How a Swedish Newspaper Survived 25 Bans by Constantly Changing Its Name
In short: Founded in 1830, Aftonbladet became a master of evasion. When authorities repeatedly banned the publication for its critical stance, founder Lars Johan Hierta simply relaunched it under a slightly altered title. This cat-and-mouse game lasted until the paper finally settled on its current name after two dozen legal rebrandings.
Lars Johan Hierta launched Aftonbladet in December 1830 during a period of significant modernization in Sweden. The paper quickly established itself as a vocal critic of the establishment, specifically targeting King Charles XIV John. The monarch responded by shutting down the printing presses, but Hierta exploited a legal loophole: by modifying the name, he could argue that each iteration was a distinct publication. This cycle of banning and renaming continued until the paper had operated under 25 different titles, including 'New Aftonbladet' and 'Newer Aftonbladet,' before finally securing a stable existence.
Throughout the 20th century, the newspaper underwent dramatic ideological shifts. It moved from its original liberal roots to a conservative period under Harald Sohlman, and later fell under the influence of Ivar Kreuger’s corporate empire in 1929. By the 1950s, ownership shifted to the Swedish Trade Union Confederation (LO), which aligned the paper with the Social Democratic party. This era of union ownership eventually faced scrutiny in the 1990s, leading to a partnership with the Norwegian media giant Schibsted, which today holds a majority stake of 91 percent.
Despite its long history, the paper has frequently courted controversy. Its cultural section, in particular, has faced intense criticism for its editorial choices, including allegations of anti-Semitic tropes and pro-Moscow biases during the tenure of former culture editor Åsa Linderborg. Linderborg, who resigned in 2019, consistently denied these claims. While the paper remains a dominant force in Nordic media—having been an early pioneer of digital publishing since 1994—it continues to balance its role as a major news outlet with ongoing debates regarding its journalistic integrity and political leanings.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Aftonbladet
- Also: Wikidata — Aftonbladet · CC0
- Also: Wikidata — Aftonbladet · CC0
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