() is a Norwegian daily newspaper published in print and online. Its tagline is "The daily newspaper of the Left". The paper's net circulation was 37,000 in 2025,"Oppplagsvekst for avisene", Mediebedriftenes Landsforening, published 10 March 2026; accessed 23 May 2026. and it has around 111,000 daily readers on paper (160,000 on Saturdays).Statistics from Medienorge, run by the University of Bergen. This makes it the third-largest Norwegian print newspaper, based on readership."Mediehusenes lesertall", web site of Mediebedriftenes Landsforening, dated 15 September 2021; accessed 15 May 2022. Since 2018, the chief editor has been Mari Skurdal.
Klassekampen started in early 1969 as a monthly periodical published by a group of Oslo-based Marxist-Leninists, with Pål Steigan as a key founder and Anders M. Andersen as the first editor. Part of the alternative media landscape of the era, it promoted the positions of the Workers' Communist Party (AKP; founded 1973) and its predecessors.Information in Klassekampen no. 1, 1969, page 3. became a weekly in January 1973, a bi-weekly in January 1976, and a daily newspaper in April 1977. It was the official organ of the AKP until April 1991."Skal bli venstresidas dagsavis" (Becoming the daily of the left), Klassekampen 19 April 1991, page 9. Its mission statement now describes itself as "revolutionary socialist." As with most Norwegian newspapers, it relies on financial support from the Norwegian government.
Klassekampen has received a varied reception over time. During its early history it promoted a strongly ideological Marxist–Leninist view of society, although its party alignment softened during the 1990s, especially after Paul Bjerke became editor. It has been commended for its in-depth cultural coverage, labor-oriented reporting, and platforming of voices outside the mainstream media consensus. At the same time, it has faced criticism for promoting Russian propaganda narratives, anti-LGBTQ views including homophobia in the 1970s and transphobia in the 2020s, and, for several decades from the 1970s to the 2010s, for antisemitism, notably with Trond Andresen serving as a regular columnist and editor of the paper's debate forum, frequently writing antisemitic articles, for 16 years until 2016. Its editor has denied accusations of transphobia.
History
1969–1972: Monthly paper for the marxist-leninist movement was initiated in 1968 by a group of young communists, members of SUF(m-l), the youth organization of the socialist Sosialistisk Folkeparti (SF). Pål Steigan, Tron Øgrim and Sigmund Grønmo were key figures, The first issue was published on February 7, 1969, coinciding with the annual convention of the SF, at which a left-wing opposition broke with the party, as did SUF (m-l).Alf Skjeseth: Sykle på vatnet. Historia om Klassekampen ("Biking on water – history of Klassekampen") (Oslo 2010), page 13–15. In the first period the paper was published as a monthly periodical by "a group of marxist-leninists".Pål Steigan: På den himmelske freds plass. Om ml-bevegelsen i Norge, Oslo 1985, page 94. According to Steigan, the name was proposed by Øgrim, the name indicating that it intended to play a larger role than being the monthly periodical of a youth organization. The newspaper's stated goal was to strengthen the Marxist–Leninist movement and lay the foundations for a new communist party in Norway. At the same time, it set itself the goal of becoming a working class newspaper.Pål Steigan: En folkefiende ("An enemy of the people") (Oslo 2013), page 159–160. ISBN 9788203292606.
As a monthly, had no paid staff. The editorial work, the printing as well as sales were carried out by volunteers. The first printing press was financed mostly by young people taking summer jobs or being newspaper couriers (for other newspapers) before school hours. Due to the progress of the m-l-movement and its high level of activity, sales and circulation increased rapidly: the first issue in 1969 was printed in 3,500 copies. The circulation passed 10,000 in 1970, and 20,000 in 1971.Skjeseth, page 31. Labour Day was always an important sales day, and the May 1st issue of 1972 was published in 45,000.
During the period as a monthly newspaper, also published a number of extra issues on current issues and leaflet-like printed matter."Småtrykk fra Klassekampen", at the web site of the Workers' Communist Party archive project. Visited May 25, 2022. From 1972 the paper was officially linked to the Marxist–Leninist Groups (MLG), which was a forerunner of the Workers' Communist Party (AKP (m-l)). At the same time, fundraising and recruitment of subscribers was started with a plan of weekly publication.
1973–1976: Weekly newspaper for AKP(m-l) In January 1973, became a weekly newspaper. Shortly afterwards, it became the formal party organ for the newly formed AKP (m-l).
As a weekly, got its own editorial offices in Oslo for the first time, as well as a paid editorial staff. Still, much of the volunteer spirit continued, with groups of party members and sympathizers contributing in special editorial fields. In 1974, a campaign was launched to link "workers' correspondents" to the newspaper. After two years as a weekly, it was summarized that a third of the newspaper was written by the permanent editorial staff, a third by the volunteer staff and a third by workers' correspondents and readers. The proportion of workplace reports doubled from 1973 to 1974."Medarbeiderbladet" (an internal magazine for the volunteer staff) August 28, 1974.
