I’m Bolorchuluun Enkhbold and media lawyer and member of Board, bar Association of Mongolia and have been running a private law firm named “Suvd”. As I have tried to specialize a media lawyer on promotion of the freedom of information and legal supportive media, and encouragement of professional and independent journalism since establishment of my law firm and my little experience on this field resulted to join me to the Mongolian media delegation’s visit to Sweden organized by Globe International NGO.
The Swedish Institute which have been working to disseminate knowledge abroad about Sweden and organizing exchanges with other countries in the spheres of culture, education, research and public life was hosted the Mongolian media delegation’s visit. We have aimed to learn the Swedish experiences of media freedom, particularly access to information, protection of sources and journalism ethics.
1. Little about the Stockholm
The capital city of Sweden, Stockholm impressed me with it’s unique architecture and it’s protection from historical times. Citizens of Stockholm explained it’s reason that never happened a war in the territory of Sweden however I thought that it somehow reveals Swedish people’s mentality, nature and character. When I have been there I understand that, to build a charming city it is wonderful thing but most wondrously thing is to protect and hand over it for the next generation. During short time visit we have seen that everybody has equal right in Sweden and there were no privileged people.
I have seen there an evidence of that while protecting the historical sites with carefulness someday it will be an treasures. For example, there was memorial museum of a cruise named “ Vassa” which had sunk to the sea soon after it was built in 1628. Although a cruise crash happened long time ago but the amazing right decision for me was that Swedish people have withdrew it and made it an attractive memorial museum for the public.
Like this, there were so many things to see and learn for us Mongolians but we have mostly focused on media freedom and human right issues as we have proposed.
2. Swedish media environment
For Swedens which have enacted a law on free speech and publishing rights of every one 240 years ago of course, there are a lot of experience to share and argue with others. Most impressive thing was that it’s absolutely free access to information of all activities of State and public organizations for journalists. It has confrirmed that, even the ordinary people have an access to letter addressed to Prime Minister of the Swedish Government.
We have seen there how the journalists have been protecting their rights through it’s Union which ancembled in free basis. The Swedish journalists Union is responsible for all journalists and media outlets related legal issues. Also resolves all journalist related problems such us a working condition, conclusion of labour contract and wages of journalists through the concluded agreement between Journalists Union and media outlets owners. It assists to provide a basis of the development of “healthy” journalism and most importantly it gives a opportunity to the journalists to disseminate an unbiased information for the public.
The Swedens has argued that a considerable principle of journalist’s role is to provide a right to know of the public by it’s media development experience. I was mostly interested how the Swedish media self regulation works as media self regulation is not developed in Mongolia. The law on free speech and publishing has enacted 240 ago. The self-disciplinary system of the Swedish press is not based on legislation. It is entirely voluntary and wholly financed by four press organisations: The Swedish Newspaper Publishers' Association, The Magazine Publishers' Association, The Swedish Union of Journalists and The National Press Club. These organisations are also responsible for drawing up the Code of Ethics for Press, Radio and Television in Sweden. The office of the Press Ombudsman is appointed by a special committee consisting of the Chief Parliamentary Ombudsman (JO), the chairman of the Swedish Bar Association and the chairman of the National Press Club.
In Sweden, any interested members of the public can lodge a complaint with the PO against newspaper items they regard as a violation of good journalistic practice. The person to whom the article relates must provide written consent if the complaint is to result in formal criticism of the newspaper. When a complaint is filed, PO's task is to ascertain whether it can be dealt with by a factual correction or a reply from the affected person published in the newspaper concerned. PO may contact the newspaper for this purpose. If the matter cannot be settled in this way, the Press Ombudsman may undertake an inquiry if he suspects that the rules of good journalistic practice have been violated. He will then ask the newspaper's editor-in-chief to answer to the allegations of the complainant. That person will in his turn be offered the opportunity to comment on the newspaper's reply. Complaints must as a rule be filed within three months of the original publication.
As the conclusion of my impression of visit to Sweden I would like to express a gratitude to Globe International NGO which has organized this efficient trip for the Mongolian media workers.