– What are the most important aspects of your job?
– I spend a lot of time reading and writing. My job at Klassekampen newspaper involves assessing, editing and printing texts that others have written, everything from the smallest reader’s letters to articles, columns and essays. In addition, I write reviews and other texts, something which hardly feels like a job.
– What do you like best about your job?
– Editing, angling and honing texts are things I like very much. Many people submit contributions to the newspaper, and the point is to find the voices and ideas that add something new. They are not always the ones who shout the loudest or have professional communication people to speak on their behalf. I especially like working with texts that provide insight into aspects of Norway and the world that are not seen that often.
– Which of the things you learned at the Faculty of Humanities have you benefited the most from in this job?
– Everything, really! I studied a master’s degree in Old Norse Philology, which you might not think is very relevant in a daily newspaper, but I get to use a surprising amount of what I learned. Everything from knowledge about languages and genres to all the historical and literary references that permeate the public debate. In addition, we have a regular column on ancient history, where I need to use more specialised knowledge about saga literature and medieval kings. In more general terms, it involves critical reading and insight into the questions people have been asking and arguing about for countless years, and are still arguing about today.
– What is the best advice you can give new students who are thinking about job opportunities after completing their studies?
– Find something that you are actually interested in and take it from there. At the Faculty of Humanities, you learn a lot that can be used everywhere, and society today really needs people who are knowledgeable about language and history, and who can see how things are interconnected. Furthermore, I would recommend joining a student organisation; the journal communities at Blindern have been especially important to me, but I have also met many people and learned so much at Uglebo and Amatøren.
Carline Tromp
Subject:
Old Norse Philology
Now: Viking and Medieval Studies
Degree:
Master's
Graduated:
2012
Position:
Editorial secretary, literary critic and author