Sweden is increasingly becoming a multi-cultural society and has received more immigrants per capita than most other European countries. 11 % of the population (and 17 % in the capital of Stockholm) are first-generation immigrants.
Still, media content largely does not reflect these minorities, and they are not particularly well represented in the news (Nygren 2005; Hultén 2006). Journalists and editors are mainly ethnic Swedes and news consumption is generally lower among immigrant groups.
Programmes in immigrant languages are offered by public service radio, and newspapers published in these languages may receive state subsidies for production and distribution. However, the supply of regular news is relatively limited in suburban areas where many immigrants live.
The alternative news media scene is not particularly impressive. Progressive weekly newspapers such as Stockholms Fria Tidning, Flamman and the syndicalist paper Arbetaren reach a very limited audience and play no crucial role in news and opinion processes.
