Idag överlämnar Utgivarnas styrelse detta upprop till Israels ambassadör i Sverige där vi upprepar kravet att Israel ska öppna gränsen till Gaza och låta journalister komma in för att fritt och utan påverkan bevaka konflikten mellan Israel och Hamas.
Mr. Ambassador,
Utgivarna, the joint publishing organization that brings together all major media outlets in Sweden, reiterates its call for the State of Israel to immediately act to better facilitate and safeguard free journalism. Despite developments since Utgivarna last presented this demand in a letter to you, Mr. Ambassador, in October 2024, journalists are still not being allowed to work freely and on their own terms in Gaza.
Utgivarna demands:
- That Israel promptly opens the border to Gaza for news media wishing to report on the situation in Gaza, and on the consequences for civilians.
- That Israel ensures that the country’s armed forces respect the rights of journalists to — free from any undue influence — carry out, on-site in Israel, Gaza, and Lebanon, the vital societal mission assigned to the defenders of free speech, namely the news media.
Utgivarna represents the media companies Sveriges Television, UR, Sveriges Radio, TV4, and the industry organizations Sveriges Tidskrifter and Tidningsutgivarna. As you know, the member companies of Utgivarna are well-respected and independent news providers that have reported continuously on developments in the region since the founding of the State of Israel in 1948. It is a matter of deep concern that Israel still prevents reporters and photographers from entering Gaza to report objectively on what is happening there.
Mr. Ambassador, Swedish journalists wish to be the ears and eyes of the Swedish public on the ground, including in Gaza. We make the same demands of Iran and the Hezbollah-controlled areas in Lebanon, but given that Israel is a democracy, expectations of your country are high. Utgivarna requests that you promptly convey our demand to the relevant authorities in Israel.
The Board of the Publisher’s Association Utgivarna in Sweden:
- Christofer Ahlqvist, Editor-in-chief, Göteborgs-Posten
- Cilla Benkö, CEO, Sveriges Radio
- Mathias Berg, CEO, TV4
- Anna Careborg, Director of News and Sports, Sveriges Television
- Stefan Eklund, CEO Utgivarna
- Viveka Hansson, Vice Chairperson, Utgivarna and Director of programmes, TV4
- Mimmi Karlsson-Bernfalk, Editor-in-chief, Blekinge Läns Tidning
- Anne Lagercrantz, Vice Chairperson, Utgivarna and CEO, Sveriges Television
- Thomas Mattsson, Vice Chairperson, Utgivarna and Senior Advisor, Bonnier News
- Kerstin Neld, CEO, Sveriges Tidskrifter
- Kalle Sandhammar, CEO, UR
- James Savage, Chairperson, Utgivarna and Publisher, The Local
- Johan Taubert, CEO, Tidningsutgivarna
Kontakt:
James Savage
Ordförande för Utgivarna
james.savage@thelocal.com
070-859 33 46
Stefan Eklund
VD för Utgivarna
stefan.eklund@utgivarna.se
0703–887732
