Ola Thommessen
Encyclopedia
Ola Thommessen was a Norwegian
newspaper editor. He was the long-time editor of Verdens Gang
and Tidens Tegn
.
as the son of Thommes Kristoffersen Holtan (1817–1901) and Hella Marie Andersdatter (1824–1893). He was married twice, and was the father of newspaper editor Rolf Thommessen
.
Thommessen studied at Heltberg's "student factory", and took the examen artium
in 1870. He started studying philology
, but abandoned the education to study law, finishing his cand.jur. degree in 1877.
in 1875. He worked for Verdens Gang
from 1876, and as editor-in-chief from 1878 to 1910. Under his leadership Verdens Gang became the main publication for the Liberal Party, and a modern newspaper of high standard. The leadership period included the period of political turmoil in the 1880s. The newspaper supported the Liberal Party and Johan Sverdrup
, and their endeavors to form a cabinet. Thommessen frequently corresponded with the writer Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson
at this time, and was also a friend of Lars Holst
, Oda Krohg
, Mathilde Schjøtt
as well as Maren
, Ossian and Ernst Sars
. Thommessen was a controversial person, and he is targeted in Knut Hamsun
's novel Redaktør Lynge (1893), which is regarded as a personal attack on Thommessen, one of the strongest in the history of Norwegian literature. The novel still received good reviews in Verdens Gang.
Not long after the Liberal Party succeeded, and Johan Sverdrup became Prime Minister, Thommessen became estranged from the party. Around the turn of the century he instead advocated a bourgeois coalition in light of the growing socialist movement. Still, many of his political views aligned with those of the Liberal Party, such as universal suffrage for men
which was introduced in 1898.
Thommessen left Verdens Gang in 1910, and founded the newspaper Tidens Tegn
, which he led until 1917. The incidents leading to his resignation, a conflict with lawyer and share owner Ole Madsen, made him a legend. Among the outcomes was the formation of Norwegian Press Association
in 1910. Tidens Tegn soon became one of the country's most important and largest newspapers, and many important cultural personalities were among the contributors, including Sven Elvestad
, Olaf Bull
, Hans E. Kinck
, Herman Wildenvey
, Nils Collett Vogt
and Selma Lagerlöf
. In 1920 his sons took over as editors of Tidens Tegn. The newspaper bought Verdens Gang in 1923.
In the interwar period
Thommessen was known for his anti-communism
. He was skeptic to the Norwegian Parliament, and advocated a strong bourgeois leadership as a leading member of Fedrelandslaget
. Thommessen also wrote several books.
He died in 1942, 91 years old, surviving both his sons.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
newspaper editor. He was the long-time editor of Verdens Gang
Verdens Gang (1868-1923 newspaper)
Verdens Gang is a former Norwegian newspaper, issued in Oslo from 1868 to 1923.It was established as a weekly magazine in 1868, later expanded to three issues a week, and was issued daily from 1885. It was the most widespread political newspaper in Norway for many years, and had considerable...
and Tidens Tegn
Tidens Tegn
Tidens Tegn is a former Norwegian newspaper, issued in Oslo from 1910 to 1941.-Editors:The founder and first editor-in-chief of Tidens Tegn was Ola Thommessen, who edited the newspaper until 1917. Thommessen had recently left the editor chair of Verdens Gang in protest, bringing much of Verdens...
.
Early and personal life
Olaus Anthon Thommessen Holtan was born in BorreBorre, Norway
Borre is a village in the municipality of Horten, Vestfold county, Norway. The village of Borre had provided the name of the former Borre municipality .-History:...
as the son of Thommes Kristoffersen Holtan (1817–1901) and Hella Marie Andersdatter (1824–1893). He was married twice, and was the father of newspaper editor Rolf Thommessen
Rolf Thommessen
Rolf Thommessen was a Norwegian journalist, newspaper editor and politician. He edited the newspaper Tidens Tegn from 1917 to 1938...
