Klassekampen () is a Norwegian daily newspaper. It describes itself as "the newspaper of the Left." The paper's net circulation is 34,000 (2021), and it has around 111,000 daily readers on paper (160,000 on Saturdays). This makes it the third largest Norwegian print newspaper, based on readership. Chief editor from 2018 is Mari Skurdal. The paper was initially a part of the young marxist-leninist (maoist) movement in Norway. It started out in early 1969 as a monthly periodical published by "a group of marxist-leninists" with Anders M. Andersen as the first editor. It promoted the positions of the Workers' Communist Party (AKP; founded 1973) and its predecessors. Klassekampen became a weekly in January 1973, a bi-weekly in January 1976 and finally a daily newspaper as of April 1977. It was the official organ of the AKP until April 1991. Its mission statement now describes itself as "revolutionary socialist." As most Norwegian newspapers it depends on economic support from the Norwegian Government. In 2022 Klassekampen received criticism from some of Norway's large newspapers for an uncritical attitude towards Russia, but has condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The paper has been criticized by representatives of the LGBT community for its coverage of transgender issues, but the editor has denied any accusation that it is transphobic. History 1969–1972: Monthly paper for the marxist-leninist movement Klassekampen was initiated in 1968 by a group of young communists, members of SUF(m-l), the youth organization of the socialist Sosialistisk Folkeparti (SF). Pål Steigan, Tron Øgrim and Sigmund Grønmo were key figures, The first issue was published on February 7, 1969, coinciding with the annual convention of the SF, at which a left-wing opposition broke with the party, as did SUF (m-l). In the first period the paper was published as a monthly periodical by "a group of marxist-leninists". According to Steigan, the name was proposed by Øgrim, the name indicating that it intended to play a larger role than being the monthly periodical of a youth organization. The newspaper's stated goal was to strengthen the marxist-leninist movement and lay the foundations for a new communist party in Norway. At the same time, it set itself the goal of becoming a working class newspaper. As a monthly, Klassekampen had no paid staff. The editorial work, the printing as well as sales were carried out by volunteers. The first printing press was financed mostly by young people taking