A-magasinet

A-magasinet is the weekly magazine supplement of the Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten. It is issued on Fridays and is designed as a more magazine-like counterpart to the newspaper's daily edition. The publication is physically smaller than Aftenposten's tabloid-format newspaper, measuring approximately 210 by 278 millimeters. Its length has varied, generally ranging from 68 to 84 pages, and it has been printed by Hjemmet Mortensen Trykkeri in the modern period. Before 2001, printing was handled by Aktietrykkeriet in Fetsund. The title has existed in three distinct periods. Its first issue appeared on New Year's Eve in 1926, following an initiative by Aftenposten editor Frøis Frøisland. The name was selected through a reader competition. A number of alternative names were proposed, including Lørdagshygga, Ding Dong, Sofadyret, and Tilhænger'n, but A-magasinet was chosen as the lasting title. This first era ended in 1943, when paper shortages during the Second World War forced the supplement to cease publication. A-magasinet returned in 1963 with an editorial concept centered on women, family life, the home, and fashion. That positioning was short-lived. By the following year, the magazine had moved toward broader entertainment journalism. The change allowed it to develop a more varied editorial identity, combining reported features with visual storytelling and accessible service content. Color photography was introduced in 1966, after which photojournalism became one of the publication's defining characteristics. During the later decades of its second period, A-magasinet developed a recognizable mix of crime stories, humorous and illustrated material, competitions, nature writing, and general-interest features. Per Egil Hegge became editor in 1984 and refreshed the magazine's style. Illustrator Sven Sønsteby was associated with humorous illustrations for crime-related stories and writing competitions, while nature photographer Sverre M. Fjelstad contributed the recurring feature 'Naturen rundt oss' for approximately two decades. The magazine was discontinued again in 1993 after advertisers moved toward Schibsted's newly launched TV 2, weakening the commercial environment for the supplement. The third incarnation began with a relaunch on October 21, 2005. Kjersti Løken Stavrum, previously editor-in-chief of the weekly magazine Kvinner og Klær, became editor of the revived publication. Lillian Vambheim succeeded Stavrum in 2013. In its current form, A-magasinet remains associated with Aftenposten and the Norwegian magazine market, although detailed current information about its editorial leadership, circulation, ownership structure, and commercial performance is not established in the supplied reference material. Its enduring identity is that of a high-quality weekend supplement rather than a standalone mass-market magazine: a Friday publication using longer-form journalism, photography, cultural reporting, and human-interest storytelling to complement daily news coverage.

A-magasinet was created as a magazine-style supplement to Aftenposten and has passed through three separate publishing periods. The first issue was released on New Year's Eve in 1926 after Aftenposten editor Frøis Frøisland proposed the project. The title emerged from a competition among Aftenposten readers. Although readers suggested names such as Lørdagshygga, Ding Dong, Sofadyret, and Tilhænger'n, the simpler A-magasinet title prevailed. The original run lasted until 1943, when wartime paper shortages brought publication to an end. The title was revived in 1963 with a substantially different editorial profile. Initially, the reintroduced magazine emphasized women, family, domestic life, and fashion. This approach was abandoned after about a year, and the publication adopted a wider entertainment-journalism remit. A-magasinet's visual identity strengthened in 1966 with the publication of its first color photographs. Photography and photojournalism subsequently became important parts of its editorial offering. The magazine's later second-period identity combined accessible features with recurring genres and contributors. Crime stories were a consistent element, and humorous illustrations by Sven Sønsteby were used in connection with crime features and writing competitions. Nature photographer Sverre M. Fjelstad supplied the recurring 'Naturen rundt oss' feature for roughly twenty years. In 1984, Per Egil Hegge became editor and refreshed the magazine's style. Despite its established editorial presence, the second run ended in 1993. The supplied historical account links the closure to an advertising shift toward Schibsted's newly launched TV 2, which changed the competitive media environment. A-magasinet entered its third period on October 21, 2005, when Aftenposten relaunched it. Kjersti Løken Stavrum, formerly editor-in-chief of Kvinner og Klær, was appointed editor of the revived title. Lillian Vambheim succeeded her in 2013. The publication is issued on Fridays and is produced in a smaller magazine format than Aftenposten's daily newspaper. Its page count has varied between approximately 68 and 84 pages. Modern issues have been printed by Hjemmet Mortensen Trykkeri; until 2001, production was handled by Aktietrykkeriet in Fetsund. Across its different periods, A-magasinet has functioned as a companion publication rather than an independent newspaper. Its editorial formula has adapted over time, moving from family and fashion content to general entertainment journalism and then to a broader weekend package built around features, photographs, culture, nature, crime, and human-interest reporting. The supplied sources do not establish current circulation, revenue, current editor, or a detailed ownership structure beyond the title's relationship with Aftenposten.

