Agderposten was founded by teacher Jens Svendsen and published for the first time on 1 July 1874. Svendsen was the owner and editor-in-chief until 1919. His son Jens Svendsen Jr. was a co-editor for a couple of years. Later editors were Jens Vevstad from 1919 to 1928, Magne Torsvik from 1928 to 1936, then Robert Knudsen. Regarding ownership, a stock company named Agderposten was set up in 1919. Among the members of the board of directors were Torjus Værland. In 1936 a new team of owners took over; Robert Knudsen, Alv Kristiansen and Liberal Party politician Christian Stray. Stray soon became the sole owner.[1] His daughter Anne Lise was given 70% of the shares in 1963, and took over at Christian's death in 1981. This family ownership is an anomaly in Norway.[2]
The newspaper was affiliated with the Liberal Party until the party split in 1972. It then followed the Liberal People's Party for a short period before becoming non-partisan.[3] Its current stance is in general terms liberal-democratic.[1]
In addition to Arendal, where they have their office,[3] it has a significant distribution in the municipalities of Risør, Tvedestrand and Grimstad.[4] It is published six days a week since 1897,[4] launched its Internet edition in 1998 and introduced the tabloid format in 2004.[3] In 2005 the paper had a circulation of 23,329, of whom 21,983 are subscribers.[5]
It is published by the stock company Agderposten AS, which is owned 100% by Agderposten Medier AS. Agderposten AS also holds a 92.8% ownership of TV Aust-Agder, 96.4 of Radio Agder, 97.7% of Grimstad Adressetidende, 100% of Lillesandsposten and Vennesla Tidende.[5] It was one of the founders of Kanal 24, but sold its shares in 2006.
The 2013 circulation of Agderposten was 19,853 copies.[6]
