The Nordic islands—Faroe Islands, Greenland, Åland, Svalbard, Bornholm, and Iceland—each have unique media landscapes shaped by geography, culture, and politics. Despite smaller markets, their journalism plays a crucial role in preserving language, culture, and identity, often acting as a bridge between local communities and the wider world.
Faroe Islands: A Voice for Language and Culture
The Faroe Islands, with a population of around 50,000, maintain a dynamic media environment. The oldest newspaper, Dimmalætting, founded in 1878, transitioned well into the digital age. It provides news in Faroese, supporting local culture and identity. The Sosialurin newspaper and its online version, In.fo, offer additional perspectives. Public broadcasting is led by Kringvarp Føroya (KVF), a merger of Faroese radio and television services since 2005. KVF offers news, cultural programs, and entertainment in Faroese, playing a crucial educational role, particularly for younger generations. Faroese journalism also reflects the islands’ semi-autonomous status within the Kingdom of Denmark, covering local governance, fishing policies, and cultural preservation.
Greenland: Journalism in a Vast, Remote Land
Greenland’s journalism faces the unique challenge of covering a vast, sparsely populated island. Kalaallit Nunaata Radioa (KNR) is Greenland’s public broadcaster, offering television, radio, and digital news in both Greenlandic and Danish. KNR plays a key role in maintaining Greenlandic as a vibrant media language and connecting remote communities. Greenland’s first newspaper, Atuagagdliutit, now known as Sermitsiaq, remains a cornerstone of the island’s media. Alongside Sermitsiaq.AG, Greenlandic journalism covers everything from local issues and indigenous rights to climate change, which has a profound impact on the Arctic region. Digitalization has helped Greenlandic media reach international audiences, particularly on topics like environmental conservation and cultural heritage.
Åland Islands: Autonomy and Bilingual Journalism
The Åland Islands, an autonomous, Swedish-speaking region of Finland, have a robust media presence. The leading newspaper, Ålandstidningen, established in 1891, and its competitor, Nya Åland, contribute to a pluralistic media environment. Both newspapers are published in Swedish and focus on local news, maritime issues, and the islands’ unique political status. Public broadcasting is provided by Ålands Radio och TV, offering content in Swedish and maintaining a strong digital presence. The Åland Islands benefit from Finland’s high standards of press freedom and media ethics, with journalism often focusing on autonomy, local democracy, and EU relations.
Svalbard: International Media in a Remote Archipelago
Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic, hosts a small but diverse media scene. The main publication, Svalbardposten, is the world’s northernmost newspaper, founded in 1948. It provides news in Norwegian and English, reflecting the international community of Longyearbyen, where residents from over 50 countries live and work. Due to Svalbard’s unique status under the Svalbard Treaty, the media also cover international topics, mining, scientific research, and climate change. Svalbardposten has a strong digital presence, allowing Arctic news to reach global audiences.
Bornholm: Danish Media with a Local Focus
Bornholm, a Danish island in the Baltic Sea, is served by Bornholms Tidende, the island’s primary newspaper. Established in 1866, the newspaper provides local news and information to the island’s 40,000 residents. Public broadcaster TV 2/Bornholm delivers regional television and online news. The station focuses on local culture, tourism, and regional development, often collaborating with Denmark’s national broadcaster TV 2. Despite its small size, Bornholm maintains a lively media landscape that emphasizes local identity and community issues.
Iceland: Bridging Local and Global News
Iceland, although not just an “island region” but a full-fledged nation, shares similarities with smaller Nordic islands in its approach to journalism. The media landscape includes national newspapers like Morgunblaðið, digital outlets such as Kjarninn and Vísir, and public broadcaster RÚV. Icelandic journalism covers both domestic and international news, often highlighting Iceland’s unique cultural and political context. Iceland’s media gained international recognition during the 2008 financial crisis when investigative journalists exposed political and financial mismanagement. The strong tradition of press freedom and journalistic independence remains a hallmark of Icelandic media.
Small Islands, Big Stories
Though smaller in population and market size, the Nordic islands maintain vibrant, resilient media landscapes. Their journalism not only informs and entertains but also preserves linguistic and cultural identities. Whether it’s the remote outposts of Svalbard, the self-governing Faroes, or the icy expanse of Greenland, each island brings a unique voice to the broader Nordic media narrative—proving that even in the farthest corners of the North, stories are worth telling.
Read ‘History of Journalism in the Nordics: Part 1‘
Read ‘History of Journalism in the Nordics: Part 2‘
