Robert Olsson new chairman of the Media & Democracy steering group

Since the start of Media & Democracy in 2017, Jonathan Falck - former editor-in-chief of Göteborgs-Posten and guest professor at JMG at the University of Gothenburg - has been chairman of the research and innovation program's steering group. Now Jonathan thinks that the time is right to pass on the assignment.

– Jonathan has done a fantastic job and he has been an invaluable support for me in the role of program manager, says Martin Holmberg. I am convinced that Robert Olsson, who has been on the steering group since the start, will take over in the same spirit.

CEO of Utgivarna

Robert Olsson has a solid background in news media. He has, among other things, been a reporter for Bohusläningen, GT, Göteborgs-Posten and Svenska Dagbladet. He was involved in leading the establishment of TV4 in Gothenburg and thereafter had a number of central managerial roles within both TV4 and Swedish Television, including as program director. Today, Robert Olsson is CEO of the organization Utgivarna, which brings together the country's leading publishers and focuses on freedom of expression and independent journalism.

– By bringing together various parts of the media industry with the academic profession in very concrete projects, Media & Democracy contributes to developing journalism and making its democratic task visible. In times of deliberate misinformation and questioning of facts, it is an important task, says Robert Olsson.

Remains as a senior advisor

It has already been communicated that Anna Careborg and Johan Taubert will take seats in the Media & Democracy steering group from the first meeting of the autumn in September. The change of chairman does not mean that Jonathan Falck's involvement in Media & Democracy in general will end. He continues as before in the role of senior advisor.

Others in the Media & Democracy steering group:
Ulrika Andersson, Associate Professor of Journalism and Media, and Research Leader at the SOM Institute
Bengt Johansson, Professor Journalism, Media and Communication at the Univerity of Gothenburg
Anette Novak, Director General, The Swedish Media Council
Martin Svensson, Co-director Operations, AI Sweden
Martin Holmberg, program manager, Media & Democracy