“Masks for 100 Million” Earns Esteemed Skup Award
In a testament to the power of investigative journalism, the project “Masks for 100 Million” has been honored with this year’s prestigious Skup Award.
Each year, the Foundation for a Critical and Investigative Press bestows the Skup Award to celebrate outstanding investigative reporting in Norway. On Saturday evening, VG journalists Rolf J. Widerøe and Einar Otto Stangvik were recognized for their exceptional work on this project.
Their investigation exposed a troubling plan by the Ministry of Defense to allocate 100 million kroner for masks intended for Ukrainian soldiers. Through diligent reporting, Widerøe and Stangvik revealed that these masks, priced at around 3,000 kroner each, offered significantly weaker protection than advertised, fundamentally undermining their life-saving claims. Following a flurry of public outcry, the controversial agreement was ultimately scrapped in January.
The jury praised VG’s work, stating, “VG not only uncovered a single, highly objectionable case, but also illuminated vulnerabilities in a system under immense pressure, where close relationships and inadequate control mechanisms can lead to dire consequences.”
A total of 52 entries were submitted from media outlets across the country, showcasing the depth and breadth of investigative journalism in Norway. In addition to the Skup award, diplomas were awarded to VG, TV2, and Adresseavisen for their commendable contributions to investigative reporting.
