Freedom of expression and political culture in Nordic countries. Analysis of Prime Minister’s pressure on public service media in Finland
Abstract
Nordic countries have been on top of transparency and freedom of expression indexes for years. Denmark topped Transparency International list for 2016 while Finland took first place on World Press Freedom Index 2017. However, it does not mean that Nordic politicians never try to interfere with media content. The purpose of this article is the analysis of pressure that politicians put on Nordic public service media. Serving as a showcase are the events that have recently taken place in Finland. Some elements of the Nordic political culture are also presented, as they can influence the society’s perception of political pressure on media.
Key words:
freedom of expression, Nordic countries, Finland, public service media
References
Additional capital for Terrafame Group Ltd, Ministerstwo Gospodarki i Pracy, 29.06.2016 https://tem.fi/en/article/-/asset_publisher/terrafame-group-oy-lle-lisapaaomaa (02.07.2017).
Almond, G. (1956). Compartive Political Systems. The Journal of Politics, 18 (3), 391–409.
Almond, G., & Verba S. (1989). The Civic Culture: Political Attitudes and Democracy in Five Nations. London: Sage Publications.
Baza danych Nordicom. http://www.nordicom.gu.se/sv/statistik-fakta/mediestatistik (03.07.2017).
Berggren, H., & Trägårdh, L. (2006). Är svensken människa? Gemenskap och oberoende i det moderna Sverige. Stockholm: Norstedts.
Berner A-S., & Hämäläinen M. (2017). Ylen Jääskeläinen JSN-puheistaan: ”Sanotaan se nyt suoraan, mokasin varomattomalla lausunnolla”. Helsingin Sanomat, 28.05., http://www.hs.fi/sunnuntai/art-2000005229894.html (06.07.2017).
Bonsdorff, von, J. (2016). Trump, Twitter, lögner och stormgevär. Huvfudstadbladet, 11.12, https://www.hbl.fi/artikel/trump-twitter-logner-och-stormgevar-2/ (10.07.2017).
Braun, J. (2008). Telewizja publiczna w czasach transformacji. Warszawa: Wydawnictwa Akademickie i Profesjonalne.
Brundell, E. (2017). ONM: Yles ledning gav efter för påtryckningar, 23.03., https://svenska.yle.fi/artikel/2017/03/23/onm-yles-ledning-gav-efter-patryckningar (05.07.2017).
Chacińska, M. (2016). Finlandia. W: A. Matykiewicz-Włodarska, & M. Ślufińska (red.), Systemy medialne państw Unii Europejskiej. Kraje pierwszej piętnastki. Toruń: Wyd. Adam Marszałek.
Drevon, F. (2017). Er Finland fortsatt verdensmester i pressefrihet? Nå kan førsteplassen ryke, 9.03., https://www.medier24.no/artikler/er-finland-fortsatt-verdensmester-i-pressefrihet-na-kan-forsteplassen-ryke/377789 (05.07.2017).
Ebbe, J. (2017). Mäenpää: Statsministern fick särbehandling av Yle, 15.05., https://svenska.yle.fi/artikel/2017/05/15/maenpaa-statsministern-fick-sarbehandling-av-yle (05.07.2017).
Ebbe, J. (2017). Rapport: Yles oberoende behöver lagstiftas - ledarskapet är för hierarkiskt, 15.05., https://svenska.yle.fi/artikel/2017/05/15/rapport-yles-oberoende-behover-lagstiftas-ledarskapet-ar-hierarkiskt (05.07.2017).
Ekdal, N. (2010). Yttrandefriheten och media. W: J. Mustonen (red.), Öppenhetsarvet från Anders Chydenius. Vad gör vi med det idag?. Karleby: Anders Chydenius stiftelsens.
Eriksson, A. (2016). Finnish PM embroiled in press freedom row, Euobserver, 01.12., https://euobserver.com/nordic/136109(09.07.2017).
Evers, N. (2017). Yrsa Stenius: "Det blir vilda västern utan ONM", 28.05., https://svenska.yle.fi/artikel/2017/05/28/yrsa-stenius-det-blir-vilda-vastern-utan-onm (06.07.2017).
Finland prime minister denies trying to limit press freedom. Fox News, 30.11.2016., http://www.foxnews.com/world/2016/11/30/finland-prime-minister-denies-trying-to-limit-press-freedom.print.html (08.07.2017).
