Aftonbladet

Profile narrative

Aftonbladet is a Swedish daily newspaper published in Stockholm. It is issued in a tabloid format and covers a broad range of topics including national and international news, politics, sports, entertainment, and culture. The newspaper serves readers across Sweden through both a printed edition and a continuously updated website. Its editorial content aims to provide timely information and analysis to a general audience.

Aftonbladet is regarded as one of the largest daily newspapers in the country by readership. Its print edition reaches a substantial number of households throughout Sweden each morning. The digital platform aftonbladet.se attracts a high volume of visitors, making it one of the most visited news sites in the nation. Combined, the print and online offerings give the newspaper a nationwide footprint.

The publication is known for its investigative journalism, often uncovering stories that lead to public debate and policy discussion. Over the years, Aftonbladet has received numerous journalism awards recognizing its reporting quality and innovation. It has embraced multimedia storytelling, integrating video, podcasts, and interactive graphics into its online articles. The newspaper maintains a liberal editorial stance, which is reflected in its selection of topics and commentary.

Aftonbladet is owned by the Schibsted media group, a Norwegian multinational that controls several major newspapers and digital services in the Nordic region. Within Schibsted’s organizational structure, the newspaper operates as a subsidiary of the Nordic news division. Despite being part of a larger corporate group, Aftonbladet retains editorial independence in its day‑to‑day decision‑making. Ownership by Schibsted provides the newspaper with resources for technological development and cross‑border collaboration.

Founded in December 1830, Aftonbladet is among the oldest continuously published newspapers in Sweden. Originally launched as a broadsheet, it transitioned to the tabloid format in the mid‑20th century to match changing reader preferences. Throughout its history, the newspaper has covered major events such as wars, elections, and cultural shifts, adapting its coverage style accordingly. The longstanding presence has allowed it to build a deep archive that journalists and researchers frequently consult.

In March 2016, Aftonbladet experienced a significant distributed denial‑of‑service (DDoS) attack that disrupted its website and online services over a weekend. The attack was described as very severe and more coordinated than previous incidents affecting Swedish media outlets. Investigators traced the malicious traffic to hijacked computers potentially linked to eastern regions, and a deleted tweet had accused the media of spreading false propaganda. Swedish police cybercrime units collaborated with the newspaper’s technical staff to restore services and gather evidence.

Incidents

1 incident linked to this organisation.