Steigan.no

[[File:Pål Steigan at Parkteateret.jpg|thumb|right|165px|Pål Steigan in 2007]]
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'''Steigan.no''' is a [[Norwegian]] "anti-[[globalist]]" alternative news site that is often described as "red-brown."<ref name=wl>[https://www.workersliberty.org/story/2022-09-12/collaboration-between-transphobic-feminists-and-far-right-some-facts Collaboration between transphobic feminists and the far right — some facts]</ref><ref name=steigan /> It is known for promoting [[Russian]] [[propaganda]], [[conspiracy theories]], [[racism]] and [[transphobia]].<ref name=db>{{cite news |title=Propaganda-påstander: Tok ikke kontakt |url=https://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/propaganda-pastander-tok-ikke-kontakt/75893251 |access-date=3 May 2022 |work=Dagbladet}}</ref><ref name=ap /> It is one of the largest conspiracy theorist websites in [[Scandinavia]], and is somewhat similar to [[Globalresearch]]. It is also associated with the "Mot Dag" red-brown conference, that has so far typically featured [[Nazi]]s, [[tankies]], pro-[[Assad]] conspiracy theorists and [[TERF]]s.<ref name=steigan />

==Content==
The website was founded by former [[Maoist]] politician {{wpl|Pål Steigan}} {{lived|1949}}. [[Extremism]] researcher and [[Skepticism|skeptic]] {{wpl|:no:John Færseth|John Færseth}} describes the website as a platform of [[conspiracy theories]] and pro-Kremlin disinformation and propaganda.<ref name=Færseth1>{{cite book |last1=Færseth |first1=John |title=Fyrtårnet i øst: Putins Russland og vestlige ekstremister |date=2021 |publisher=Humanist forlag|isbn= 9788282821704}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Flere norske alternativmedier fungerer som «kanaler» for russisk desinformasjon og propaganda |url=https://journalisten.no/john-faerseth-konspirasjonsteorier-propaganda/flere-norske-alternativmedier-fungerer-som-kanaler-for-russisk-desinformasjon-og-propaganda/473264 |access-date=19 March 2022 |work=Journalisten}}</ref> It has also been described as an example of "red–brown convergence" ([[far-left]] with [[far-right]], or [[Third Position]]ism), with links to the [[alt-right]].<ref name=steigan>{{cite news |title=Bonzo goes to Oslo: Christian fundamentalists and the far-right strike a new pose |url=https://libcom.org/article/bonzo-goes-oslo-christian-fundamentalists-and-far-right-strike-new-pose |access-date=19 March 2022 |work=}}</ref> 

Norwegian government-supported fact checking website {{wpl|Faktisk.no}} stated that ''Steigan'' is part of a far-right/alternative [[echo chamber]] that also includes ''[[Document.no]]'', ''[[Resett.no]]'', ''[[Human Rights Service|Rights.no]]'', and ''Lykten.no'', and where individuals linked to [[SIAN]] (Stop Islamisation of Norway) play a key role.<ref>{{cite news |title=SIAN sentrale i spredningen av innhold fra alternative medier |url=https://www.faktisk.no/artikler/j7v3g/sian-sentrale-i-spredningen-av-innhold-fra-alternative-medier |work=Faktisk}}</ref> In 2022 ''Faktisk.no'' described Steigan as the main promoter of Russian propaganda among alternative media in Norway.<ref name=faktisk>{{cite news |title=Slik spres russisk propaganda i norske alternative medier |trans-title=How Russian propaganda is promoted in Norwegian alternative media|url=https://www.faktisk.no/artikler/06epg/slik-spres-russisk-propaganda-i-norske-alternative-medier|work=Faktisk.no}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Hevdes å spre russisk propaganda: Kari Jaquesson medeier|trans-title=Accused of spreading Russian propaganda, Kari Jaquesson a co-owner|url=https://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/hevdes-a-spre-russisk-propaganda-kari-jaquesson-medeier/75772256 |work=Dagbladet}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Ap-Raymond om Rødt-bråket: Kast ut Steigan-tilhengerne! |url=https://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/i/z7Jyz4/ap-raymond-om-roedt-braaket-kast-ut-steigan-tilhengerne |work=Verdens Gang|quote=Faktisk.no skrev i mars i år at steigan.no skiller seg ut som den aktøren som sprer klart mest russisk propaganda blant norske alternative medier.|trans-quote=Faktisk.no wrote in March this year that steigan.no stands out as the outlet that is by far the largest promoter of Russian propaganda among Norwegian alternative media.}}</ref>

