Here you read about the role the media have in Sweden and why they must be free. You also learn how the media get money and how you can check information.
Free media
Media include, for example, radio, TV, film and newspapers, but also the internet and social media. Through the media we get news, knowledge and information. What we learn affects us all.
Free media are part of democracy in Sweden. Everyone may say what they think and share their opinions. This right is protected in 2 fundamental laws: tryckfrihetsförordningen (the Freedom of the Press Act) and yttrandefrihetsgrundlagen (the Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression). The state cannot control what the media say, and there is no censorship. Censorship means the state controls and stops what the media want to publish.
The media have several tasks. They inform us about what is happening. The media are also a place to debate, that is, freely discuss questions about society. In addition, the media give us fun and entertainment.
Scrutinising those in power
An important task for journalists is to scrutinise those in power. To scrutinise means to examine carefully. They examine what politicians and other powerful people do.
Journalists are helped by offentlighetsprincipen (the principle of public access to official documents). This principle applies to agencies' official documents, that is, different kinds of records. These are public. This means everyone may read them, not just journalists. Some documents are secret, however, and are protected by confidentiality rules.
A journalist can, for example, ask to read emails from an agency. This lets the journalist see how a decision was made.
Support and protection for sources
There should be many different news media, not just a few. This is called diversity. That is why daily newspapers and other news media can receive money from the state.
Anyone may give information to a newspaper or to radio and TV. As a rule, you cannot be punished for this. This right is called meddelarfrihet (the freedom to inform the media). The person who gives the information is a source. The source may be anonymous, that is, keep their name secret.
Responsibility for content
Newspapers and radio and TV stations each have a responsible publisher. This person has legal responsibility for everything that is published, that is, made public. The publisher must make sure nothing breaks the laws on defamation and insults. Defamation means spreading information that could make others look down on a person.
Journalists must also be sure that what they report is correct. They should compare several sources that are independent of each other. They should also find out whether the sources can be trusted.
Commercial media
In Sweden you can choose from a great many newspapers and magazines. Some media are called commercial media. They earn money from advertising or from customers paying. Many radio and TV channels are commercial and sell advertising to companies. Some TV channels can only be watched if you pay.
Often it is private companies that run media funded by advertising. This applies, for example, to daily newspapers and evening newspapers. Some are local, others are found across the whole of Sweden. You can subscribe to some newspapers, that is, pay to receive them regularly. Other newspapers you can buy every day without subscribing.
Nowadays you can read most newspapers online too. News is published there several times a day.
Public service
Sveriges Television (SVT), Sveriges Radio (SR) and Utbildningsradion (UR, the educational broadcaster) have a special mandate. Together, the 3 companies are called public service. Their range of programmes must be broad, covering everything from news and sport to entertainment and culture.
Neither politicians nor other groups may control these companies. They must therefore be independent. They must also be impartial and not take sides. Different opinions must be allowed to be heard when they report on society.
Advertising is not allowed on their channels. Their money comes instead from a fee paid through taxes. The idea is that everyone should be able to get factual information. Factual means it is based on facts. It should not matter where in the country you live or how rich you are.
Social media and critical evaluation of sources
On social media and the web, anyone can post texts, pictures and videos. No one checks this in the same way as in newspapers, radio and TV.
Books, newspapers, TV, radio, websites and social media are examples of sources. But some of what is published is wrong. False information can spread to many people in a short time. This can then affect what people think.
This is why critical evaluation of sources is needed. This means you do not believe everything right away. You ask questions and check whether the information is correct. This applies to everything you read, see and hear.