It is worrying that an organizer in this way wants to stop journalists from doing their job, and that on the grounds that they are dissatisfied with a previous publication.

Therefore, SVT will offer both NSD and Norrbottens Kuriren to freely take part in our coverage from the big gala.

Media are sometimes boycotted

It happens that companies, individuals or sports stars choose to boycott certain media. But, fortunately, it belongs to the exceptions.

In connection with the 2014 election, the newspaper Expressen was banned from covering the Sweden Democrats' election campaign. This is with reference to the fact that the newspaper has previously collaborated with the Research Group, which SD claims has links to left-wing extremism.

In November 2021, the newspaper TTELA was banned from covering a wine fair in Trollhättan because the organizers were dissatisfied with two previous publications.

A series of press ethics rules

It is perfectly legitimate to be critical of media coverage. We are certainly not infallible. Therefore, we have a set of press ethics rules that we adhere to. Rules that go significantly further than Swedish legislation does. There are also self-regulating systems to ensure ethical and balanced monitoring. Anyone who feels personally harmed by a publication can report this to the Media Ombudsman. Anyone who believes that, for example, SVT or SR has been inappropriate or impartial can report this to the Review Board.

In a healthy democracy, there is a free exchange of thoughts and opinions that are broken in public. The media scrutinize critically, make those responsible speak and speak for the audience. But the audience also has the opportunity to demand responsibility from media that cross the line or unduly harm people with a publication.

"Backing our colleagues"

In the case of the Battle of Botnia, it is not about any of the above. Instead, this is about an organizer who is dissatisfied with perfectly legitimate journalistic coverage and for this chooses to stop journalists from doing their job.

The big loser is the audience.

That's why we back our colleagues.