Smaalenenes Amtstidende
Encyclopedia
Smaalenenes Amtstidende was a Norwegian newspaper, published in Halden
in Østfold
county. From 1971 to 1975 it was named Amta.
Smaalenenes Amtstidende was started on 9 October 1832 as the first newspaper in Østfold county (then: Smaalenenes Amt). It was published by two book printers, and edited by teacher Hans Museus. It had the subtitle Et Ugeblad av blandet Indhold, "A Weekly Paper of Mixed Contents"—it was published daily from 1917. It got its first real competitor in 1844, when Fredrikshalds Budstikke
was started (it was named Budstikken av Fredrikshald until 1846). In 1852 the owner of Fredrikshalds Budstikke bought Smaalenenes Amtstidende and amalgamated the newspapers, but publishing continued under the latter name.
Noted editors were the Thranite
Peter Georg Christian Hammerstein, who was sentenced to 16 days in prison for criticizing the Supreme Court of Norway
in 1849, and the conservatives Audun Munthe-Kaas Hierman
(edited the newspaper from 1919 to 1931) and Halvor Gjerding Diesen (edited the newspaper from 1931 to 1969). Smaalenenes Amtstidende eventually found its shape as a conservative newspaper. It got new competitors in the liberal newspaper Halden
in 1880, more so in the socialist newspaper Halden Arbeiderblad
in 1929. In 1936 a third competitor, the agrarian Idd og Marker
, was founded. The German occupation of Norway changed everything. Halden Arbeiderblad was stopped by the Germans, and Idd og Marker amalgamated into Smaalenenes Amtstidende in 1942. Nonetheless, after the war Halden Arbeiderblad returned and became the city's dominant newspaper. The circulation of Smaalenenes Amtstidende dropped from 4,450 in 1950 to only 2,662 in 1969.
There were attempts to save Smaalenenes Amtstidende. In 1966 joint printing with Sarpen
was tried. In 1971 tabloid format was tried, along with a rename to just Amta from 26 April 1971. In 1974 the circulation had dropped to a meagre 1,591 copies. The name change was reverted in January 1975, at the same time as joint printing with Halden Arbeiderblad was tried. It failed, and the last edition of Østfold's first newspaper was on 5 July 1975.
Halden
is a both a town and a municipality in Østfold county, Norway. The seat of the municipality, Halden is a border town located at the Tista river delta on the Iddefjord, the southernmost border crossing between Norway and Sweden.-History:...
in Østfold
Østfold
is a county in southeastern Norway, bordering Akershus and southwestern Sweden , while Buskerud and Vestfold is on the other side of the bay. The seat of the county administration is Sarpsborg, and Fredrikstad is the largest city.Many manufacturing facilities are situated here. Moss and...
county. From 1971 to 1975 it was named Amta.
Smaalenenes Amtstidende was started on 9 October 1832 as the first newspaper in Østfold county (then: Smaalenenes Amt). It was published by two book printers, and edited by teacher Hans Museus. It had the subtitle Et Ugeblad av blandet Indhold, "A Weekly Paper of Mixed Contents"—it was published daily from 1917. It got its first real competitor in 1844, when Fredrikshalds Budstikke
Fredrikshalds Budstikke
Fredrikshalds Budstikke was a Norwegian newspaper, published in Halden in Østfold county.Budstikken av Fredrikshald was started on 2 January 1844 by Chr. Olsen. On 1 January 1846 it changed its name to Fredrikshalds Budstikke. It lasted until the 1850s...
was started (it was named Budstikken av Fredrikshald until 1846). In 1852 the owner of Fredrikshalds Budstikke bought Smaalenenes Amtstidende and amalgamated the newspapers, but publishing continued under the latter name.
Noted editors were the Thranite
Marcus Thrane
Marcus Møller Thrane was a Norwegian author, journalist, and the leader of the first Norwegian labor movement, later known as the Thrane movement .-Early life:...
Peter Georg Christian Hammerstein, who was sentenced to 16 days in prison for criticizing the Supreme Court of Norway
Supreme Court of Norway
The Supreme Court of Norway was established in 1815 on the basis of the Constitution of Norway's §88, prescribing an independent judiciary. It is located in Oslo and is Norway's highest court...
in 1849, and the conservatives Audun Munthe-Kaas Hierman
Audun Munthe-Kaas Hierman
Audun Munthe-Kaas Hierman was a Norwegian newspaper editor and novelist.He was born in Flora. He was the editor-in-chief of Smaalenenes Amtstidende from 1919 to 1931, then Sarpen, Larvik Morgenavis and finally Tønsbergs Blad from 1950 to 1954. He published several novels; some for a juvenile...
(edited the newspaper from 1919 to 1931) and Halvor Gjerding Diesen (edited the newspaper from 1931 to 1969). Smaalenenes Amtstidende eventually found its shape as a conservative newspaper. It got new competitors in the liberal newspaper Halden
Halden (newspaper)
Halden was a Norwegian newspaper, published in Halden in Østfold county.Halden was started in 1882 as a liberal competitor to the city's dominant, conservative newspaper Smaalenenes Amtstidende. The first editor was Jens Olsen. Sigurd Østensen Sandberg later took over informally, then formally from...
in 1880, more so in the socialist newspaper Halden Arbeiderblad
Halden Arbeiderblad
Halden Arbeiderblad is a local newspaper in Halden, Norway.It was established in 1929 as a Labour Party newspaper, but has later become non-partisan...
in 1929. In 1936 a third competitor, the agrarian Idd og Marker
Idd og Marker
Idd og Marker was a Norwegian newspaper, published in Halden in Østfold county.Idd og Marker was started on 1 September 1936, and named after the rural municipalities Idd and Marker outside of Halden. It was an organ for the Norwegian Agrarian Association, started by Agrarian Party politician...
, was founded. The German occupation of Norway changed everything. Halden Arbeiderblad was stopped by the Germans, and Idd og Marker amalgamated into Smaalenenes Amtstidende in 1942. Nonetheless, after the war Halden Arbeiderblad returned and became the city's dominant newspaper. The circulation of Smaalenenes Amtstidende dropped from 4,450 in 1950 to only 2,662 in 1969.
There were attempts to save Smaalenenes Amtstidende. In 1966 joint printing with Sarpen
Sarpen
Sarpen was a Norwegian newspaper, published in Sarpsborg in Østfold county.Sarpen was started as Dagbladet Sarpen in 1854, and eventually became affiliated with the Conservative Party, which was founded in 1884...
was tried. In 1971 tabloid format was tried, along with a rename to just Amta from 26 April 1971. In 1974 the circulation had dropped to a meagre 1,591 copies. The name change was reverted in January 1975, at the same time as joint printing with Halden Arbeiderblad was tried. It failed, and the last edition of Østfold's first newspaper was on 5 July 1975.