It is now known that the «fact inspectors» at Faktisk.no have applied to the government for financial support to the operation, and for an «educational project» amounting to Nkr 39 million over three years. Prior to this application, however, Resett has learned that there was a meeting between Minister of Culture, Trine Skei Grande and the leader of Faktisk.no, Kristoffer Egeberg, in her office on 24 September.
According to the information obtained by Resett, the Minister of Culture expressed such positive an attitude that she requested that the application(s) be presented as quickly as possible to be included in the new report to the Storting. She also requested a copy for the Department of Culture of the part of the application directed to the Department of Knowledge.
Faktisk.no AS describes their apprehension of the meeting with Minister of Culture, Grande, in a new letter to the government as follows (see a copy of the letter below),
«The educational project» descried by Faktisk.no is a project for every eight grader in Norway. In it, Faktisk.no undertakes the task of «leading the project», be fact inspector, and supply resources for development in what they call a «robust entity» from Faktisk.no. The project is meant to co-operate with the «local community, the state and the media».
According to the description provided by Faktisk.no they regard themselves to be qualified for the task, based among other things on having competence based on «experience» in source criticism.
In addition to their application for support of their educational project sent to the Department of Knowledge, Faktisk.no has also applied to the Department of Culture by Trine Skei Grande for an annual 6 million Nkr support of operation. Faktisk.no explains that the company’s six owners each pay 1 million Nkr annually, and asks the Department of Culture to match this with a corresponding amount of money.
Read also: Join in the struggle against Faktisk.no
Claiming in their application documentation to be an «ideal organisation», the limited company Faktisk.no AS appeals to the Minister of Culture, Trine Skei Grande using among other words,
– The issues most shared in Norway in May, 2018, were made by so-called «factories of lies». Fabricated and often hateful «memos» aimed at parties, politicians, institutions, and other public persons get widely spread and acquire great response on social media in Norway also.
Resett has asked for comments from editor in charge, Kristoffer Egeberg, but has as of yet not received any answer.
Minister of Culture, Grande has earlier stated that, «I never offer any comment on Resett. It is no serious medium.» Consequently, we have been unable to acquire any comment from the Minister on what she promised Kristoffer Egeberg between themselves in their meeting on 24 September.
Translated to English by Lars Hoem