Control / Watchdog Archives - Page 20 of 27 - The Media for Democracy Monitor

Sweden – (C8) Professional training

Training is available, but the demand is higher than the supply.

Media have mission statements and perform watchdog duties, but the first element need not be the cause of the second.

Sweden has many preconditions for an open government, but shows signs of increased secrecy.

Threats are said to be more common, but the union as well as employers act accordingly.

A professional ideology and practice have a longstanding hold on Swedish journalists.

Data are available, although they could be easier to find.

Institutional as well as professional barriers create a distance between media and power holders.

Public service radio has a tradition of media criticism that is now joined by initiatives on the Web.

Investing in investigative journalism is more an exception than a rule in the main news media.

Very little importance is given to journalists’ training, except for technical skills attached to the new ‘convergence’ efforts.