Oslo Redaktørforening (Oslo Editors’ Association) named this year’s editors in Oslo and Akershus last night. In strong competition with NRK’s foreign affairs editor Sigurd Falkenberg Mikkelsen and Tove Lie, editor-in-chief at Khrono, VG’s news editor Tora Bakke Håndlykken won the award as editor of the year.
“Everything we do at VG is a big team effort, so this award is a recognition of the fantastic work the entire editorial staff has done in a special year news-wise. I feel so lucky to lead and work with such dedicated, skilled and committed people,” says Håndlykken.
Improving diversity
In its reasoning, the jury, with Fritt Ord director Knut Olav Åmås as jury leader, points to the dramatic news year 2022.
Håndlykken is praised for prioritizing last year’s big happenings heavily and for emphasizing VG’s presence in the war zones in Ukraine over the past year. Several of VG’s own revealing stories are also highlighted.
“She’s equipped with a strong will and clear opinions about what the newspaper should be and must become. In the past year, she has also worked to make the newspaper more diverse, with new journalistic projects aimed at groups with little to do with traditional news media,” the jury statement says.
Can be almost redundant
Håndlykken herself is humble about her importance for VG.
“Nothing gives me more energy than being on the news desk and following the machinery that continuously delivers top stories to our readers. As a manager, I can almost be redundant, and I think that’s a good thing!”
Yet Gard Steiro, Chief Publisher at VG, believes that the award winner is crucial for VG’s success:
“Tora is a journalistic nuclear power plant. She manages VG’s newsroom with clarity and confidence which has been crucial through years of war and pandemics,” says Steiro.
