Media Arena to host national development center

After 18 months of consolidation and careful preparation, Media & Democracy will become a national development center. Region Västra Götaland is providing the program’s base funding, and the initiative is supported by Tidningsutgivarna (TU), Public Service companies and leading Swedish academics in media and democracy research.

The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) is supporting the initiative at international level. Media & Democracy will lead collaborative projects between media players, research and society. The mission is to generate new knowledge, stimulate media innovation, develop new working tools and working methods. Particularly through journalism and debate, to increase opportunities and interest for citizen participation in public conversations, which is so important for democracy. As the first country to introduce a Freedom of the Press Act, Sweden has a long tradition of both protecting and developing this right.

“Our vision is to help improve democratic values at local, national and international levels. It is very satisfying, therefore, that Media & Democracy is ready to take the next step,” says Niklas Wahlberg, CEO of Lindholmen Science Park.

At the Almedalen Week in Visby, Jonathan Falck, former editor-in-chief of Göteborgs-Posten and senior advisor to Media & Democracy, took part in the seminar ‘If you read it in the paper, it mustbe fake news. A new media policy for Sweden.’ The seminar was arranged by Region Västra Götaland and held at the Västsvenska Arena.

“Independent and investigative journalism is a critical component of democracy. It is therefore vital that we protect and develop journalism and the media,” says Jonathan Falck.

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