Áššu

Áššu was a Northern Sámi-language newspaper published twice a week and distributed across Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia. In 2008, Áššu ceased publication to merge with the rival paper Min Áigi to form Ávvir.

History Áššu (the word áššu translates into English as "glowing embers") launched in October 1993 as a rival to Min Áigi, which had launched earlier that year following the bankruptcy of the influential Sámi Áigi newspaper. Headquartered in Guovdageaidnu, Norway, the paper was published by Aviisa AS and co-owned by Nordavis AS.Nordavis AS was owned by Altaposten, a Norwegian-language newspaper based in Alta. Altaposten also owns Radio Alta and TV Nord. Despite having a readership across Sápmi, Áššu was positioned as a more local, traditional newspaper compared to the more political and nationally oriented Min Áigi.

Merger On 27 August 2007, Áššu and its rival Min Áigi announced plans to merge to create a Northern Sámi-language daily newspaper, Ávvir. A week after Áššu published its final issue, Ávvir launched on 6 February 2008, the Sami National Day. 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. Ávvir maintained editorial bureaus in Kárášjohka and Guovdageaidnu, the respective headquarters of Min Áigi and Áššu.

Circulation Number of Subscribers. 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 969 1,003 1,127 1,117 1,084 1,021 975 1,008

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