At the end of January, Lena K Samuelsson announced that after six years as Aftonbladet’s publisher and editor-in-chief, she would leave as soon as a successor was appointed.
On Tuesday, it was clear that Lotta Folcker will take over the baton. She comes most recently from Viaplay, where she was sports director for two years, but has previously worked at Aftonbladet in the role of director of Aftonbladet TV and as editorial director for parts of the newspaper’s digital initiatives. Before that, Folcker also worked as director of TV4 Nyhetsmorgon and was a reporter at DN, SvD and Folkbladet.
She describes the new job as both “exciting” and “honouring”. The step from Viaplay to the evening newspaper Aftonbladet feels natural.
– I have almost 30 years of experience in the media and have worked both on the newsroom floor and in management groups in various groups. It makes me feel that I am ready to take on the responsibility that is required, says Lotta Folcker, who in her roles will oversee both journalism and business.
Where do you see the most important responsibility lying right now?
– To maintain and strengthen Aftonbladet’s strong position and standing, and to continue to fight for independent journalism in a time of transformation where everything is challenged.
What will be the biggest challenge for Aftonbladet and you to tackle going forward?
– I haven’t had time to get into it enough yet. I feel that Aftonbladet is in a good place today, with good management and a competent organization. But it is clear that the transformation and AI will both be able to help and challenge us.
The Norwegian media group Schibsted writes in the press release that Lotta Folcker will be one of three editors-in-chief of Schibsted Media, a new planned media group in which Schibsted intends to sell its news companies – which in addition to Aftonbladet also include SvD, Omni and PodMe – to its majority owner, the Tinius foundation .
Something that Lotta Folcker welcomes.
– It is a security to have such a strong owner behind you. But it is also good that there will be this division, because it means that we can work more long-term, which I think can be decisive during this time.
Lotta Folcker takes up the position on 22 April.
