A Welcome Decision for Freedom of Expression

Sweden sometimes boasts of having the world’s oldest freedom of the press. But on Tuesday, an overwhelming majority in the Nordic Committee for Knowledge and Culture voted in favor of the Centre Group’s proposal to support independent journalism in the Nordic region.

– Already at the meeting in Turku this summer, we saw strong support for discussing the conditions for journalism. And there are major challenges. Local journalism is at risk of disappearing. We need to talk about this, says Kathrine Kleveland from Norway, the Centre Group’s leader in the committee.

Catarina Deremar from Sweden, who has participated in the Swedish public service inquiry, emphasizes that while political distance from the media is essential, it is also important to discuss journalism’s vital role in society.

– It’s partly about being able to disseminate information in times of crisis, but also about safeguarding freedom of expression and ensuring that news reaches a broad audience every day. As democratic countries, we must protect freedom of speech.

The Centre Group’s proposal will next be debated at the Nordic Council’s session in Stockholm in October.

Photo: Centre Group participants at the committee meeting in Oslo. Lauri Salo, Nordic Youth Council; Kathrine Kleveland, Norway; Guðbrandur Einarsson, Iceland; Catarina Deremar, Sweden; and Sigurjón Þórðarson, Iceland.