Lögberg-Heimskringla - 10.09.1977, Qupperneq 3

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LOGBERG-HEIMSKRINGLA, LAUGARDAGINN 10. SEPTEMBER 1977
made its first appearance on September 9th, 1886, just three
months after the demise of Leifur.
Among those responsible for this new venture were both
former opponents and supporters of Leifur. Frímann B.
Anderson, the main backer and first editor of Heimskringla,
had been one of Leifur’s most severe critics and Helgi Jóns-
son’s most bitter opponent. Eggert Jóhannsson, the second of
the founders, had assisted with the editing of Leifur. Einar
Hjörleifsson, the third founding father of Heimskringla, had
just arrived in Winnipeg from Denmark. One of Heimskringla’s
printers, Jón Vigfússon Dalmann, had formerly been Leifur’s
chief printer.
Although slightly larger than Leifur and more polished,
Heimskringla was similar in format and content, carrying
local, national and international news, as well as news and
articles of interest to Icelanders in North America.
Though well received, Heimskringla was subject to the
same woes as its predecessors. During its first years, Heims-
kringla was twice forced to cease publication due to financial
difficulties, a problem that has never been completely solved
in its 90-year history.
Nor could Heimskringla avoid criticism and opposition
any more than Framfari or Leifur. Just as they had run into
divisions in the Icelandic community, so did Heimskringla.
Just over a year later, enough dissatisfaction had arisen in
Winnipeg to see1,he foundation of a rival paper, Lögberg.
Lögberg — the Law Rock
Although Heimskringla had declared a non-partisan policy
in politics and other matters, it was not long before the reading
public detected deíinite poiitical and religious leanings in
Heimskringia’s editorial columns and reporting. By this time,
many of the Icelandic immigrants had become familiar enough
with Canadian poiitics and other issues to have formed their
opinions and chosen sides. Dissatisfied with Heimskringla’s
position, several leading citizens of the Icelandic community
wasted no time in establishing an alternative in Lögberg.
Lögberg’s first issue was printed in Winnipeg on January
14th, 1888, just over a year after Heimskringla’s debut. It was
ídentical to Heimskringla in size and was similar in format
and content. The first editor was Einar Hjörleifsson, a talented
and well educated young writer, who had left Heimskringla
to join Lögberg’s ranks.
The first issue carried an article explaining that Lögberg’s
publishers had bought the printing rights to both Framfari
and Leifur as well as the press used to print these papers.
Lögberg, then, was to be more of a continuation of these
publishing ventures than a new one.
Sigtryggur Jónasson, driving force behind Framfari and a
sympathiser of Leifur, was also the prime motivator and chief
financial contributor behind Lögberg. With him in this under-
taking were Bergvin Jónsson, Einar Hjörleifsson, Árni Frið-
riksson, Sigurður Jón Jóhannesson and Ólafur S. Thorgeirsson.
Despite the obvious rivalry with Heimskringla, Lögberg
too made an initial claim of political impartiality. It was not
long, however, before both papers had aligned with their
respective parties. Heimskringla became the spokesman for
the Conservative party and the Unitarian faith and was sub-
scribed to by Icelanders of those persuasions. Lögberg was
Liberal and Lutheran, as were its readers without major
exception.
Lögberg’s entry into the contest was the beginning of a
long and bitter rivalry. Many felt that “the West” was not big
enough for two Icelandic newspapers and that one, if not both,
would be forced to fold, possibly leaving the Icelandic com-
munity without any paper. As it happened, then end result,
more than 70 years later, was one that few, if any, foresaw.
Lögberg-Heimskringla — a New Era
Although the rivalry between Lögberg and Heimskringla
was not always in the best of taste, especially during the early
years, both publications undoubtedly benefitted from the
interest it generated in the reading public. The divergent
policies and opinions expressed in the columns of the two
papers often erupted into slanderous duels of the pen, which
continued from week to week, providing readers with material
for lively discussions of their own.
