Media

In light of the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, we, the undersigned members of the Media Freedom Coalition, urge Israel to allow immediate independent foreign media access and afford protection for journalists operating in Gaza.  

The Government has decided to provide SEK 20 million in support to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) in 2025. For a number of years, Sweden has been the third-largest donor in the world in support of free and independent media, and this decision is part of our continued efforts to support journalists and independent media. Following the United States’ withdrawal of its support to RFE/RL, people in many countries risk not having access to free media. Sweden’s support to RFE/RL helps journalists continue to broadcast independent and fact-based information to locations where media freedom is limited.

Today, on World Press Freedom Day, the Government announced that it is expanding and deepening our work for press freedom around the world through several key actors. Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell and Minister for Culture Parisa Liljestrand, opinion piece, Expressen, 3 May 2024.

In the light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the undersigned chairs and members of the Groups of Friends on the Safety/Protection of Journalists are calling on all states to protect journalists’ and media workers’ safety, safeguard a free and independent media and ensure unhindered access to information, both online and offline.

On Thursday 15 August, some 80 volunteers from more than 30 countries are invited to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs to celebrate the impact made by the MFA’s and Wikimedia Sweden’s international initiative, WikiGap. The initiative has gained a foothold in more than 60 countries and has so far resulted in 32 000 new or edited articles about women on Wikipedia. These articles have now been viewed more than 100 million times.

The final report from the Digital TV Commission describes planning and implementation of the Swedish digital TV switchover.

With the understanding that coordination between public service and commercial radio is crucial for the successful transition to digital radio in Sweden, the Swedish Digital Radio Coordinator [Digitalradiosamordningen] has since last autumn worked together with Swedish public service radio and the commercial radio industry to produce a roadmap.