“It is not our job to help the state,”
“By reason of the information, that the Swedish ambassador in China, Anna Lindstedt, shall have approved a plan to get the american-chinese bokförläggaren Gui Minhai released – where the gene of the media included – it may be time to remind the media’s mission. “
“Our clients are the readers. We are here to inform, examine the power and land as close to the truth as possible. So that our audience can make informed choices.”
“for example, It is not our job to help the police, which many – including profiled mps – seem to believe. We tell you about the events and we relate to our press ethics. It does not need the police do, for example, when they put out information on suspected criminals at their site.”
“It is not our job to contribute to the political success – how good the intentions are – and that by compromising on our independence. “
“unlike Anna Lindstedts chinese colleagues have Swedish politicians no opportunity to dictate the contents of the media. “
“It doesn’t mean that they don’t try. Sometimes it takes extreme expressions, as when members of Göran Persson’s government contacted a web hosting company to shut down SD-kurirens site in turmoil after the Muhammad cartoons. “
“But it is also done on a daily basis. At the same time as the data on the ambassador’s negotiations reached the general public was published a research report which studied the balance of power between media and governments in the four countries, including Poland and Sweden. “
“While the austerity requirements and structural change are forcing media to cut down on their resources may passerkortsfabriken for communicators in the riksdag and the government offices are working overtime.”
“the More communicators, fewer journalists, that is. The result will be more so-called ”planted news” – and an agenda which, to a greater degree are set by the politicians themselves. In Sweden, the centralisation has gone the furthest, noted the researchers. It is worrying news for all of us who care about a functioning democracy.”
“Anna Lindstedts motive was obviously good. But it doesn’t matter. UD should – just that the Publishers are calling for here – dismiss all suspicions that the Swedish freedom of the press is for sale. Not least because it is not possible to sell something you do not own.”
