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Five Â鶹´«Ã½ School of Communication journalism graduate students had the opportunity to head to Norway through AU’s Bridging Investigative Journalism (BRIJ) fellowship. The fellowship works as an exchange program between AU’s students and the University of Bergen’s Center for Investigative Journalism students. Before SOC students headed to Norway, Norwegian students came to DC to experience the US Presidential election. SOC spoke to one AU student and one Norwegian student about their experiences!

In Norway, the BRIJ program afforded various opportunities for students to do a deep dive into investigative journalism and press freedom. Among Maria Lawson’s (SOC/MA '25) favorites was attending The Media Futures Annual Meeting. Students spent two days learning about the future of artificial intelligence and journalism from experts. They also had the opportunity to tour newsrooms, which opened their eyes to the cultural differences in how Norwegian news operate and the challenges they face.Learning from local journalists about reporting tactics, ethics, AI, and partnerships was one of the students' favorite aspects. SOC spoke to Maria Lawson (SOC/MA ‘25), who gave insights into her experience in Bergen and Alexandra Lunstøeng, a student from the University of Bergen.Ìý

Did you act as a guide for the Norwegian students at all during their time in DC? If so, what did you show them or tell them to visit/see?
Maria: We became fast friends with the Norwegian students. We showed them an Â鶹´«Ã½ Halloween, went to a local jazz show and attended events pertaining to Â鶹´«Ã½ politics. They also shadowed us during our Election Day coverage for TheWash.org, an online news site featuring journalism students’ reporting. Their first day on campus, we took them to Chef Geoff’s, an AU staple.

What were you hoping to gain from your time in Norway? How much did you know about what you would be doing there prior to leaving the US?
Maria: I was hoping to learn more about investigative journalism and experience a new culture — specifically one that prioritizes freedom of the press.

You were in the U.S. in the last few weeks leading up to the election. What are your takeaways on how the US media covers the election, the candidates, and the issues? How is this similar to or different from the political coverage in Norway? Do you have suggestions as to what the US media might improve in its reporting?

Alexandra: During my time in the U.S. leading up to the election, I observed that the media landscape is more divided compared to Norway. In the U.S., there is a clear distinction between Democratic-leaning and Republican-leaning media, which often presents a polarized view of the candidates and issues. This contrasts with Norway, where election coverage is mostly expected to be more neutral and objective, with a focus on presenting different sides of the political debate. I also noticed that many Norwegians seemed more engaged and concerned with the U.S. election than the average Â鶹´«Ã½ voter, which speaks to the different ways media coverage shapes public interest in both countries. While U.S. media often focuses on the spectacle and the dramatic elements of elections, I think there might be room for more in-depth, balanced reporting that provides voters with a clearer understanding of the issues at hand.

What are a few takeaways of the way the media environment or investigative journalism in particular is different in Norway than the US?

Alexandra: I noticed differences between the U.S. approach to investigative journalism and what I’ve learned in Norway at our University. In Norway, the Ethical Code of Practice for the Norwegian Press emphasizes privacy and sets strict limits on covert methods. U.S. journalism, by contrast, allows more flexibility, shaped by a different ethical framework and media culture. These differences reflect varying priorities in how journalists balance ethical considerations and storytelling. Both approaches, however, share a commitment to accountability and exposing wrongdoing.

Maria: Many news outlets in Norway receive funding from the government, but the government doesn’t interfere with their reporting. They also have a national board of journalists, editors and laypeople that handles ethical dilemmas faced by news outlets. News outlets also collaborate, and many of them are housed under the same roof.

Based on the media coverage leading up to the election, and the people you met/heard from during your time here, were you surprised by the results of the election?

Alexandra: As an outsider, I was surprised by the election results. It wasn’t until late into Election Night that I realized how much of an echo chamber we had been in, especially in a predominantly blue and Democratic city like D.C. During our time there, we spoke with voters on Election Day and attended a Kamala Harris rally the week before, where many people were open and honest about supporting her. After two weeks in D.C., where the atmosphere felt so strongly aligned with one side, the result going differently from what I thought made me realize how different the broader political landscape might be outside of D.C. 's bubble.

What advice would you give to a student considering participating in BRIJ next year?
Maria: It was a lot of fun, both to learn more about journalism but also to immerse myself in Norwegian culture for three weeks while integrating with the students from the University of Bergen. I’d recommend this program to anyone looking to enhance their worldly understanding, both in and out of journalism.
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