Tomm was an artist of life. Professional to the tips of the fingers and a social gift. Few had a larger network than him, hardly anyone ended up on the right shelf to such a degree in life. No one could enchant and seduce his audience like Tomm. The art of wording, the voice, the substance. He could chastise where it was required, and he was bold to the last. But first and foremost he spoke with love. And primarily to Africa. He brought us the colors and shades. There was war and conflict, but there was also everyday life and celebration. And there was development and hope. Tom was concerned with hope. To younger employees who felt that professional life had not taken them where they dreamed of, he said: – Know that, I had not set foot on the African continent until after I turned forty, there is hope! He was the friend of his friends, he was the support of his colleagues, and he was a worker who never stiffened. He learned new things and was versatile. Reporter and correspondent, but also head of Foreign Affairs for a few years. He wrote for the web, narrated on radio and TV, he made podcasts. And he gave radio devotionals. Because he was also a man of faith. With Tomm in Africa His close friend and correspondent-colleague in Africa, Sverre Tom Radøy, tells vividly about their shared experiences: “Traveling with Tomm to Africa was an educational experience. His mood rose with each latitude southward. In the arrivals hall, he made ten new friends before passport control. The last thing he said before we were engulfed by a crowd in Lagos was “remember to smile”. For us who took over the baton in Africa, he poured out his knowledge. He turned over worn notebooks to find the best contacts he could give us. He gave us his best ideas. He was the mentor of many, the one who could have sat back and, with good reason, said that “I did this better myself” “Look for the light even in the darkest history, find the glimmer of hope. Then the tragedy you describe will be better understood.” That was Tomm’s advice when we had to go out ourselves to cover the hopelessness. It is not so easy today, in the midst of missing a good friend”. Always present Tomm always had hope with him. Perhaps he can thank his faith in God for that, but it was never a naive hope, more like a basic belief that people will figure things out in the end, that there is always something better out there. In many of the reports he made after the genocide in Rwanda, he was keen to convey how it was possible to find together again. It wasn’t easy, but they tried. He became an important driving force for constructive journalism at news, i.e. journalism that also looks for solutions. Tom was always there. He was present in conversations, he was present in his reports, he was present when he told stories. He had more left to give. His new book had just been published, and when we contacted him to congratulate him just a few days ago, he thanked us politely, but was equally concerned that news was back in Africa. That’s how Tom was. It is a beating heart for Africa and for journalism that has now fallen silent.
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The voice from Africa has fallen silent – news Norway – Overview of news from various parts of the country
