FAQs

1. What’s the Global Investigative Journalism Conference?
Every two years since 2001, the world’s investigative journalism community has joined together in a different city, and the results have been extraordinary. This year we are heading to the Olympic Village of Lillehammer, Norway. Our local hosts at SKUP, Norway’s Association of a Critical and Investigative Press, also hosted the conference back in 2008. So this will be a revisit. Welcome to Lillehammer 2.0.

2. Who will be the speakers and what can we expect?
We’ll be hosting many of the world’s top investigative reporters, editors, and producers, as well as key resource people on freedom of information, media law, and security. There will be a total of more than 100 panels, training sessions, keynotes and workshops. Check out the program site for confirmed updates.

3. Where’s the conference?
Lillehammer is a small city, about 180 kilometres north of Oslo. From the Oslo Airport it’s about one hour and 50 minutes by direct train to Lillehammer station.

The conference will be held at the Radisson Blu Lillehammer Hotel. We have the entire hotel to ourself, so this will be our Muckraker basecamp for four days.

4. How can I register?
Registration for the conference is being handled by GIJN’s Norwegian conference partner, SKUP. Registration fee: NOK: 2.000 (about US$250). Register here.

5. How can I pay the conference fee?
The conference fee can be paid by Visa or Mastercard credit cards during registration. Hotel bills will be paid at departure.

6. Where do I stay during the conference
We have negotiated great deals on hotels in Lillehammer, with all meals included. If you choose a hotel package during registration, we will handle the booking for you. Participants will be located at the conference venue or nearby hotels by our team. There are limited numbers of rooms at the main hotel, so we will practice a first-come first-serve system.

Participants who are located at other hotels will eat breakfast at their hotel, but lunch and dinner will be served at the conference venue.

If you choose not to book a conference hotel-package thru us, there is an option for a “daypackage.” That package includes all meals at the conference venue, but not accommodation. Since Lillehammer is a small city, we strongly recommend that you book the accommodation through us.

7. Where can I find the cheapest flights to Norway?
The cheapest tickets to Oslo Airport (OSLO) can be found through sites such as Momondo, Kayak, Expedia, or Hotwire. GIJN will be working with our member organizations and conference goers to help as needed. SKUP is working on getting good deals for airfares.

8. What about public transportation from the airport to Lillehammer?
From the Airport: There are trains going from the Oslo Airport to Lillehammer station every hour (**.59). The line is “R10” and the direction says “Lillehammer.” The train ride takes about one hour and 50 minutes. The tickets cost NOK 250 (approximately USD 31). There will be a service desk for GIJC-participants at the airport.

Train tickets can be bought directly on the spot, no reservation needed. Or, they can also be bough online here (Choose from “Oslo Lufthavn” to “Lillehammer”, and just follow the instructions. After payment you will recieve an email with a confirmation code. This code is used on the ticket machines (the red and grey ones) labeled «NSB» at the airport train station.

In the City: There will be shuttles from some of the conference hotels to the conference site. Lillehammer is a small city, and you can walk between all the hotels and the conference venue. From the hotels it takes no more than 15 minutes by foot.

9. Do you recommend any hotel?

SKUP has negotiated deals with several hotels in the city. Through the registration page you can register for a hotel package that includes accommodation, breakfast, lunch and dinner for the entire conference. The package cost NOK 6.110 (approximately USD 765) from Wednesday until Sunday for a single bed room. This also includes the gala dinner on Saturday night.

If you want to share a room, the price is about USD 100 less per person.

When you register for a hotel package, SKUP will book the room for you and allocate participants at the different hotels we made deals with. All hotels are walking distance from the conference venue. There will be shuttle buses to the other hotels.

If you prefer to arrange your own accommodation, we recommend you register for a “Day Package.” This package includes meals, but no hotels. The “Day Package” costs NOK 3.255 (approximately USD 410).

10. Do I need a visa to enter Norway?

IMPORTANT: CITIZENS FROM MANY COUNTRIES OUTSIDE EU/EEA NEED A VISA TO ENTER NORWAY. The process can take up to three weeks, so be sure to do it soon! Official letters are available from SKUP upon request.

Citizens from countries inside the EU/EEA don’t need a visa to Norway. Also citizens from many other countries can visit Norway without a visa, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United States. You can check if you need a visa here.

To apply for a tourist visa, the applicant must individually fill out the Form for visa Application available in English. Then you need to contact the Norwegian consular authorities in your country to arrange a meeting.

10. How can I become a sponsor?
Interested in helping sponsor the GIJC? Here’s a chance to reach and support the “special forces” of journalism around the world – the reporters, editors, producers and programmers on the front lines of battling crime, corruption, abuse of trust, and lack of accountability. You’ll join major media organizations, leading technology companies, and influential foundations. Contact us at hello@gijn.org.

11. Whats the currency in Norway?