people of Sámi heritage in Sweden based in Kiruna. It acts as an institution of cultural autonomy for the indigenous Sámi people. History The Sami Parliament ActSametingsla ...

made it easier for ''Ávvir'' to operate in Sweden. The name for ''Ávvir'' was proposed by

Láilá Susanne Vars Laila Susanne Vars is a Norwegian-Sami human rights lawyer and former politician. Elected rector of Sámi University of Applied Sciences 2019-2023. First Sámi woman to achieve a PhD in Law. Vars is appointed by the Governmemnt of Sweden, Mini ...

Láhpoluoppal Láhpoluoppal is a village in Kautokeino Municipality in Finnmark county, Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. The remote Arctic is ...

in Guovdageaidnu. The word ''ávvir'' translates into English as "care" or "attention" The paper is credited with helping to preserve and develop the Northern Sámi language.

Editor-in-chief

* Ánte Bals 2008–2009 * Sara Beate Nilsdatter Eira, December 2009 – July 2013 * Kari Lisbeth Hermansen, July 2013–

Circulation

References

External links

''Ávvir''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Avvir 2008 establishments in Norway Newspapers established in 2008 Northern Sámi-language newspapers Sámi in Norway Sámi newspapers