In order to accelerate its international growth strategy, Denmark’s leading news publishing group JP/Politiken Media Group has engaged one of the world’s most reputable journalistic profiles, Norwegian Espen Egil Hansen, who as editor-in-chief of both Aftenposten and VG Nett played a pivotal role in the successful digitalization of the largest news publications in Norway, within the media group Schibsted.
In addition to being a front-runner in the development of digital journalism and a great source of inspiration to news media all over the world, Espen Egil Hansen has come to international acclaim for his battle against Facebook’s censoring of journalistic content. In 2017, Hansen received the Global Media Award from the International News Media Association (INMA).
Espen Egil Hansen – who has worked as a photographer as well as a journalist – left Schibsted in 2020 where his most recent position was Head of New Media Concepts. Since then, he has served as adviser to the management of several media outlets in Europe, Africa, and the USA, among them also Politiken. Furthermore, he is chairman of the board of the two Norwegian start-ups Shifter and Factiverse. For a number of years, he was Vice President for INMA and part of Schibsted’s News Media group management.
CEO Stig Ørskov considers it a scoop that Espen Egil Hansen is joining JP/Politiken Media Group.
“There are few people, if any, with such a profound knowledge of the development of digital journalism as Espen Egil Hansen. Add to that, his huge international network and substantial journalistic background and we could not have wished for a stronger profile to contribute to our international growth strategy. Furthermore, Espen Egil Hansen will be able to provide invaluable advice to our Danish publications, as has already been the case with Politiken where Espen Egil Hansen has acted as advisor for the management over the past year. On top of all of this, Espen Egil Hansen has a special connection to Denmark with his Danish mother and a summer home in Svendborg on the Danish island of Funen. This contributes to his solid understanding of our journalistic core values. We are very much looking forward to our collaboration with Espen,” Stig Ørskov says.
Espen Egil Hansen states that he feels both proud and humble going into his new job.
“I know JP/Politiken Media Group as company with outstanding employees and both the will and the power to develop media. With publications like Politiken, Jyllands-Posten and Ekstra Bladet it is an integral part of the daily life of the Danes. This trust has been earned through the ability to develop and innovate without losing sight of the journalistic core purpose. I feel proud and humble to get the chance to participate in the further development of the media group.”
“I believe journalism is essential to the functioning of democracies. When we look around, we can no longer take anything for granted. I consider that an inspiring point of departure and look forward to getting started,” says Espen Egil Hansen.
Further comments
Espen Egil Hansen, +47 90 98 50 06
Stig Ørskov, +45 33 47 27 00