Finnish PM’s emails land him in press freedom row. Financial Times, https://www.ft.com/content/ab69edbc-b71e-11e6-ba85-95d1533d9a62?mhq5j=e2 (10.07.2017).
Fińska Rada Mediów, http://www.jsn.fi/sv/opinionsnamnden_for_massmedier/detta-ar-opinionsnamnden-for-massmedier/ (02.07.2017).
Fiński rzecznik praworządności, werdykt z dnia 01.02.2017, http://www.oikeusasiamies.fi/Resource.phx/pubman/templates/4.htx?id=1223 (06.07.2017).
Fontaine, P. (2014). State Broadcasting To Rent Out Office Space. The Reykjavik Grapevine, http://grapevine.is/news/2014/07/06/state-broadcasting-to-rent-out-office-space/ (03.02.2017).
Fördelning av Yle-skatten tände inte politikerna. Huvfudstadbladet,13.05.2013, http://hbl.fi/nyheter/2013-05-13/449441/fordelning-av-yle-skatten-tande-inte-politikerna (01.02.2016).
Förvaltningslag (Prawo o spółkach). 6.6.2003-434, 28 § http://www.finlex.fi/sv/laki/ajantasa/2003/20030434 (05.07.2017).
Frankfurter Allgemeine: Juha Sipilä, Finland’s Prime Minister a small Trump?, https://finlandpolitics.org/2016/12/22/frankfurter-allgemeine-juha-sipila-finlands-prime-minister-a-small-trump/(17.06.2017).
Freedom House, http://freedomhouse.org (31.07.2017).
Gestrin-Hagner, M. (2017). Yles styrelseordförande Thomas Wilhelmsson: "Det fanns inte längre förutsättningar att sköta ledarskapet väl". Huvfudstadsbladet, 29.05., https://www.hbl.fi/artikel/yles-styrelseordforande-thomas-wilhelmsson-det-fanns-inte-langre-forutsattningar-att-skota-ledarsk/(06.07.2017).
Hallin, D., & Mancini, P. (2007). Systemy medialne. Trzy modele mediów i polityki w ujęciu porównawczym. Kraków: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego.
Hampden-Turner, Ch., & Trompenaars, A. (2006). Siedem kultur kapitalizmu. USA, Japonia, Niemcy, Francja, Wielka Brytania, Szwecja, Holandia. Kraków: Oficyna Ekonomiczna.
Helgason, H.M. (2014). Reporters Without Borders Regret Decline Of Press Freedom In Iceland. The Reykjavik Grapevine, 20.11., http://grapevine.is/news/2014/11/20/reporters-without-borders-regrets-decline-of-press-freedom-in-iceland/ (03.12.2016).
Journalistreglerna. http://www.jsn.fi/sv/journalistreglerna/ (16.06.2017).
Justitieombudsmannen: Statsministern var inte jävig i Terrafameärendet. http://www.oikeusasiamies.fi/Resource.phx/pubman/templates/4.htx?id=1223 (16.06.2017).
Koivunen, A. (2017). #Sipilägate and the break-up of the political bromance. Crisis in the relationship between Finnish media and politicians. Nordicom Information, 39, 44–51.
Koskinen, E-M. (2017). ONM friar: Yle behövde inte höra statsministern i fallet Terrafame, 23.02., https://svenska.yle.fi/artikel/2017/02/23/onm-friar-yle-behovde-inte-hora-statsministern-i-fallet-terrafame (05.07.2017).
Kraemer, von, M. (2016). Medieforskare: Statsministern visar bristande omdöme, 28.11., https://svenska.yle.fi/artikel/2016/11/28/medieforskare-statsministern-visar-bristande-omdome (16.06.2017).
Lag om Rundradion Ab (Ustawa o mediach publicznych). 436/2017, http://www.finlex.fi/sv/laki/ajantasa/1993/19931380 (31.07.2017).
Lag om rundradioskatt (Ustawa o finansowaniu mediów publicznych). 31.8.2012/484, http://www.finlex.fi/sv/laki/ajantasa/2012/20120484 (31.07.2017).
Liekola, H. (2015). Centern ser ut att vinna valet i Finland, https://www.svt.se/nyheter/utrikes/center-ser-ut-att-vinna-valet-i-finland? (30.07.2017).
Lindström, L. (2016). Statsministerns familj äger bolag som fått order av Terrafame, 25.11, https://svenska.yle.fi/artikel/2016/11/25/statsministerns-familj-ager-bolag-som-fatt-order-av-terrafame (15.06.2017).