The winter of 1973 the weekly newspaper had a circulation of 13,000. The fall of 1974 it had increased to 19,000 and two years later 27,000. During the years 1973–1976 11,000 new subscribers were enrolled, and door-to-door sales were effectively organized.Skjeseth, page 43. From January 1976, was published twice a week, as an escalation before the transition to daily publications. In order to prepare for this transition, a major fundraising campaign was also carried out for investing in the paper's own rotary printing plant. The "rotation campaign" started little by little in 1974 and was not completed until just before the daily newspaper was launched. At that time, NOK 5,631,000 had been collected.Skjeseth, page 45–47.
In the pre-daily period, disclosed several classified military documents. In May 1971, it was shown that a NATO exercise had exemplified revolutionary groups, Vietnam War activists and trade unionists as enemies of the state. During an exercise in 1973, the paper disclosed that opponents of NATO membership and student groups had been "assigned" this role.Skjeseth, pages 82–84. In 1976, the paper carried a series of articles by Jon Michelet about the Soviet presence at Svalbard, suggesting that the Soviet Union might be constructing a military base at Cape Heer, thus violating the Svalbard Treaty. These reports were later developed into Michelet's novel Orion's Belt and a movie with the same name.Skjeseth, page 86.
1977–1991: Daily newspaper for AKP (m-l) From April 1, 1977, switched to daily publication (except Sundays). At that time, the rotary press and editorial offices were installed on Bryn in Oslo.Skjeseth, page 50. In the first years as a daily newspaper, was edited strictly according to party guidelines.Skjeseth, page 53.
The operation of the daily newspaper was more resource-intensive than anticipated, not least financially. Income from advertising was scarce. In addition, AKP (m-l) had adopted a policy of "self-support" and therefore did not accept the state support that was entitled to.Skjeseth, page 62–63. The newspaper was to be built entirely on the support of the readers. This policy hit the wall in 1978, and bankruptcy was just around the corner. A new fundraiser avoided immediate collapse, but the party had to accept state aid. In November 1979, could announce that "the daily is saved!"Skjeseth, page 60–62. This of course had a cost: The paper was cut from 16 to 12 pages most days, and the staff was reduced heavily. District offices in Bergen, Trondheim and Tromsø had to close, and special editions in Sàmi, English and Spanish were stopped, as were publications aimed specially at immigrant workers and at farmers/fishermen.Skjeseth, page 71–72.
The party had also decided that the paper should build up its own courier service. Unpaid volunteers delivered the newspaper to the subscribers in major cities every evening or night. This was partly for economic reasons, partly as a security measure – AKP did not want to hand over the list of subscribers to someone else.Skjeseth, page 55–56. (The parliamentary "Lund Report" concerning the Norwegian secret services later confirmed that subscribing to could be a reason for registration.)"The Lund Report" (Report to Stortinget from the commission appointed to investigate allegations on illegal surveillance of Norwegian citizens) (1995–1996), chapter 8, page 258. The courier system meant great strain on the party organization that, literally, carried the newspaper. From late 1979 the system was discontinued in most of Norway, but in some parts of Oslo it was effective for a decade.Skjeseth, page 56.
In 1977, criminal charges were brought against then editor Finn Sjue for the paper's disclosures of secret NATO exercise telegrams. Two years later he was sentenced to ten days in prison or a fine of NOK 2,500. The sentence was later confirmed by the Supreme Court with a 3–2 vote.Skjeseth, page 81–82.
During the 1980s, managed to get national acclaim for its journalism in certain focus areas. Journalist Per Bangsund specialized in the growth of right wing extremism and neo-Nazism in Norway and had contacts regarding this within the secret services. A group for investigative journalism (with among others Alf R. Jacobsen) was established, possibly the first in Norway. A focus area for this group was tax evasions among business people and top politicians. Finn Sjue, now as a journalist, dug into illegal or semi-illegal surveillance practices by the secret services towards organizations, politicians and activists on the left. Furthermore, the paper had broad international coverage, partly through AKP's party contacts, but through the years also through extensive travel activities by its own staff. The Middle East, Horn of Africa, Eastern Europe, Central America and Northern Ireland was prioritized. In 1983, journalist Kjell Gjerseth received the Narvesen Prize, at that time the highest ranked journalism award in Norway, for his reports from Afghanistan in the early years of the Soviet occupation.Skjeseth, pages 86–92.
The Lund Report in 1996 stated that the telephones in offices had been tapped by the Secret Services from 1976 until 1979. Furthermore, the names of employees, contributors, subscribers and street vendors had been registered.Skjeseth, pages 111–114.
In 1979, Sigurd Allern was hired as editor for a new period. He held this position until 1995 and was vital in the editorial development of the daily. Also being a member of the AKP central committee, he managed pragmatically to professionalize the paper without creating too much discontent in the party. The editorial directive was in effect discontinued.Skjeseth, pages 138–142. Still, there were some conflict points between the party and the staff. In 1984–1985 this culminated, when a group of journalists organized a strike protesting on the paper's employment policy. The strike lasted only a couple of hours, but led to a long-lasting internal conflict in the paper and the party.Skjeseth, pages 148–153. At the same time, the Norwegian Graphical Union decided to exclude all members at Duplotrykk, print shop, on the grounds that they had accepted hours and pay grade outside of the tariff regulations.Skjeseth, page 155.
1991–1999: New orientation
The Allern years