With the passing years, however, and the Icelandic com-
munity’s increasing facility in the English language, the role
of the Icelandic papers as political and religious media
diminished. Radio, television and the wide availability of other
publications satisfied requirements in these areas, which were
of dwindling priority.
MlnnisvarSl um
Framfara.
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NeUon
At the same time, nevertheless, the Icelandic papers were
becoming increasingly important in other respects. One of the
main reasons for establishing an Icelandic language newspaper
had been to aid in the preservation of the language and cul-
ture. As the first generation of immigrants, born and raised in
Iceland, disappeared and many of the Icelandic settlements
began to dissolve, the role played by the papers in maintaining
a knowledge of the culture and language increased. At the
same time, Lögberg and Heimskringla served as a link be-
tween the scattered descendants of the pioneers, bringing them
news of friends and relatives and supplying them with a
continuous flow of news from Iceland.
As the political and religious role of the newspapers
diminished and the cultural aspect gained prominence, the
purpose of both Lögberg and Heimskringla became essentially
the same. By the early fifties, several members of the Icelandic
community saw that the original basis for two papers no
longer existed and it was felt by some that Lögberg and
Heimskringla, both of which were financially unstable, should
cease rivalry and unite to meet the difficulties already. ap-
parent. Should both papers be forced to cease publication due
to too much competition on the limited market, it appeared
very unlikely that the Icelandic community would ever have
a newspaper of its own again.
Still, enough spirited differences of opinion persisted on
both sides to see the talk of unification shelved and both
Lögberg and Heimskringla continued independently for
several years without either one giving out.
By 1959, however, the situation had become serious enough
that the proposal was reintroduced and finally adopted. After
lengthy discussions between the publishers of both papers, an
amalgamation was effected on June 29th, 1959, and the first
issue to appear under the new name of Lögberg-Heimskringla
appeared on August 20th that same year. Although the de-
cision to amalgamate the papers was by no means welcomed
unanimously, it was generally recognized by the Icelandic
community, after a long history of division, that the time for
co-operation had come.
A Century of Publication
Last September 9th’s issue of Lögberg-Heimskringla
marked the completion of 90 years of publication for Heims-
kringla, the older of the two newspapers. Lögberg, just over
a year younger, will complete its 90th year next January.
Together, backed by the entire Icelandic community, Lögberg
and Heimskringla have managed to overcome what appeared
to be insurmountable odds. This September will see the cen-
tennial anniversary of Icelandic-Canadian newspaper publi-
cation.
Looking back over this century of publication, we see it as
one of outstanding achievements, as testimony to great
vision and dedication, the fruit of inestimable time and labour
and, perhaps most important, as a detailed record of a century
of Icelandic settlement in North America.
This centennial, however, is more than a time for retro-
spect and reviewing past achievements. What prospects does
the future hold and what are the challenges which must be
met in order to ensure the possibility of continued publication
for future generations?
In many respects the future of publication looks brighter
now than it has for many years. A new cultural awareness,
growing throughout North America, is resulting in new inter-
est among young and old alike and a corresponding rejuvena-
tion of many cultural ventures such as Lögberg-Heimskringla.
The revival of Icelandic instruction and the re-establishment
of personal ties with Iceland are other good omens. This
revival of interest is the bright spot on the horizon, as without
participation from present and upcoming generations there
can be no basis for continued publication.
Iceland, too, has indicated its support of Lögberg-Heims-
kringla as a means of endeavoring to maintain Icelandic
culture in North America and strengthening bonds between
Canada and Iceland.
Such developments spae well for the future of the pub-
lication of an Icelandic language oriented weekly such as
Lögberg-Heimskringla. However, there is also cause for very
careful examination and evaluation of the present situation.
Old problems must be faced, new aspects must be given
serious consideration and future challenges must be anti-
cipated to be dealt with successfully. This can not be achieved
without full co-operation from all quarters. Only such co-
operation and the participation of our Icelandic community,
as readers, contributors and evaluators can make the future of
Icelandic newspaper publication in North America a success.
—NELSON GERRARD