Ávvir is a newspaper written in the Northern Sámi language with editorial offices or reporters in Kárášjohka, Guovdageaidnu, Áltá, Girkonjárga, and Romsa, Norway. It is currently published five times a week, from Monday to Friday, and has readership across Sápmi.[1][2]

Ávvir
TypeWeekdays
FormatTabloid
Editor-in-chiefKari Lisbeth Hermansen
LaunchedFebruary 6, 2008 (2008-02-06)
LanguageNorthern Sámi
HeadquartersKárášjohka, Norway
Circulation861 (in 2019)
ISSN1890-6575
Websitewww.avvir.no

History

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Aili Keskitalo reading Avvir and other newspapers

Ávvir launched in 2008 on Sami National Day (6 February)[3][4][5] It was founded through the merger of rival Northern Sámi-language tabloids Áššu and Min Áigi. Min Áigi chairman Magne Svineng stated that due to higher production costs, mergering Áššu and Min Áigi was the only way to meet the need for a daily Sámi-language newspaper with wide distribution.[6] Ávvir maintained editorial bureaus in Kárášjohka and Guovdageaidnu, the respective headquarters of Min Áigi and Áššu, and its management is co-located with Altaposten in Alta. The paper is owned by Sami Aviisa AS, which is one-third owned by Nord Avis AS (the owner of Altaposten), one-third by Amedia, and one-third by local owners.[7]

On 5 March 2017, Ávvir launched an online edition to better reach younger readers, as well as extend its readership across the Swedish, Finnish, and Russian portions of Sápmi.[8]

In 2016, Ávvir reported earning a profit of NOK 526,475.[9] Funding for the paper comes from advertising, subscriptions, and a Sámi media subsidy provided by the Norwegian government.[10] In 2014, to help meet the need for Northern Sámi-language print media in Sweden, the Sámi Parliament of Sweden made it easier for Ávvir to operate in Sweden.[11]

The name for Ávvir was proposed by Láilá Susanne Vars of Láhpoluoppal in Guovdageaidnu. The word ávvir translates into English as "care" or "attention"[12] The paper is credited with helping to preserve and develop the Northern Sámi language.[13]

Editor-in-chief

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  • Ánte Bals 2008–2009
  • Sara Beate Nilsdatter Eira, December 2009 – July 2013
  • Kari Lisbeth Hermansen, July 2013–

Circulation

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Number of Subscribers[14]
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
1,204 1,204 1,271 1,088 1,047 1,064 1,024 966 1,031 913 879 861

References

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  1. ^ "Ávvir kutter lørdagsavis" [Ávvir cuts Saturday print edition] (in Norwegian). NRK Sápmi. 28 May 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  2. ^ Josefsen, Eva; Skogerbø, Eli (2013). "An Indigenous Public Sphere? The Media and the 2009 Sámediggi Election Campaign" (PDF). Arctic Review on Law and Politics. 4 (1). doi:10.23865/arctic.v4.39. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  3. ^ "Aviissat ja bládit". Sámi mediat (in Northern Sami). YLE Sámi Radio. Archived from the original on 5 October 2006. Retrieved 7 March 2008.
  4. ^ "Ønsker samisk dagsavis velkommen - Både Norske Samers Riksforbund og avisa Ságat ønsker en ny samiskspråklig dagsavis velkommen" [A Sámi daily welcome — Both the Norwegian Sámi Federation and Ságat paper welcome the new Sámi language daily newspaper] (in Norwegian). NRK Sámi Radio. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  5. ^ Risan, Herdis Lydia (6 February 2008). "Samisk dagsavis ser dagens lys" [Sámi daily sees the light of day]. Aftenbladet (in Norwegian). Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  6. ^ "Samiske aviser slås sammen" [Sámi newspapers to merge] (in Norwegian). NRK Sámi Radio. 15 August 2007. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  7. ^ Sametingets Mediepolitiska Handlingsprogram — 2012 (Report) (in Swedish). Girona, Sweden: Sametinget. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  8. ^ Pettersen, Monica Falao (2 March 2015). "Ávvir lanserer ny nettavis" [Ávvir launches new online newspaper]. NRK Sápmi (in Norwegian). Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  9. ^ Larsen, Dan Robert (5 April 2017). "Ávvir gikk med overskudd i 2016" [Ávvir earns a profit in 2016] (in Norwegian). NRK Sápmi. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  10. ^ Alexandersen, Ruse S.; Sæbbe, Linda Vaeng (1 September 2014). "Fikk 33 mill i subsidier - gikk likevel med millioner i underskudd" [Got 33 million in subsidies — still went with millions in losses]. Nord24 (in Norwegian). Tromsø, Norway. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  11. ^ "Dagstidningar på samiska och meänkieli ska lättare få presstöd" [Newspapers in Sámi and Meänkieli should receive press support more easily] (in Swedish). Girona, Sweden: Sametinget. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  12. ^ "Ávvir". Álgu database. Research Institute for the Languages of Finland. Retrieved 7 March 2008.
  13. ^ Lund, Rolf Edmund (24 August 2019). "Gratulerer med ti spennende år, Ávvir" [Congratulations on ten exciting years, Ávvir]. Altaposten (in Norwegian). Alta, Norway. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  14. ^ "Ten smallest Norwegian print newspapers". MediaNorway. Retrieved 4 May 2020..
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