Kjarninn
 | |
| Key people |
Þórður Snær Júlíusson (editor) Hjalti Harðarson CEO |
|---|---|
| Website | kjarninn.is |
| Launched | August 23, 2013 |
| Current status | Online |
Kjarninn (which means the core in Icelandic) is an Icelandic online newspaper founded in August 2013. Its main version is the website, kjarninn.is. Previously Kjarninn was a weekly digital newsmagazine served via Apple App Store aimed at tablet computer users but PDFs were also available at the website. Since September 2014 Kjarninn's only publication has been online.
The people behind Kjarninn originally worked at 365's free newspaper Fréttablaðið which has practically a monopoly on the market (69% in 2004).[1] In February 2013, Magnús Halldórsson, now journalist at Kjarninn, criticised businessman and former owner Jón Ásgeir Jóhannesson, whose wife Ingibjörg Pálmadóttir is the current owner of 365, for trying to influence the editorial independence of Fréttablaðið in his favour.[2] Shortly after Magnús and Þórður left 365 and founded Kjarninn.
Since its first publication in August 2013, Kjarninn has made headlines in Iceland for publishing leaked material connected to the 2008–11 Icelandic financial crisis. After the publication of the first issue the Financial Supervisory Authority demanded a report on Keflavik Savings Bank (by then defunct) that Kjarninn published be withdrawn.[3] In October 2013 the Kaupthing winding up committee insisted Kjarninn withdraw the publication of a PriceWaterhouseCoopers report about how Kaupthing employees profited hugely by hedging against a strong Icelandic króna.[4]