The coronavirus situation: Grants for activities that are cancelled/postponed

March 13 2020

The Fritt Ord Foundation has received queries from several grant recipients who are wondering how to handle different projects in response to the coronavirus, and we will do our best to help find satisfactory solutions.

Projects/initiatives/events that are cancelled:

Fritt Ord will not require the reimbursement of funds if the cancellation has required outlays for preparations, premises, travel expenses, fees or the like, which have already been paid or must be paid in the near future. The recipient of the grant must, however, be able to document said expenses and report how the money was spent.

Projects/initiatives/events that are postponed:

It is not a problem for Fritt Ord if projects and events are postponed. You should, however, submit a status report with a tentative new plan for implementation. Submit your report to post@frittord.no.

Changing how projects are conveyed to the public

Grant recipients are welcome to contact Fritt Ord with questions about how future initiatives can best be carried out. We are open to discussing alternative modes of communication to the public, e.g. different types of digital communications instead of physical events, books, etc.

News

Mykhailo Tkach, Andrei Aliaksandrau, Arevhat Sahakyan (Factor TV), Nino Bakradze (iFact), and Lola Tagaeva (Verstka).

Free Media Awards for 2026. Press freedom under pressure in wartime: – Silence does not protect democracy

September 29 2026

This year’s winners of the Free Media Awards from the Fritt Ord Foundation and Zeit Stiftung Bucerius received their awards in Toppsalen at the Munch Museum in Oslo on 29 September 2026.
The Belarusian journalist and media manager Andrei Aliaksandrau came straight to Oslo after spending over five years in prison for his work. Aliaksandrau dedicated the award to imprisoned journalists and editors in Belarus and quoted the Liverpool FC anthem: “You’ll never walk alone”.

Mykhailo Tkach heads investigations at Ukrainska Pravda, which uncovers corruption, even in a Ukraine fighting an existential war against Russia.
– I face charges in at least thirteen cases related to my work. I have been threatened. My team has been threatened. And what is our answer? To keep digging. Silence does not protect democracy. Journalism does.

Mykhailo Tkach

Ukrainian, Georgian, Armenian, Russian and Belarusian journalists and media to receive five Free Media Awards for 2026

September 3 2026

This year’s prize laureates for the Free Media Awards from the Fritt Ord Foundation and Zeit Stiftung Bucerius are:
The investigative journalist Mykhailo Tkach from Ukraine
The investigative media outlet iFact from Georgia
The online media Factor TV from Armenia
The online media Verstka from Russia (in exile)
The journalist and media director Andrei Aliaksandrau from Belarus (imprisoned)*

Fritt Ord's grants for master’s degrees

August 30 2026

Is your master’s project about freedom of expression, social debate or journalism? If so, you can apply for a student grant from the Fritt Ord Foundation.

The Freedom of Expression Foundation Tribute 2026

August 18 2026

The rap duo Karpe has been awarded the Freedom of Expression Foundation Tribute for giving voice to the experiences of many young people from minority backgrounds. Through the language of rap, they are expanding the space for the expression of identity and belonging.