1. 2013Editorial succession

   Lillian Vambheim succeeded Kjersti Løken Stavrum as editor.

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2. 2005Third incarnation launched

   Aftenposten relaunched A-magasinet on October 21, beginning its current period of publication.

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3. 1993Second publication period ends

   A-magasinet was discontinued after advertising shifted toward Schibsted's newly launched TV 2.

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4. 1984Per Egil Hegge becomes editor

   Per Egil Hegge took the editorial helm and refreshed the magazine's style.

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5. 1966Color photography introduced

   The publication printed its first color photographs, reinforcing photojournalism as a central part of its identity.

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6. 1964Editorial profile broadens

   The women's-profile concept was replaced by a broader orientation toward entertaining journalism.

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7. 1963Magazine relaunched

   A-magasinet returned with an initial editorial focus on women, family life, the home, and fashion.

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8. 1943First publication period ends

   The supplement ceased publication because wartime paper shortages made continued production impractical.

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9. 1926First issue published

   A-magasinet was first published on New Year's Eve following an initiative by Aftenposten editor Frøis Frøisland.

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A-magasinet is positioned as Aftenposten's substantial Friday magazine supplement: a visually led, general-interest publication combining reported features, photography, culture, nature, crime, entertainment, and accessible lifestyle journalism.

• A-magasinet weekly supplementMagazine publishing1926

  The core product is a Friday magazine supplement distributed through Aftenposten. It is printed in a format of approximately 210 by 278 millimeters, smaller than the newspaper's tabloid format. Issues have varied from roughly 68 to 84 pages and combine long-form reporting, photography, cultural and entertainment journalism, crime stories, nature coverage, and other general-interest features.

• Naturen rundt ossNature journalism

  Naturen rundt oss, translated as 'The Natural World around Us,' was a recurring nature feature associated with photographer Sverre M. Fjelstad. It appeared over approximately two decades and reflected A-magasinet's long-standing use of photography and accessible natural-history storytelling.

• 2005Relaunch of A-magasinetProduct launch

  After ending publication in 1993, Aftenposten revived the title as a weekly magazine supplement.

  What changed. The third incarnation launched on October 21, 2005, with Kjersti Løken Stavrum as editor.

  Aftermath. A-magasinet entered its third period and continued as a Friday supplement associated with Aftenposten.

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• 1993Discontinuation after advertising-market pressureOther

  Advertisers moved toward Schibsted's newly launched TV 2, changing the commercial conditions surrounding the supplement.

  What changed. A-magasinet was discontinued after its second publication period.

  Aftermath. The title remained absent until its relaunch in 2005.

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• 1964Shift from women's profile to general entertainment journalismStrategy

  The 1963 relaunch initially concentrated on women, family life, the home, and fashion, but this editorial positioning was not retained.

  What changed. A-magasinet broadened its editorial remit toward entertaining journalism by the following year.

  Aftermath. The change established a more general-interest identity for the second publication period.

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• 2013Lillian Vambheim succeeded Kjersti Løken Stavrum as editor

  Lillian Vambheim took over the editorial role from Kjersti Løken Stavrum in the revived A-magasinet's later period.

  Leadership change
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• 2005A-magasinet relaunched after a twelve-year interruption

  A-magasinet returned as an Aftenposten magazine supplement on October 21, 2005, beginning its third period of publication.

  Product launch
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1. A-magasinet
2. A-magasinet homepage