The Danish media world is currently undergoing a significant shake-up.
Ekstra Bladet has just appointed a new editor-in-chief, Simon Bendtsen, who has served for the last two years as editor-in-chief at Finans.
At the same time, the outgoing head of Ekstra Bladet, Knud Brix, is heading to DR, where he will serve as Africa correspondent.
Knud Brix’s departure
Brix’s departure was first announced in May this year and will take place at the start of 2027. Brix has served as editor-in-chief of Ekstra Bladet since 2022.
The appointment at DR is part of a move by the Danish public broadcaster to increase its international coverage of the African continent.
Brix has a master’s degree in African studies from the University of Copenhagen. He has previously worked for DR as well as for TV 2 and Jyllands-Posten.
In May, he said of the DR announcement, “Africa is undergoing a whirlwind transformation right now, and for me this is one of the most meaningful and vital journalistic tasks.
“I have enthusiastically accepted, because I wholeheartedly share DR’s ambition to amplify the stories from the continent, which holds so many complex and dizzyingly intimate narratives.”
Simon Bendtsen’s arrival
Bendtsen’s appointment was announced on Tuesday by Ekstra Bladet. He will begin with immediate effect.
Bendtsen has served for the past two years as editor-in-chief at the financial news site Finans.
Previously, he also worked for Berlingske, where he was part of the team that won a Cavling Prize, the highest honour in Danish journalism, for reporting on the money-laundering scandal at Danske Bank.
Bendtsen said in a statement to Ekstra Bladet, “I am truly excited. Ekstra Bladet is not only Denmark’s most widely read news medium; it also plays a completely unique and crucial role in the Danish media landscape and our democracy.
“I feel deeply humbled by the great responsibility and the profound historical legacy I am stepping into.”
Important role in the media landscape
Ekstra Bladet is one of the most-read and best-known news outlets in Denmark.
It is the only remaining tabloid still published in print after B.T. went fully digital a few years ago.
Ekstra Bladet is known for its coverage of Danish political scandals and is often at the centre of controversy over its methods of producing journalism, which sometimes breach normal practices.
However, it is also regularly celebrated for unearthing significant news stories, having won a total of seven Cavling Prizes.