.
Thommessen studied at Heltberg's "student factory", and took the examen artium
Examen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
in 1870. He started studying philology
Philology
Philology is the study of language in written historical sources; it is a combination of literary studies, history and linguistics.Classical philology is the philology of Greek and Classical Latin...
, but abandoned the education to study law, finishing his cand.jur. degree in 1877.
Professional career
Thommessen started working for DagbladetDagbladet
Dagbladet is Norway's second largest tabloid newspaper, and the third largest newspaper overall with a circulation of 105,255 copies in 2009, 18,128 papers less than in 2008. The editor in chief is Lars Helle....
in 1875. He worked for Verdens Gang
Verdens Gang (1868-1923 newspaper)
Verdens Gang is a former Norwegian newspaper, issued in Oslo from 1868 to 1923.It was established as a weekly magazine in 1868, later expanded to three issues a week, and was issued daily from 1885. It was the most widespread political newspaper in Norway for many years, and had considerable...
from 1876, and as editor-in-chief from 1878 to 1910. Under his leadership Verdens Gang became the main publication for the Liberal Party, and a modern newspaper of high standard. The leadership period included the period of political turmoil in the 1880s. The newspaper supported the Liberal Party and Johan Sverdrup
Johan Sverdrup
Johan Sverdrup was a Norwegian politician from the Liberal Party. He was the first Prime Minister of Norway after the introduction of parliamentarism. Sverdrup was Prime Minister from 1884 to 1889.- Early years :...
, and their endeavors to form a cabinet. Thommessen frequently corresponded with the writer Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson
Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson
Bjørnstjerne Martinius Bjørnson was a Norwegian writer and the 1903 Nobel Prize in Literature laureate. Bjørnson is considered as one of The Four Greats Norwegian writers; the others being Henrik Ibsen, Jonas Lie, and Alexander Kielland...
at this time, and was also a friend of Lars Holst
Lars Holst
Lars Kristian Holst was a Norwegian journalist, newspaper editor and politician. He was editor-in-chief of Dagbladet from 1883 to 1898 and chairman of the Liberal Party of Norway from 1900 to 1903.-Personal life:...
, Oda Krohg
Oda Krohg
Oda Krohg, born Othilia Pauline Christine Lasson , was a Norwegian painter, and the wife of her teacher and colleague Christian Krohg....
, Mathilde Schjøtt
Mathilde Schjøtt
Mathilde Schjøtt was a Norwegian writer, literary critic, biographer and feminist. She made her literary debut with the anonymous Venindernes samtale om Kvindens Underkuelse in 1871. She was a literary critic for the magazine Nyt Tidsskrift, and her play Rosen was published anonymously in this...
as well as Maren
Maren Sars
Maren Cathrine Sars was a Norwegian socialite.-Personal life:She was born in Bergen as a daughter of priest Johan Ernst Welhaven and Else Margrethe Cammermeyer...
, Ossian and Ernst Sars
Ernst Sars
Johan Ernst Welhaven Sars was a Norwegian historian, publicist and editor. His main work was Udsigt over den norske Historie, four volumes issued from 1873 to 1891. He co-edited the magazines Nyt norsk Tidskrift from 1877 to 1878, and Nyt Tidsskrift from 1882 to 1887...
. Thommessen was a controversial person, and he is targeted in Knut Hamsun
Knut Hamsun
Knut Hamsun was a Norwegian author, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1920. He was praised by King Haakon VII of Norway as Norway's soul....
's novel Redaktør Lynge (1893), which is regarded as a personal attack on Thommessen, one of the strongest in the history of Norwegian literature. The novel still received good reviews in Verdens Gang.
