The Debate: Controversy Surrounding NRK’s Documentary “Nobody Loves Bamsegut” and Ethical Shortcomings

The well-known documentary filmmaker and former NRK journalist Erling Borgen is anything but impressed by NRK and Tore Strømøy’s “Nobody Loves Bamsegut”, which tells the story of Jan-Egil Granfoss and the family’s challenges in getting home from the Philippines.

After creating great interest, the series was withdrawn, when NRK did not tell about a sentence that Granfoss received against him 32 years ago, for sexually abusing children. The series was the subject of tonight’s “The Debate” broadcast on NRK on Tuesday.

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– The first thing that strikes me, and which I think is incredibly funny, is that neither the broadcasting manager nor Tore Strømøy participates in the program to answer what has happened, and that the program creator himself does not explain how he has behaved and what he is now thinking , it’s embarrassing now.

NRK veteran Borgen has been responsible for teaching socially critical documentaries at Høgskolen i Innlandet since 2008. He is not kind to the series that NRK has now pulled.

– If any of the students had made this mistake and handed it in, I think they would have failed, says Borgen.

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– Completely incomprehensible

– Isn’t it natural that the broadcasting manager delegates the task of speaking out on the matter to those who have been closest to the documentary before publication?

– I think this case has become so big that the Director of Broadcasting should speak out on behalf of NRK, replies Borgen.

When asked whether it is right that the editors, and not Tore Strømøy himself, is responsible for what he has created, Borgen says:

– No, I completely disagree with that. I have made 70-75 documentary series, and regarding controversial documentaries I always had the opportunity to defend and explain myself, says Borgen.

He also points out that Strømøy has worked on the case over several years, and that he has also responded to criticism in a reader’s post in Aftenposten.

– I think it is completely incomprehensible that he does not come forward and explain how he has worked.

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– Who is in charge here, NRK or Tore Strømøy?

– The NRK management decides what NRK will publish, replies Borgen.

– NRK is lying completely flat

Both NRK’s ​​district editor Marius Lillelien and the media house’s ethics editor, Per-Arne Kalbakk, took part in Tuesday’s debate. They both fell flat for NRK’s ​​publication.

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NRK’s ​​district editor Marius Lillelien said, among other things, that they did not think the verdict against Granfoss would be made public.

– We thought it would not come to light. In the clear light of hindsight, it turns out to be a naive assessment and a misjudgment.

Ethics editor Kalbakk also spoke about how, when publishing, NRK emphasized the consideration of Granfoss and the family more heavily than the consideration of those who were subjected to abuse by Granfoss.

– It was a misjudgment. It was a real consideration for the family and especially the son and it was a naive decision about how it would turn out.

Erling Borgen says this about how NRK responded in the broadcast:

– NRK is lying completely flat. Lillelien I think answered quite well for himself.

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Not sure if the series should be removed permanently

Nettavisen’s editor, Erik Stephansen, was also a guest during the “Debate”. He has previously advocated that the series should not be republished.

During the broadcast, he called the series an ethical short circuit. Borgen does not immediately agree with Stephansen that the series should not be republished.

– I do not agree with that without further ado, without having seen how NRK will change what is obviously wrong in the documentary, says Borgen.

And adds:

– This is about what they want to do. It is very crucial.

2023-11-21 22:12:49


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