Slow-TV as a format for Indigenous media production: The Case of Giđđajohtin

Abstract

Giđđajohtin, a live, minute-by-minute Slow-TV production was broadcast by NRK, the Norwegian public service broadcaster, from 24 April to 3 May 2017. In this article we analyse Giđđajohtin as an Indigenous Media production and explore the NRKs decision to produce the programme. We also highlight how the Slow-TV format was used to enable storytelling from an Indigenous perspective. Our study is based on a purposive selection of qualitative interviews with key individuals involved in the commissioning, development and production of the programme. The key actors’ knowledge and competence of reindeer husbandry and land use were essential to the programme’s narrative. The key actors also raised awareness in the public sphere about everyday conflicts relating to Indigenous life. Our analysis shows how Indigenous media productions can involve collaboration between different actors in public service broadcasting organisations, and how these actors can be included at all levels of decision-making. At the same time, the decision to produce Giđđajohtin required an alignment of interests between actors with different positions of power within NRK.