[2][3] [4] In 1866, Anderson founded Skandinaven, a weekly or semi-weekly Norwegian language newspaper together with Iver Lawson (1821-1871) and Knud Langeland (1813-1888).

It carried works by Norwegian-American writers including Hjalmar Hjorth Boyesen and Rasmus B. Anderson.

In 1901, John Anderson was knighted by King Oscar II in the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav for his work in Skandinaven.

Through the success of the paper, Anderson was able to build a publishing business that became one of the largest venture of its kind.

When Skandinaven suspended publication, Reidar Rye Haugan established the Norwegian language newspaper Viking on which he served as both editor and publisher.