About me – Pencil.no

Roy Freddy Andersen (born 1970) is a Norwegian writer/reporter, now working as Head of Information at Østfold County Council (Østfold fylkeskommune). 2014 – 2016 I was living in and writing from Vienna, Austria, contributing to Norwegian radio, print newspapers and online media. Covered politics and events in Austria, Central / East Europe and Balkans. My passions are journalism, history, media and music/culture. And marathons… Dad to three and husband. Working on the U.S. multimedia project Hard.Land.

The past in brief: I was the U.S. Correspondent for Norway’s largest newspaper VG, based in New York, from 2002-2005. Reporter at the foreign desk in VG for several years, travelling and covering breaking news, conflicts and feature stories world wide. Was Head of information at the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, working closely with then minster Erik Solheim, now the chair of OECD DAC in Paris. I also worked as executive editor in Fredriksstad Blad and in TV2 in Oslo.

Member of Norwegian Union of Journalists (NJ) and International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).

Medlem av Norsk Journalistlag (NJ) og International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).

Here’s my CV:

2018- d.d.: Managing director at Litteraturhuset Fredrikstad (The House of Literature in Fredrikstad)

2016-2018: Head of Information, Østfold fylkeskommune (Østfold County Council)/Viken fylkeskommune.

2014-2016: Reporter, writer, Pencil.no.

Living in and writing from Vienna, Austria, contributing to Norwegian radio, print newspapers and online media such as Dagsavisen, NRK and VG. Recent stories are found here (in Norwegian).

2012-2014: Head of program and marketing / Program- og markedsansvarlig, Litteraturhuset Fredrikstad, Norway

In charge of the event programming and event coordinations with more than 400 happenings in 2013 and 2014. Also in charge of the marketing/advertising in tradisional media and in social media. Moderator and interviewer in public events.

2012: News editor, politics and economy / Redaksjonssjef, samfunnsavdelingen, TV2 Norway

Head of news department covering politics and economy

2008-2011: Executive editor / nyhetsredaktør, Fredriksstad Blad, Norway

Head of news departement. Responsible for organizing and managing other editors and reporters. Did an extensive overhauling of the news room for a big digital push in the organization.

2007-2008: Editor, culture and sports department / Kultur- og sportsredaktør, Fredriksstad Blad, Norway.

2006-2007: Head of Information, The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Oslo, Norway

In charge of the press and media relations work for the Minister of development, Mr. Erik Solheim, heading our communication department. Also part of the media department at the Minsitry of Foreign Affairs. Extensive travelling with the minister.

2001-2006: Reporter, foreign affairs / utenriksjournalist, Verdens Gang / VG / Oslo, Norway.

Reporter at the departement for world news in the newspaper. Extensive travelling, covering Africa, development and the war on terror after 9/11/2001.

2002-2005: U.S. Correspondent, head of New York office / USA-korrespondent, Verdens Gang / VG / Oslo, Norway.

In charge of the news reporting in all categories from U.S. Demanding and important period with day to day coverage of the War on Terror, the Iraq and Afghanistan war and the presidential elections in 2004. Extensive travelling in the U.S and in the Americas.

1996-2001: Sports reporter / Sportsjournalist, Verdens Gang / VG / Oslo, Norway.

Sports reporter covering alpine skiing, track and field and sports politics. On the spot in two Olympics, Nagano 1998 and Sydney 2000. Covering two World Championships in alpine skiing (1999, 2001) and World Championships in athletics (1999).