Klassekampen is rated Left with Mixed factual reporting by Media Bias Fact Check.
LEFT BIAS
These media sources are moderate to strongly biased toward liberal/progressive causes through story selection and/or political affiliation. They may utilize strong loaded words (wording that attempts to influence an audience by appealing to emotion or stereotypes), publish misleading reports, and omit information that may damage liberal/progressive causes. Some sources in this category may be untrustworthy. See all Left Bias sources.
- Overall, we rate Klassekampen Far Left biased based on its socialist history, left-labor ownership, self-described left-wing orientation, and editorial focus on class politics, labor, welfare, anti-capitalism, and left-wing movements. We also rate it Mixed for factual reporting due to professional reporting standards and named journalists, offset by strong ideological framing, controversial commentary, and past criticism over disputed narratives and inflammatory viewpoints.
Detailed Report
Bias Rating: LEFT (-8.8)
Factual Reporting: MIXED (5.0)
Country: Norway
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rating: EXCELLENT
Media Type: Newspaper
Traffic/Popularity: Medium Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: MEDIUM CREDIBILITY
History
Klassekampen, meaning “The Class Struggle,” is a Norwegian daily newspaper based in Oslo. Its tagline is “the daily newspaper of the Left.” The paper began in 1969 as a Marxist-Leninist publication and later became the official organ of the Workers’ Communist Party before softening its formal party alignment. Today, it remains a left-wing newspaper with extensive coverage of labor, culture, politics, international affairs, literature, and social movements. The editor-in-chief is Mari Skurdal, and contact information is provided on the paper’s contact page.
Read our profile on the Norwegian government and media.
Funded by / Ownership
Klassekampen is owned by a mix of left-wing and labor-aligned organizations, including the Red Party, trade unions such as Fagforbundet, Fellesforbundet, and Industri Energi, Klassekampens venner, publishing interests, and smaller shareholders. Revenue comes from subscriptions, advertising, single-copy sales, state press support, and financial support from readers and aligned organizations.
Analysis / Bias
Klassekampen is openly left-wing and historically rooted in Marxist and socialist politics. Its ownership structure, editorial mission, and story selection strongly favor labor movements, socialist parties, anti-capitalist critique, and left-wing cultural analysis. For example, “Notifying a new pensioner” highlights criticism from the Red Party and Socialist Left regarding pension inequality, reflecting the paper’s focus on welfare-state and class-based issues.
The paper also gives substantial attention to protest movements and left-wing political history. In “There could be riots. We knew that”, Klassekampen revisits the 2001 Gothenburg EU summit protests, framing them through the experiences of Norwegian activists. Internationally, “Civil War in Slow Motion” presents analysis of the American religious right and fascism through author Jeff Sharlet’s work, reflecting a strongly left-oriented interpretation of U.S. politics.
Klassekampen generally produces professional journalism with named reporters, original reporting, and strong cultural coverage. However, its opinion and commentary sections have historically included controversial material, including accusations of anti-Israel bias, past antisemitic commentary, criticism over anti-trans or gender-critical perspectives, and some Russia-related narratives that critics argue have reflected propaganda framing. These concerns, combined with strong ideological orientation, support a Mixed factual rating despite credible day-to-day reporting.
Failed Fact Checks
- None to date. However, the paper has faced sustained criticism over controversial commentary and platforming of disputed narratives, particularly regarding Russia, Israel, and LGBTQ+ issues.
Overall, we rate Klassekampen Far Left biased based on its socialist history, left-labor ownership, self-described left-wing orientation, and editorial focus on class politics, labor, welfare, anti-capitalism, and left-wing movements. We also rate it Mixed for factual reporting due to professional reporting standards and named journalists, offset by strong ideological framing, controversial commentary, and past criticism over disputed narratives and inflammatory viewpoints. (D. Van Zandt 06/13/2026)
Source: https://klassekampen.no/
Last Updated on June 13, 2026 by Media Bias Fact Check
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