Per Edgar Kokkvold Explained

Per Edgar Kokkvold
Birth Date:26 March 1946
Birth Place:Røros, Sør-Trøndelag, Norway
Nationality:Norwegian
Occupation:Journalist, chair of the Norwegian Broadcasting Council
Awards:Fritt Ord Honorary Award, 2013

Per Edgar Kokkvold (born 26 March 1946) is a Norwegian journalist, former editor and secretary-general of the Norwegian Press Association, and current chair of the Norwegian Broadcasting Council.

Kokkvold was born in Røros. He spent most of his career in Arbeiderbladet, where he was foreign news commentator from 1973 to 1984, foreign news editor from 1984 to 1991 and editor (not editor-in-chief) from 1991 to 1996. He was the secretary-general of the Norwegian Press Association from 1996,[1] [2] [3] until succeeded by Kjersti Løken Stavrum in 2013.[4] He was in 2014 elected to chair the Norwegian Broadcasting Council for the period 2014 to 2017.[5]

In 2006, controversy arose when Kokkvold advocated publishment of the Muhammad cartoons.[6] He received several death threats related to the controversy and needed police protection for long periods.

In 2013 he was awarded the Fritt Ord Honorary Award for his fight for free speech and his commentary on media ethics and journalistic practice.[7] He was awarded the inaugural Gunnar Sønsteby memorial prize together with Kristin Solberg in 2015.[8]

Kokkvold resides in Drøbak, Norway.

Notes and References

  1. Encyclopedia: 2007. Per Edgar Kokkvold. Store norske leksikon. Henriksen, Petter. Kunnskapsforlaget. Oslo. Norwegian. 23 November 2010.
  2. News: Redaktør Per Edgar Kokkvold (50) blir Norsk Presseforbunds (NP) nye generalsekretær. 23 November 2010. Dagbladet. 21 June 1996. Norwegian News Agency. Norwegian.
  3. Encyclopedia: Norsk Presseforbund. Store norske leksikon. Kunnskapsforlaget. Oslo. Norwegian. 23 November 2010.
  4. News: Kjersti Løken Stavrum overtar etter Kokkvold. Aftenposten. 12 April 2013. Norwegian.
  5. regjeringen.no Per Edgar Kokkvold ny leiar for Kringkastingsrådet
  6. News: Hauge. Jeanette P.. Kokkvold "skytes" i video. 23 November 2010. Dagbladet. 4 February 2006. Norwegian.
  7. Kjersti Nipen (14 May, 2013): Fritt Ords Honnør til Kokkvold og Øy Aftenposten, retrieved 16 June, 2013
  8. News: Kristin Solberg og Per Edgar Kokkvold får Gunnar Sønstebys minnepris. Aftenposten. 5 January 2015.