The secretary-general of the left-wing Red party Benedikte Pryneid Hansen said the party views Steigan as a platform of "onesided Russian war propaganda, conspiracy theories, racism and transphobia",<ref name=ap>{{cite news |title=Ikke alle liker at Moxnes tar oppgjør med Steigan.no |url=https://www.aftenposten.no/norge/politikk/i/nWx6an/ikke-alle-liker-at-moxnes-tar-oppgjoer-med-steiganno|work=Aftenposten}}</ref> and that the website is characterized by "extreme conspiracy theories."<ref>{{cite news |title=Full splid i Raudt om Steigan.no |url=https://www.nrk.no/mr/raud-ungdom-meiner-ein-ikkje-kan-ha-tillitsverv-i-raudt-om-ein-er-medeigar-i-steigan.no-1.15930789 |work=NRK}}</ref>

Steigan has been denied membership in the Norwegian Association of Newspaper Editors, with the rationale that Steigan.no is not a [[Journalism|journalistic]] medium, but an activist website that disregards accepted journalistic principles.<ref>[https://m24.no/eirik-hoff-lysholm-norsk-redaktorforening-pal-steigan/steiganno-fikk-avslag-pa-soknad-om-medlemskap-i-norsk-redaktorforening--patetisk/395935 Steigan.no fikk avslag på søknad om medlemskap i Norsk Redaktørforening: – Patetisk]</ref>

The website's writers include Hans Olav Brendberg, who is known for promoting [[Antisemitism|anti-semitic]] conspiracy theories,<ref>{{cite news |title=– Gruppering samles i hemmelighet rundt antisemittisk budskap i Oslo neste uke. Jeg håper flest mulig protesterer |url=https://vartoslo.no/anna-aronsen-oftedall-antisemittisme-hans-olav-brendberg/gruppering-samles-i-hemmelighet-rundt-antisemittisk-budskap-i-oslo-neste-uke-jeg-haper-flest-mulig-protesterer/337753 |work=Vårt Oslo}}</ref> and Swedish TERF and pro-Russian debater [[Kajsa Ekman]].<ref name=wl /><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20220913145209/https://steigan.no/author/kajsaekisekman/ Kajsa Ekis Ekman] in Steigan.no</ref>

==Red-brown conference==

Steigan also hosts his own conference named "Mot Dag" ("Against/Towards Day"), named after an historical communist group, that has also been described as "red-brown" and that has featured many well-known conspiracy theorists as well as far-right speakers, including Nazis, while portraying itself as left-wing. An article on LibCom noted:

{{quotebox|Steigan has a long history on the anti-imperialist left, including having met with Pol Pot and Enver Hoxha. His current project appears to be a sort of “red-brown convergence squared”, as his conference brought the anti-trans axis represented by Keen-Minshull together with Eva Bartlett, Vanessa Beeley and Patrick Henningsen, three figures who’ve played a high-profile role in the international pro-Assad conspiracy theorist milieu. All three have extensive connections to the far-right.<ref name=steigan />}}

==References==
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[[Category:Antisemitism]]
[[Category:Conspiracy theorists]]
[[Category:Internet kooks]]
[[Category:Media]]
[[Category:Norway]]
[[Category:Racism]]
[[Category:Transphobia]]
[[Category:Vatniks]]

Categories: Antisemitism, Conspiracy theorists, Internet kooks, Media, Norway, Racism, Transphobia, Vatniks