The Norwegian Oil Fund excludes DN from the conference – NRK Norway – Overview of news from various parts of the country

The oil fund will not invite Dagens Næringsliv (DN) to next year’s investment conference, reports Finansavisen.

Communications manager Line Aaltvedt at the Oil Fund claims that DN must have broken the minutes ban during the lecture to major investor Ole Andreas Halvorsen. He is Norway’s second richest with a fortune of NOK 63 billion.

The Oljefondet annually invites to an investment conference, where world-leading experts give lectures on financial and economic topics. The conference is usually open and streamed, but this year they made an exception during the lecture by the aforementioned Halvorsen.

He was among the big draws for this year’s conference.

A ban on minutes was seen as a premise for the session, according to Halvorsen’s own wishes.

– No thanks

The Norwegian Oil Fund believes that DN chose to indirectly break these rules. The journalists in the newspaper left the room during the lecture, but afterwards are said to have asked the audience what was said, and then to write a report.

– DN covered the session through normal source work as we cover other events where journalists cannot or are not allowed to be present. It is not the first nor the last time that DN refers to a meeting that is closed to the public and where conversations of public interest take place, DN editor Janne Johannessen responds to the exclusion of Finansavisen.

Line Aaltvedt in the Oil Fund says they want to be as open as possible with public information, but that every person has the right not to have their content shared.

– The reason we are reacting to DN’s coverage is because Halvorsen’s wish was clearly communicated to the media in advance, and DN’s journalist also contacted us earlier in the day with questions about how the driving rules for the event should be allowed, writes Aaltvedt in an e -mail to NRK.

– We see this as a breach of trust, and not least as unfair to all other media that respected the driving rules.

– It should be allowed to set up such sessions

The Ministry of Finance, which is responsible for the framework for the Oil Fund, does not wish to comment. They refer to the Oil Fund, which is responsible for the event.

Secretary General of the Norwegian Editors’ Association, Reidun K. Nybø, supports DN editor Johannessen.

– The oil fund, which says it is among the most open investment funds in the world, should refrain from setting up such closed sessions, where in practice there is a ban on minutes, Nybø tells NRK. She adds:

– When one also reacts to press reports and denies access to next year’s conference, it shows a lack of understanding of the role of the press.

She hopes and believes that the Oil Fund will change the decision on exclusion in good time before next year’s investment conference.

Nybø understands that in some contexts there is a need for things not to be referred, such as in security matters.

– But then you have to choose a smaller forum than such an investment conference, says Nybø.

She believes it is relevant for the public to hear Halvorsen’s voice.

– It is a general problem that very many important voices in business are not active participants in the public debate in Norway, says Nybø.

NRK has asked the Oil Fund for a comment on Nybø’s statements, and has asked if they will change their mind in the matter.

– We have set up a meeting with DN and look forward to discussing the matter further with them directly, says Aaltvedt.