Arendal, Norway – Plans for a significant expansion of archival accessibility at the KUBEN cultural center in Arendal have been revealed, offering public access to nearly 370 previously uncatalogued articles from the Agderposten newspaper spanning the years 1983 to 2004. The initiative, announced this week, will make these historical articles available to the public, according to a statement released by KUBEN.
The articles, originally published as a regular feature in the Agderposten under the titles “Gammelt nytt” and later “Nytt om gammelt,” were compiled by the Aust-Agder Museum and Aust-Agder Archive. KUBEN’s announcement details that the project aims to provide researchers, students, and the general public with a valuable resource for understanding the region’s history.
The move comes as the Agderposten has recently been subject to scrutiny from the Norwegian Press Complaints Commission (PFU). In October 2025, the PFU ruled against the newspaper for a story concerning a motorcycle club, finding that the coverage was one-sided and lacked sufficient sourcing, according to a report by the Norsk Presseforbund. The ruling, based on violation of VVP 3.2, highlighted the importance of balanced reporting and diverse perspectives.
In September 2025, the Agderposten published a story concerning a family trauma, reporting on an individual’s experience understanding their father. The article adhered to the standards of the Vær Varsom-plakatens rules for good press practice.
Separately, in October 2025, the Agderposten reported on a case involving a concealed audio recording, with a subject describing their situation as “torture.” The report detailed allegations of sleep deprivation and other forms of mistreatment.
KUBEN’s archive services include photo archives, intake services, and resources for school and higher education. The center also hosts a range of cultural events, exhibitions, and research initiatives, including the Agderseminaret 2025 and the Museenes forskerkonferanse 2025. The newly digitized articles will be accessible through KUBEN’s website.
