Tove Bjørgaas leaves NRK after 30 years

Journalist Tove Bjørgaas is leaving the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) after 30 years to become a freelancer. Bjørgaas, a former US correspondent who spent a total of 14 years living in the United States, signed a severance package on Thursday. Her final day at the state broadcaster will be December 17.

Bjørgaas, 54, has been a prominent figure in NRK’s foreign news department since 2003. She served three separate terms as the Washington, D.C. correspondent and has authored books regarding American society. She noted that maintaining strict neutrality has become increasingly difficult during significant historical shifts, expressing a desire to have a clearer and more independent voice in public debate.

Moving forward, Bjørgaas plans to work as an independent professional, focusing on lectures, podcasts, and book writing. She remains open to new television projects. Her departure comes as NRK undergoes restructuring, with approximately 106 employees receiving severance packages this autumn as part of a plan to reduce staff by 300 to 400 positions by 2030.