The mission of the Nordic Journalist Centre (NJC) is to draw on strong cultural ties and shared Nordic values as a means of strengthening independent journalism and professional networks in the Nordic region, as well as in neighbouring areas, including the Baltic countries.
Our vision is to run and further develop a resource centre for Nordic journalism – a centre that creates added value for journalists, editors and media organisations across the entire region.
At the core of NJC’s work is the development and delivery of continuing education courses, seminars and conferences for journalists. All courses are specifically developed for Nordic journalists and focus on current – and therefore evolving – themes.
NJC is the only pan-Nordic journalism training institution operating across national borders and bringing a Nordic perspective to all its courses and projects. In 2024, the Centre’s efforts to promote Nordic cooperation and a sense cohesion were recognised when it received the Nordens samarbetspris from Föreningen Norden, Sweden.
A Nordic foundation
NJC supports the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Vision 2030 of making the Nordic Region the most sustainable and integrated region in the world, with particular emphasis on the strategy’s three main priorities: a green Nordic region, a competitive Nordic region, and a socially sustainable Nordic region.
NJC contributes directly to this ambition through pan-Nordic cooperation between journalists, media organisations and continuing education institutions – and indirectly by strengthening contemporary and future Nordic journalism, which helps to inform and engage citizens in the democratic debate needed to realise these ambitions.
For several decades, NJC has carried out continuing education activities for journalists and photographers in the neighbouring regions of Nordic countries, including the Baltics and Ukraine, as well as projects for Russian and Belarusian media in exile. Building networks between these participants and Nordic journalists and media organisations is an integral part of these activities.
These activities are often organised so that half of the participants come from the Nordic countries and the other half from the region concerned. Frequently, part of the course takes place in the Nordic Region and another part in the neighbouring region.
Values and principles
NJC is founded on Nordic values such as democracy, pluralism, freedom of expression, equality and trust. These values are reflected in all activities and projects, as well as in the organisation and operation of NJC itself – and, of course, in the way the courses are actually designed and delivered.
Strong democracies depend on critical, independent and constructive media, where citizens are able to make informed choices about the politicians who will help ensure the democratic development of society.
For us, this means that a democratic society has:
- a strong public service tradition based on transparency and political independence
- a strong, independent private media sector with competing media organisations
- a generally high level of trust in professional journalistim
A shared Nordic approach also brings a broader perspective to issues that cross national borders, including climate, the environment, security and defence policy and related areas.
Nordic networks
NJC has been fostering networking and knowledge exchange since long before these concepts became part of established terminology.
One of NJC’s recurring annual activities is the two- to three-week Nordic Journalism Course, also known as the ‘Aarhus Course’ (Aarhus-kurset). The course has been held every year since 1958 as an independent continuing education programme for Nordic journalists, helping ensure that the press has in-depth insight, and also strong networks across the Nordic Region for the benefit of Nordic citizens.
The aim is to give participants knowledge and insight into Nordic affairs, as well as an understanding of the Nordic Region’s interaction with its neighbours and major powers. The objective is that journalists who have taken part in an Aarhus Course will, going forward, be better equipped to report on Nordic societies with insight, professional expertise and an understanding of each country’s distinctive characteristics and dynamics.
Participants often stay in touch with one another, giving the courses lasting value for many years afterwards.
See also: Facts about the Aarhus Course (in Danish)
Strategy for 2026–2030
NJC has adopted a strategy for 2026–2030. Its core task remains to serve as a resource centre for the continuing education of Nordic journalists.
In 2026–27, NJC will also offer activities for journalists in the Baltics and the Nordic region’s neighbouring areas.
Read more: NJC expands and adopts a new strategy (in Danish)
The strategy is available in four Nordic languages: Swedish, Finnish, Norwegian, Danish, as well as Russian, Ukrainian and English.
Organisation and partnerships
The Nordic Journalist Centre is an independent, autonomous, non-profit Nordic project organisation. All its activities have a clear Nordic focus. The Centre was previously part of the institutions of the Nordic Council of Ministers and has existed since 1957. Today, it operates as a project organisation.
Administratively and geographically, the Centre is based at the Danish School of Media and Journalism (DMJX) in Aarhus, Denmark.
NJC is advised by a pan-Nordic Advisory Board: the Nordic Journalist Centre Advisory Board
Through its robust knowledge of the media landscape in the Nordic Region and its long history of Nordic cooperation, NJC has built long-standing partnerships with media organisations, media institutions and other continuing education providers in the Nordic countries, as well as in neighbouring countries and regions.
NJC serves as a pan-Nordic complement to national educational institutions and contributes to strengthening journalism as a whole across the Nordic Region for the benefit of people throughout the region.
NJC promotes cooperation with Nordic research bodies through advocacy in the Nordic Civil Society Network and other Nordic forums, including on climate change, security and defence policy, and other issues.
Management and staff: Key people
More about our previous activities
- Books and publications (in Danish)
Photo (above)
Ingemo Lindroos and Terhi Pirilä-Porvali took part in NJC’s Greenland course in March 2025 together with other participants and, despite a busy course programme, found time for a boat trip on Nuuk Fjord.
Photo: Martin Breum
Read:
Advice for Finnish journalists: Don’t be afraid to take part! (In Swedish)