Multimedia Story Earns Investigative Honour

A Norwegian newspaper has received a journalism award for its large-scale multimedia project about victims of domestic violence.

Journalists at the tabloid VG were honoured with the Skup-diploma for investigative journalism for their work researching the deaths of over 70 women at the hands of abusive partners.

Blogger Kristine Lowe writes that the multimedia project (links to Norwegian language site) comprised front-page stories in the print edition supplemented by in-depth web articles, videos, interviews and online chats.

Writing on Journalism.co.uk, she reports that the initiative took a total of six months to complete and has led to changes in the way domestic violence incidents are recorded by the police.

Revealing its decision, the jury said of the VG story: “In contrast to other countries, we did not know how many women were killed by their husbands, partners and boyfriends in Norway.

“VG’s project required extensive research, meticulous accuracy and careful ethical considerations.

“Wounds had to be ripped open, next of kin contacted and identification approved for 72 murders committed over a period of seven years.”