Björn Ingi Hrafnsson Expands Media Empire

Former Progressive Party city councilperson Björn Ingi Hrafnsson has acquired more Icelandic media outlets, two of them shutting down shortly thereafter.

Vísir reports that Vefpressan ehf. – the media company owned by Björn Ingi – has just acquired the publishing rights of Fótspor ehf., the media company behind the weekly newspapers Akureyri Vikublað and Reykjavík Vikublað, amongst other local papers. Shortly thereafter, Akureyri Vikublað editor Björn Þorláksson announced that his publishers have informed him the paper would cease circulation at once. Reykjavík Vikublað’s editor, Ingimar Karl Helgason, also announced their paper would be folding.

Ámundi Ámundason, Fótspor ehf’s print media guarantor, told reporters that the decision to allow the sale was based primarily on being “70 years old, and I have to reduce my workload before I lose my grip on everything.”

As reported, Björn Ingi became the chair of magazine DV’s board last December, when Vefpressan bought the magazine. Vefpressan is also the company behind the media websites Pressan.is, Eyjan.is and Bleikt.is.