"Can we agree to call a shovel a shovel from now on?", Peter Wolodarski wrote on Twitter in connection with the storming of the Capitolium.
He believes that several media, including SVT, have been bad at pointing out Donald Trump's lies for fear of appearing biased.
- The whole auction was based on Trump's big lie about extensive election fraud.
Why did he mobilize so many people?
Well, because he managed to spread the lie in public.
It is incredibly important from a journalistic point of view that you go to the bottom with statements.
There are tendencies at SVT to only treat them as an opinion among many others, he says.
Helin does not agree
SVT's media director Jan Helin agrees that it is extremely important to clarify when the president is lying, but says that SVT has done just that.
- What I see in our reporting is that our correspondents repeatedly dress up statements that this lacks a basis and support in investigations.
You are careful to report it.
However, we do not put up placards saying that the president is a liar.
According to Peter Wolodarski, there is a tendency among SVT's employees to take a step back in sensitive situations for fear of arousing anger and being attacked by people who want to shut down public service, which risks leading to self-censorship.
- It is true that we are a little careful with the words, if you call it anxiety or not, I will leave it unsaid.
But we are clear in the reporting, I think, Jan Helin answers.