''Orientering'' was a Norwegian newspaper which was initially published in December 1952 as an alternative voice. It was absorbed into ''

Ny Tid ''Ny Tid'' (English: ''Modern Times Review'') is Norway's largest international quarterly review of non-fiction books – up to 50 in each issue. It is currently owned by Ny Tid & Orientering AS. ''Ny Tid'' is headed by the newspaper founder ...

'' in 1975. There were many reasons for establishing the newspaper, but the most important was perhaps that it had become very difficult to express viewpoints which were critical of

NATO The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO ; , OTAN), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental organization, intergovernmental Transnationalism, transnational military alliance of 32 Member states of NATO, member s ...

and western

capitalism Capitalism is an economic system based on the private ownership of the means of production and their use for the purpose of obtaining profit. This socioeconomic system has developed historically through several stages and is defined by ...

in general. In 1953 the group from the Labor Party's left wing won, led by

Karl Evang Karl Evang (19 October 1902 – 3 January 1981) was a Norwegian physician and civil servant. He was born in Kristiania as a son of assisting secretary Jens Ingolf Evang (1873–1914) and Anna Beate Wexelsen (1875–1954). He was a brother of Vil ...

. The editor and spokesman for the group was

Sigurd Evensmo Sigurd Evensmo (14 February 1912 – 17 October 1978) was a Norwegian author and journalist.

, with

Finn Gustavsen Finn Gustavsen (22 April 1926 in Drammen – 20 July 2005) was a Norwegian socialist politician active from 1945 to the late 1970s. He was noted for his uncompromising style and willingness to take contrarian stands. Early life Gustavsen was ...

as the co-editor. They also had the support of the Labor Party, such as the party's first

Prime Minister A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...

Christopher Hornsrud Christopher Andersen Hornsrud (15 November 1859 – 12 December 1960) was a Norwegian politician for the Labour Party. He served as leader of the Labour Party from 1903 to 1906 and became a member of the Storting in 1912. In 1928, he became the f ...

. The group's party line was an alternative to the third way, critical of both

Moscow Moscow is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Russia by population, largest city of Russia, standing on the Moskva (river), Moskva River in Central Russia. It has a population estimated at over 13 million residents with ...

and

Washington DC Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and Federal district of the United States, federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from ...

. ''Orientering'' was therefore opposed to Norwegian membership in NATO, but also gave extensive independence in the imperialism suitable for analysis of international relations. The main current of Norwegian

socialism Socialism is an economic ideology, economic and political philosophy encompassing diverse Economic system, economic and social systems characterised by social ownership of the means of production, as opposed to private ownership. It describes ...

in the 1950s was polarized between Moscow (

Communist Party of Norway The Communist Party of Norway (, NKP) is a communist party in Norway. The NKP was formed in 1923, following a split in the Norwegian Labour Party. It was Stalinist from its establishment and, as such, supported the Soviet government while oppo ...

) and Washington (

Norwegian Labour Party The Labour Party (; , A or Ap; ), formerly The Norwegian Labour Party (, DNA), is a Social democracy, social democratic List of political parties in Norway, political party in Norway. It is positioned on the centre-left of the political spectru ...

). ''Orientering'' was almost silent about the Labor Party's newspapers, something which contributed to increasing interest. The newspaper was characterized by foreign affairs from the beginning. Questions regarding domestic policy grew in large degree after Finn Gustavsen became the editor in 1957. It climaxed with the question of the proposed stockpiling of atomic weaponry in Norway when the national congress in the Labor Party passed a resolution in 1961 allowing for this. The key people in the inner circle of ''Orientering'' considered starting a new party, which would become a reality through the establishment of the Socialist People's Party in 1961. Gustavsen was one of the party's first two representatives to the

Norwegian Parliament The Storting ( ; ) is the supreme legislature of Norway, established in 1814 by the Constitution of Norway. It is located in Oslo. The unicameral parliament has 169 members and is elected every four years based on party-list proportional represe ...

and relinquished the role of editor to Evang. ''Orientering'' became the advocate of the Socialist People's Party; at the same time the newspaper doubled its frequency to releasing a new issue weekly. The Socialist People's Party did not formally take over the newspaper until 1973. The editor from 1965 on was Kjell Cordtsen. In 1975-1975 assembly meetings were arranged between the parties on the left after the Socialist People's Party's success in the election of 1973. The establishment of the Socialist Left Party was approved and would replace the Socialist People's Party, the Norwegian Communist Party (who later withdrew) and the Democratic Socialists with support from a number of independent socialists. In connection with this process, ''Orientering'' was discontinued and absorbed into the Socialist Left Party's new party newspaper, ''Ny Tid''. From the beginning the circulation was several thousand, but this slowly grew to around 19,000 in 1974, while the last issue reached 16,000. The community surrounding ''Orientering'' continued in and around ''Ny Tid''.

Editors

Sigurd Evensmo Sigurd Evensmo (14 February 1912 – 17 October 1978) was a Norwegian author and journalist.

1952–1959 *

1959–1961 *

Sigurd Evensmo Sigurd Evensmo (14 February 1912 – 17 October 1978) was a Norwegian author and journalist.

1961–1965 * Kjell Cordtsen 1965–1975

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Orientering 1953 establishments in Norway 1975 disestablishments in Norway Defunct newspapers published in Norway Newspapers published in Oslo Norwegian-language newspapers Newspapers established in 1953 Publications disestablished in 1975 Socialist Left Party (Norway) newspapers Socialist newspapers