Áššu

Áššu was a Northern Sámi-language newspaper published twice a week and distributed across Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia. In 2008, Áššu ceased publication to merge with the rival paper Min Áigi to form Ávvir.

Áššu

Type	twice-weekly newspaper
Format	tabloid
Owner(s)	Aviisa AS
Editor-in-chief	Ánte Bals
Launched	October 28, 1993 (1993-10-28)
Language	Northern Sámi
Ceased publication	January 22, 2008 (2008-01-22)
Headquarters	Guovdageaidnu, Norway
Country	Norway
Circulation	1,008 (in 2007)
ISSN	0805-4754
Media of Norway List of newspapers

History

Áššu (the word áššu translates into English as "glowing embers") launched in October 1993 as a rival to Min Áigi, which had launched earlier that year following the bankruptcy of the influential Sámi Áigi newspaper.^[1][2] Headquartered in Guovdageaidnu, Norway, the paper was published by Aviisa AS and co-owned by Nordavis AS.^[3] Despite having a readership across Sápmi, Áššu was positioned as a more local, traditional newspaper compared to the more political and nationally oriented Min Áigi.^[4]

Merger

On 27 August 2007, Áššu and its rival Min Áigi announced plans to merge to create a Northern Sámi-language daily newspaper, Ávvir.^[5] A week after Áššu published its final issue, Ávvir launched on 6 February 2008, the Sami National Day.^[6] Min Áigi chairman Magne Svineng stated that due to higher production costs, mergering Áššu and Min Áigi was the only way to meet the need for a daily Sámi-language newspaper with wide distribution.^[7] Ávvir maintained editorial bureaus in Kárášjohka and Guovdageaidnu, the respective headquarters of Min Áigi and Áššu.

Circulation

Number of Subscribers^[8]

2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
969	1,003	1,127	1,117	1,084	1,021	975	1,008

See also

• Min Áigi
• Ávvir