Lindström, L. (2017). Yles styrelse: De ansvariga redaktörerna har vårt förtroende, 15.05., https://svenska.yle.fi/artikel/2017/05/15/yles-styrelse-de-ansvariga-redaktorerna-har-vart-fortroende (05.07.2017).
Mustonen, J. (2010). Förord: Informationsfrihetens dag. W: J. Mustonen (red.), Öppenhetsarvet från Anders Chydenius. Vad gör vi med det idag?. Karleby: Anders Chydenius stiftelsen.
Nordicom Statistics, http://nordicom.gu.se/sv/mediefakta/statistikarkiv (02.02.2016).
Palm, J. (2016). Journalister lämnar Yle efter kris inom bolaget, https://www.svt.se/kultur/ylechef-avgar-i-protest (30.06.2017).
Pietikäinen, P. (2007). Neurosis and Modernity: The Age of Nervousness in Sweden. Leiden-Boston: Brill Academic Publishers.
PM Sipilä on recent freedom of press row: “I considered resigning”, Yle, 10.12.2016, https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/pm_sipila_on_recent_freedom_of_press_row_i_considered_resigning/9345541 (30.06.2017).
PM Sipilä on recent freedom of press row: “I considered resigning”, BBC, 10.12.2016, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-38155965 (10.07.2017).
Ranking RSF 2017, https://rsf.org/en/ranking/2017 (03.07.2017),
Ranking RSF 2002-2016, https://rsf.org/en/ranking_list/archive (03.07.2017).
Reinvere, J. (2016). Kritische Medien erträgt er nicht, „Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung”, 18.12., http://www.faz.net/suche/?query=Sipilä&suchbegriffImage.x=0&suchbegriffImage.y=0&resultsPerPage=20 (17.06.2017).
Rickne, J., & Folke, O. (2012). Kvinnor i politiken och män vid makten? Könskvotering och konkurrens i svenska kommuner. Ekonomisk debatt, 1, 16–21.
RSF condemns Finnish premier’s harassment of state TV journalists, 03.12.2016, https://rsf.org/en/news/rsf-condemns-finnish-premiers-harassment-state-tv-journalists (05.07.2017).
Statistikcentralen (2016). Språk efter ålder och kön enligt landskap 1990, http://pxnet2.stat.fi/PXWeb/pxweb/sv/StatFin/StatFin__vrm__vaerak/030_vaerak_tau_102.px/table/tableViewLayout1/?rxid=8202268f-1acb-49a2-8e78-13bbdf0c12a9 (28.07.2017).
Sundberg, M. (2016). Så försökte Miljöpartiet utöva påtryckningar mot Aktuellt, 20.04., https://www.svt.se/nyheter/inrikes/sa-forsokte-miljopartiet-utova-patryckningar-mot-aktuellt (19.07.2017).
Svith, F. (2007). Public service per stedfortræder. Jouralistik i offentlighedens tjenste. W: M.B Cartensen, F. Svith, & P. Mouritsen (red.), DR og TV2 – i folkets tjenste. Århus: Forlaget Ajour.
Swanljung, M., & Ekholm, D. (2017). Hårda beskyllningar i bok om Yle: “Fakta som stämmer tas bort och journalister varnas”, 16.05., https://svenska.yle.fi/artikel/2017/05/16/harda-beskyllningar-i-bok-om-yle-fakta-som-stammer-tas-bort-och-journalister 26.05.2017.
Sylwetka Juhy Sipilä, Parlament fiński, https://www.eduskunta.fi/SV/kansanedustajat/Sidor/1108.aspx# (09.07.2017).
Syvertsen, T., Mjøs, O. J., Enli, G., & Moe, H. (2014). The New Media World: The Media Welfare State: Nordic Media in the Digital Era. Ann Arbor MI: University of Michigan Press.
Teittinen, P. (2016). Sipilä syytti keväällä Yleä valehtelusta – Yle rajoitti Sipilän sijoitusten käsittelyä ja jätti julkaisematta asiaa koskevan jutun, Helsingin Sanomat, 01.12., http://www.hs.fi/politiikka/art-2000004890075.html (30.06.2017).
