 Sæterbakken characterized his colleagues as "damned cowards" arguing that they were walking in lockstep.According to editor-in-chief Sven Egil Omdal of "Stavanger Aftenblad" the opposition to Irving's participation at the festival appeared as a concerted effort and Omdal suggested campaign journalism from two of Norway's largest newspapers, "Dagbladet" and "Aftenposten" and Norway's public service broadcaster NRK.David Irving commented that he had not been told that the festival was going to present him as a liar, and that he was preparing a lecture about the real history of what took place in Norway during World War II, contrary to what official historians have presented.