Rakkestad Bygdeblad

Rakkestad Bygdeblad was a Norwegian newspaper, published in Rakkestad in Østfold county.

History and profile

Rakkestad Bygdeblad was started on 4 September 2002 as a competitor to Rakkestad Avis, which until then had a monopoly as a local newspaper. Journalist Carsten Lier was hired as editor, and two years after launch the newspaper had a circulation of 1,441 copies.^[1] It was originally published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, the same as Rakkestad Avis, but soon changed to Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.^[2] In 2004 the newspaper won the "Local Newspaper of the Year Award" from Landslaget for Lokalaviser.^[1]

In late 2004 the newspaper launched the free magazine Østfoldmagasinet which had a circulation of 98,000 copies.^[3] From 2006 Rakkestad Bygdeblad was distributed on a fourth day in the week, freely, to counter economical problems.^[4] Nonetheless, it went defunct in 2008.^[5]

References

1. Arvid Bryne (24 March 2004). "Lager beste lokalavis". Dagbladet (in Norwegian). p. 18.
2. John Byman (30 January 2004). "Østfold – en avisjunge". Journalisten (in Norwegian).
3. "Nytt gratisblad i Østfold". Dagbladet (in Norwegian). 20 November 2004. p. 56.
4. "Dragkamp i Østfold-kryss". Dagens Næringsliv (in Norwegian). 15 February 2006. p. 52.
5. Olav Zakariassen (2010). "Rakkestad Avis". In Idar Flo. Norske aviser fra A til Å. Volume four of Norsk presses historie 1660–2010 (in Norwegian). Oslo: Universitetsforlaget. p. 268. ISBN 978-82-15-01604-7.