Newspaper publishing

Newspaper publishing and politics are closely connected. When Skúli Thoroddsen was appointed District Commissioner in Ísafjörður he started publication of the Þjóðviljinn newspaper in1886, which he continued into the new century when he moved to Bessastaðir. In Ísafjörður in 1902 some citizens founded the newspaper Vestri while liberals published a newspaper called Valurinn 1906-1907 and Dagur 1909-1910. The newspapers disseminated views and news and attracted new supporters. Newspaper publishing was and is a manifestation of capital cities or major towns. Some of the political newspapers are still being published: Skutull, the voice of the Liberals; Vesturland for conservatives and for the Independent party; Ísfirðingur for the Progressive Party. Baldur for the Socialists, Vestfirðingur for the People's Alliance and Vestri for liberal left-wingers are no longer published.  Independent newspapers became established after 1975 with the advent of Vestfirska fréttablaðið and later Bæjarins besta.