Ever heard the saying “Tør hvor andre tier”? It translates to “Dare where others are silent”. That phrase is Ekstra Bladet’s core.
Ekstra Bladet stands here in Copenhagen. It is more than just a newspaper. It’s an attitude. It’s a challenge to power. Ekstra Bladet is a Danish tabloid. It has been around for over a century.
Founded in 1904, Ekstra Bladet began as a supplement to Politiken. A year later, it became its own paper. Its focus? Investigative journalism, news, sports, and entertainment. Some call it sensationalistic. Ekstra Bladet dares to be different.
Imagine the newsroom buzz. Editors shout. Reporters scramble. The presses roll. Ekstra Bladet hits the streets. Its headlines grab attention. Its stories spark debate. Ekstra Bladet challenges the norm.
In its early days, Ekstra Bladet covered the Russo-Japanese War. It delivered news telegrams from the war zone. Frejlif Olsen was its first editor. He shaped the paper’s early voice.
Over the years, Ekstra Bladet has seen many changes. It switched to tabloid format in 1961. Editors came and went. Each left their mark. Victor Andreasen developed its aggressive style in 1963. Sven Ove Gade introduced the Sunday edition in 1987.
Hans Engell, a former politician, took over in 2000. Poul Madsen followed in 2007. Henrik Qvortrup stepped in briefly in 2021. Knud Brix is the current editor. Each editor has navigated changing times.
Ekstra Bladet’s website, ekstrabladet.dk, is Denmark’s largest news site. It’s a digital powerhouse. It delivers news fast. It engages readers online.
The paper’s circulation has seen ups and downs. In 1957, it sold over 68,000 copies on weekdays. By 1991, that number jumped to 210,000. But readership declined in recent years. Still, Ekstra Bladet fights to stay relevant.
Ekstra Bladet has a history of controversy. In 2010, Apple rejected its app. The paper claimed Apple was an “American nanny.” Ekstra Bladet doesn’t back down easily.
For many years, Ekstra Bladet has awarded “Årets Nytårstorsk.” This translates to “New Year’s Cod.” It is given to the Dane who blundered most during the year. Uffe Ellemann-Jensen holds the record. He has won five times.
Since 1976, Ekstra Bladet featured a “Side 9” girl. It was a photo of a nude or semi-nude woman. In 2022, the paper promised to destroy its archive of underage girls’ photos. Ekstra Bladet tries to adapt to modern values.
Ekstra Bladet’s slogans have evolved. “Tør hvor andre tier” has been a constant. In 1999, it declared, “Find dig i Ekstra Bladet, eller find dig i hvad som helst!” In 2002, it asked, “Forestil dig en verden uden Ekstra Bladet.” Today, it proclaims, “Når ingen andre tør.” That means “When no one else dares.”
So, as you stand here, remember Ekstra Bladet’s spirit. It’s a story of daring. It’s a story of challenging the status quo. Ekstra Bladet continues to make noise. It continues to stir things up. It continues to dare.