Danby Choi, Subject | Gets millions in press support: Reveals own salary in SMS

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On Monday, Nettavisen wrote about the million-dollar home of Subjekt editor Danby Choi.

Two years ago, the 30-year-old shelled out NOK 16.5 million for an apartment in an old villa on Vinderen in Oslo.

When asked how he could afford it, Choi explains that he has had a “pretty good salary” in recent years, and that with that you get bigger loans. He also reveals several favorable home purchases that have given him good prospects.

The newspaper’s accounts for 2023 have not yet been delivered. What the well-known editor earned last year, he initially did not want to reveal.

– You have to wait until it becomes public. I don’t have time to go into this now, writes Choi in an SMS to Nettavisen.

After this case was published, there are several new SMSes from the editor.

– My editor’s salary from Subjekt is NOK 1.2 million. I have informed the press about that before. But I earn far more!, he writes and confirms that this also applies to the income year 2023.

In recent days, Choi has been in the midst of a media storm surrounding his speech in Oslo on 17 May. He explains that he has not had the opportunity to respond to Nettavisen until now due to a heavy flow of inquiries.

Anne Holt here takes a strong stand against what she calls “pre-censorship” in the May 17 committee in Oslo.

Also read: Simen Velle defends Danby Choi: – Is not healthy

Criticized for lousy wages

Subject has previously been criticized for paying its employees poorly, which Choi has denied.

The newspaper has not submitted figures for the salary statistics to the Media Companies National Association (MBL), but according to the annual report, Subjekt had 6,213,206 in salary costs in 2022, distributed over 11 man-years.

This corresponds to a salary of NOK 560,000 per man-year on average. Choi’s NOK 1.2 million is far above the editorial average.

If you subtract Choi’s stated annual salary of NOK 1.2 million, there is only NOK five million left over 10 man-years, which corresponds to an average salary of NOK 500,000.

No restrictions

Those who receive press support must follow strict requirements. They cannot withdraw dividends or have excessive profits.

But they must not declare management salaries to the Norwegian Media Authority, which distributes the support. It is rather no restrictions on what the editor’s salary might be.

– Do you think it is right that an editor for a newspaper that repeatedly makes a loss, takes out millions in salary?

– I take the company’s understatement with crushing calm. It is quite common for founding companies to have a somewhat negative operating result in the first few years. Subject is Norway’s fastest growing newspaper three measurements in a row, and will even out this over the years, Choi replies in an SMS to Nettavisen.

also read

Broke down after TV recording: – Was terrified

Never received more press support

Last year, Subjekt received a press grant of NOK 2.2 million, writes Journalists. This is an increase of 1.2 million from the previous year.

The journalist’s overview shows that there are large differences in editor’s pay in media that receive press support.

At the top are some of the biggest: Dagsavisen, Vårt Land and Morgenbladet’s editors-in-chief.

Soon after comes Danby Choi in Subjekt, which is one of the smallest newspapers.

also read

Danby Choi sees Norway moving in a very frightening direction: – A very scary way to go

Downsizing

Despite the fact that Subjekt has never received more press support, they are now forced to downsize.

Two journalists in Subjekt have accepted a severance package, Choi confirmed Media24 i mars.

He says that he had to take action over the parts he has control over, which are cost savings.

Nettavisen has asked Choi whether he thinks it is right that an editor for a newspaper that repeatedly runs a loss takes out millions in salary.

We have also asked how much of the press support of over 2.1 million last year was used for the editor’s own salary.

The case has been updated with statements from Danby Choi. Corrections have been made at 12:31, 10.04.24.

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