He was known as editor of three large newspapers Adresseavisen, Verdens Gang and Aftenposten, and also held other positions in the Schibsted media conglomerate.
In 1977 he was headhunted to become a new chief editor in Verdens Gang as well as board member of Schibsted.
[1] Norland took over for Vegard Sletten, and his co-editor Tim Greve succeeded long-time editor Oskar Hasselknippe.
In non-fiction he is known for 1973's Hårde tider, the authoritative history on the Fatherland League, where his father was involved.
[1] In 2012 Norland released the two-volume history of Schibsted—Schibsteds historie—the first volume titled Bly blir gull and the second Medier, makt og millioner.