Not long after the Liberal Party succeeded, and Johan Sverdrup became Prime Minister, Thommessen became estranged from the party. Around the turn of the century he instead advocated a bourgeois coalition in light of the growing socialist movement. Still, many of his political views aligned with those of the Liberal Party, such as universal suffrage for men
Universal suffrage
Universal suffrage consists of the extension of the right to vote to adult citizens as a whole, though it may also mean extending said right to minors and non-citizens...
which was introduced in 1898.
Thommessen left Verdens Gang in 1910, and founded the newspaper Tidens Tegn
Tidens Tegn
Tidens Tegn is a former Norwegian newspaper, issued in Oslo from 1910 to 1941.-Editors:The founder and first editor-in-chief of Tidens Tegn was Ola Thommessen, who edited the newspaper until 1917. Thommessen had recently left the editor chair of Verdens Gang in protest, bringing much of Verdens...
, which he led until 1917. The incidents leading to his resignation, a conflict with lawyer and share owner Ole Madsen, made him a legend. Among the outcomes was the formation of Norwegian Press Association
Norwegian Press Association
The Norwegian Press Association is Norwegian association established in 1910, for press people with journalism as their main profession. Among its members are the Norwegian Union of Journalists, the Association of Norwegian Editors, Norsk Lokalradioforbund and the Norwegian Media Businesses'...
in 1910. Tidens Tegn soon became one of the country's most important and largest newspapers, and many important cultural personalities were among the contributors, including Sven Elvestad
Sven Elvestad
Sven Elvestad was a Norwegian journalist and author. He is best known for his detective stories, which were published under the pen name Stein Riverton and translated to several languages, including German and English.Elvestad was born as Kristoffer Elvestad Svendsen, in Fredrikshald , a small...
, Olaf Bull
Olaf Bull
Olaf Jacob Martin Luther Breda Bull or Olaf Bull was a Norwegian poet. He was born on November 10, 1883 in Kristiania , Norway, and died on June 29, 1933.-His life:...
, Hans E. Kinck
Hans E. Kinck
Hans Ernst Kinck was a Norwegian author and philologist who wrote novels, short stories, dramas, and essays.He was born in Øksfjord in Loppa, Finnmark, where his father was the local health inspector. He died in Oslo....
, Herman Wildenvey
Herman Wildenvey
Herman Wildenvey , born Herman Theodor Portaas, was one of the most prominent Norwegian poets of the twentieth century. During his lifetime he published 44 books of his own poetry, in addition to translations of William Shakespeare, Ernest Hemingway, and Heinrich Heine.- Biography :Wildenvey was...
, Nils Collett Vogt
Nils Collett Vogt
Nils Collett Vogt was a Norwegian poet.He was born in Christiania as the son of tramway director Jens Theodor Paludan Vogt and writer Johanne Collett...
and Selma Lagerlöf
Selma Lagerlöf
Selma Ottilia Lovisa Lagerlöf was a Swedish author. She was the first female writer to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, and most widely known for her children's book Nils Holgerssons underbara resa genom Sverige ....
. In 1920 his sons took over as editors of Tidens Tegn. The newspaper bought Verdens Gang in 1923.
In the interwar period
Interwar period
Interwar period can refer to any period between two wars. The Interbellum is understood to be the period between the end of the Great War or First World War and the beginning of the Second World War in Europe....
Thommessen was known for his anti-communism
Anti-communism
Anti-communism is opposition to communism. Organized anti-communism developed in reaction to the rise of communism, especially after the 1917 October Revolution in Russia and the beginning of the Cold War in 1947.-Objections to communist theory:...
. He was skeptic to the Norwegian Parliament, and advocated a strong bourgeois leadership as a leading member of Fedrelandslaget
Fedrelandslaget
The Fatherland League was a political organisation in Norway, which was founded on 25 January 1925. By the initiative of young industrialist Joakim Lehmkuhl, the organisation was co-founded with polar explorer Fridtjof Nansen and former Prime Minister Christian Michelsen...
. Thommessen also wrote several books.
He died in 1942, 91 years old, surviving both his sons.