The reason for this is my belief that the press and news media are needed to monitor, investigate, analyze and report to the citizens how the powers-that-be are using, misusing or even abusing the powers that have been granted to them.
The press and news media are the Third Estate in Sweden - in English speaking countries the Fourth Estate, and are - as they should be - the most powerful of the three (or four as the case may be).
Sweden has one of the oldest and strongest freedom of press acts, and later acts to grant the same freedom for other news media.
We also have laws stating that any document, including memos etc, in all local or national authorities is public and should be handed without questions to anyone who wants it for whatever use they may have of it. The only exception from this rule is if the specific document has been declared classified in accordance with the rules that are set for doing so. These rules are strict and are not to be used other than to protect the rights of an individual or national safety.
Sweden also has laws prohibiting all local or national authorities from searching - or even trying to search - for the source that may have leaked a story to the press or other news media.
With all this power comes a great responsibility for the press and other news medias to fulfill their obligation toward the citizens. These obligations are not set in any law but is rather a code of ethics that has evolved by the press and news medias themselves. There are no sanctions - nor should there be - if the journalists do not perform according to their part of the deal.
We - the citizens of every democratic nation on earth - have bestowed to the press and news media this tremendous power in our societies to set the agenda, to investigate, to analyze and to report freely anything and everything they wish with the sole reason to safeguard us from crimes and misdemeanors by the two (or three) other Estates and in fact everyone or everything else that may occur.
Although I am a lawyer myself - and even if Waugh´s statement is a gross generalization - I do believe what he said holds some truth.
So here we have this "institution" in our midst that we have granted total liberty to supervise itself and set it´s own rules of conduct and we also send them our best and brightest people.
The question I have asked myself - and joked about in a comment on a Swedish SecondLife blog yesterday - is do the journalists deliver on their deal? Do the press and the other news media fulfill their obligations to us to the full extent of their powers?
My answer is unequivocally: Hell no, they are not even close!
In my not so humble opinion the contemporary press - at least in Sweden - and other news media mostly are squandering and misusing their powers with sensationalism and gossip.
The contemporary journalists hunts of "offenders" have become a public entertainment, much like the pillories of shame or the public executions once were. These hunts are rarely motivated by the offenders position or failings but rather for the sole purpose to sell more copies.
The statement I got yesterday from a journalist (and resident of SecondLife) that "The newspapers only write ... and readers only read." is an expression of exactly what I think is the fundamental problem with today's journalism and journalists.
I willingly admit that this is also a gross exaggeration but nonetheless it is as true as Waugh´s statement that I mentioned earlier. It's always difficult for non-journalists to criticize journalists, as difficult as it is to criticize the police force. Both professions have a sick "esprit de corps" which essentially leads to the following position among both corps, "Whatever you do or say to one of us or about our work in general is an attack on the entire profession so we all have to huddle together in self-defense".
There is so much crap and abuse of power to investigate even in our little paradise that exposing the crap and making sure that those in power stay on the narrow road should and could be full-time work for our brilliant journalists - if only they wanted to do what they owe us.
I am now thinking "Too long, Bock, this post is too damn long."
You should read more newspapers than the tabloids. The fact that the broadcast on TV4's important for Expressen is nothing strange. Bonniers owns both.
ReplyDeleteExpressen has degenerated. There works 300 journalists, but the there are 17 800 more. Like trying to teach readers to read what is important.
A newspaper is only as good as its readers, there is every reason to criticize the readers.
Teaching them what is important and it is not Idol, Let´s Dance etc.If like me you're doing serious journalism, it feels not quite right to be bundled with "trash gang" in the tabloids.
Thanks for sharing your point of view, Vanadis!
ReplyDeleteFirst let me tell you I stopped reading the tabloids a long time ago, except for very occasionally.
I must say, I do think you are taking the easy way out here in blaming the readers/viewers for the lousy journalistic efforts, sort of "if they want trash, lets give them trash". I cannot seriously believe that we cannot expect more from the best and the brightest among us.
The numbers you cite may very well be correct, but let me ask you directly.
1. Do you yourself believe that we cannot reasonably ask for more and better journalism from those 17 800 journalists?
2. Are the 17 800 journalists in fact, in your opinion, delivering anywhere close to what could be expected taking in consideration the tremendous powers the journalists are given? Is what we are getting really all we can fairly ask from them?
I wonder what the journalists would have to say about it if other professionals, civil servants, politicians, leaders of industry etc. were using the same cop out simplifications and excuses.
As I already have said, I want more, I need more and I most certainly expect more from the press and other news media than serving up news or "infotainment" to serve the lowest common denominator among the readers and viewers.
-What do you miss exactly? -More words in each article?
ReplyDelete-Do you think 'Arena Vänersborg"scandal, -bribery scandal in Gothenburg came to light, without investigative journalists and whistle-blowers?
Is that poor journalism? Is that to hang out people?
-In all professions there is more or less skilled people that we have to live with. I truly belive I do a good work, at least I earn a good living on it - no one pay for a lousy work.
I just think you are generalizing a bit too rough.
-As if I would say that most gay men, it is not because they like boys but because they hate girls! We both know that isn´t true.
More words will not help, you must have totally missed my point - or perhaps you did not want to see it.
ReplyDeleteAgreed there are some stories that have come to light through good journalism, the two stories you mention are excellent examples of this.
I was not discussing you as an individual Vanadis, I know nothing about your work. I am sure you are well payed (because most journalists are as they should be) and happy that you have a comfortable life.
I have already admitted to the fact that I am speaking in gross generalizations. We all know that on an individual level such generalizations fail miserably but - in my mind - the overall picture still holds some truth.
Nonetheless my two questions still remain unanswered.
You still don´t answered what you are missing in journalism.
ReplyDeleteIt´s impossible to answer your unspecified questions as you already know. You try to use domination techniques on me and my collegues.
-Sorry but you have to come back after my summer vaccation, it started for 6 minutes ago. :)
I have written a lengthy post on what I am missing in journalism today, please read it again if you missed something.
ReplyDeleteI don´t - as a principle - use domination techniques at all, I am sorry that is how you perceive it.
Have a wonderful vacation!