Teivainen, A. (2016). Andersson: “PM doesn't understand that it's his responsibility to dispel suspicions”. Helsinki Times, 02.12., http://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/domestic/14390-andersson-pm-doesn-t-understand-that-it-s-his-responsibility-to-dispel-suspicions.html (30.06.2017).
Tilläggsbudgeten för 2016 (Poprawka do budżetu państwa), Finlandsförfattningssamling, Utgiven i Helsingfors den 15 april 2016, https://tem.fi/documents/1410877/2628594/Tilläggsbudgeten-2016.pdf/1fc2bb09-7682-48d4-9003-3d0fed973701 (02.07.2017).
Tryckfrihetsförordningen firar 250 år, 2016, http://www.riksdagen.se/sv/aktuellt/aktuelltlista/tryckfrihetsforordningen-fyller-250-ar/ (02.07.2017).
Twitter, Atte Jääskeläinen, https://twitter.com/attesakari, (28.05.2017).
Twitter, Ruben Stiller, https://twitter.com/rubenstiller/status/803278050246983680 (16.06.2017); https://twitter.com/rubenstiller/status/803280702414458880(16.06.2017).
Two Finnish journalists resign amid row with prime minister over press freedom, Deutsche Welle, 14.12.2016, http://www.dw.com/en/two-finnish-journalists-resign-amid-row-with-prime-minister-over-press-freedom/a-36766091 (12.07.2017).
Uimonen, R. (2015). Finland of the free. Index on Censorship, 44 (1), 107–11.
Vento, H., & Lappalinen, T. (2016). Sipilä myöntää harkintansa pettäneen: ”Luottamukseni Yleen on ihan OK”. Suomen Kuvalehti, 30.11., https://suomenkuvalehti.fi/jutut/kotimaa/sipila-myontaa-harkintansa-pettaneen-luottamukseni-yleen-ok (16.06.2017).
Vourikoski, S. (2016). Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/salla.vuorikoski/posts/10154511647352529 (10.07.2017).
Yle börjar beställa regelbundna utvärderingar av sin verksamhet, Huvfudstadsbaldet, 13.06.2017, https://www.hbl.fi/artikel/yle-borjar-bestalla-regelbundna-utvarderingar-av-sin-verksamhet/ (09.07.2017).
Ylechef avgår i protest mot chefredaktören – också journalisten Vuorikoski säger upp sig, Hufvudstadsbladet 14.12.2016, https://www.hbl.fi/artikel/ylechef-avgar-i-protest-mot-chefredaktoren/ (30.06.2016).
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
The Copyright Owners of the submitted texts grant the Reader the right to use the pdf documents under the provisions of the Creative Commons 4.0 International License: Attribution-Share-Alike (CC BY-SA). The user can copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format and remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose.
1. License
The University of Silesia Press provides immediate open access to journal’s content under the Creative Commons BY-SA 4.0 license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Authors who publish with this journal retain all copyrights and agree to the terms of the above-mentioned CC BY-SA 4.0 license.
2. Author’s Warranties
The author warrants that the article is original, written by stated author/s, has not been published before, contains no unlawful statements, does not infringe the rights of others, is subject to copyright that is vested exclusively in the author and free of any third party rights, and that any necessary written permissions to quote from other sources have been obtained by the author/s.
If the article contains illustrative material (drawings, photos, graphs, maps), the author declares that the said works are of his authorship, they do not infringe the rights of the third party (including personal rights, i.a. the authorization to reproduce physical likeness) and the author holds exclusive proprietary copyrights. The author publishes the above works as part of the article under the licence "Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International".
ATTENTION! When the legal situation of the illustrative material has not been determined and the necessary consent has not been granted by the proprietary copyrights holders, the submitted material will not be accepted for editorial process. At the same time the author takes full responsibility for providing false data (this also regards covering the costs incurred by the University of Silesia Press and financial claims of the third party).
3. User Rights
Under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license, the users are free to share (copy, distribute and transmit the contribution) and adapt (remix, transform, and build upon the material) the article for any purpose, provided they attribute the contribution in the manner specified by the author or licensor.
4. Co-Authorship
If the article was prepared jointly with other authors, the signatory of this form warrants that he/she has been authorized by all co-authors to sign this agreement on their behalf, and agrees to inform his/her co-authors of the terms of this agreement.
I hereby declare that in the event of withdrawal of the text from the publishing process or submitting it to another publisher without agreement from the editorial office, I agree to cover all costs incurred by the University of Silesia in connection with my application.
