Idag överlämnar Utgivarnas styrelse detta upprop till Israels ambassadör i Sverige med uppmaningen om att Israel ska öppna gränsen till Gaza och låta journalister komma in för att bevaka konflikten mellan Israel och Hamas.
Stockholm, Sweden, October 4, 2024
Mr. Ambassador,
Utgivarna, the joint publishing organization that brings together all major media outlets in Sweden, today urges the State of Israel to immediately act to better facilitate and safeguard free journalism.
Utgivarna demands:
- That Israel promptly opens the border to Gaza for news media wishing to report on the ongoing conflict between Israel and the terrorist organization Hamas, and on the consequences that the hostilities bring on 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 the Ambassador of Israel well knows, the member companies of Utgivarna are well-respected and independent news providers who have continually reported on developments in the region since the founding of the State of Israel in 1948. It is with great sorrow and anger that we are forced to state that Israel is now actively preventing reporters and photographers from entering Gaza to objectively report 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. Utgivarna expects you to promptly convey our demand to the relevant authorities in Israel.
Moreover, the internationally recognized organization “Reporters Without Borders” recently confirmed that more than 130 journalists have been killed in Gaza since the unacceptable and horrific terrorist attack against Israel on October 7, 2023. At least 32 of our colleagues died while on duty, which serves as a reminder of the responsibility of all parties involved in conflicts to enable free journalism, even in areas of conflict.
Therefore, we demand that Israel:
- Opens the border to Gaza for journalists.
- Takes every measure to ensure the safety of journalists.
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
- Anders Enström, editor-in-chief, Barometern
- Viveka Hansson, Vice Chairperson, Utgivarna and Director of programmes, TV4
- Anne Lagercrantz, Chairperson, Utgivarna and Vice President, Sveriges Television
- Thomas Mattsson, Vice Chairperson, Utgivarna and Senior Advisor, Bonnier News
- Kerstin Neld, CEO, Sveriges Tidskrifter
- Kalle Sandhammar, CEO, UR
- James Savage, Vice Chairperson, Utgivarna and Publisher, The Local
- Hanna Stjärne, CEO, Sveriges Television
- Johan Taubert, CEO, Tidningsutgivarna
