Ch. Choisamba, Journalism teacher of the MSU, Ph.D in journalism.

When we, Mongolian media delagetions left for Sweden to be introduced with Swedish media environment, I was thought how Mongolian media development was left from them and how big difference are existing between us as Sweden has enacted the law on Media freedom long ago in 1766 and as well as the Mongolian law on media freedom ratified only just in 1998. By the way, law on media freedom which enacted Swedish Parliament/ Reichtag/ was first law in the world.

During the trip we have visited the Swedish Parliament, Swedish Broadcasting Sveriges Radio, “Svenska Dagbladet”, daily newspaper, International Press Center of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, The Swedish Press Ombudsman, Swedish Union of Journalists and SIDA-Swedish International Development Agency.

When we have visited the Sveriges Radio, Mr. Staffan Sonning, director of the Radio news service has told us one interesting story” When the Swedish Prime Minister Ulof Palime was murdered in 1996, on that time Sveriges radio broadcasting time was already finished however BBC which has 24 hour air time has broadcasted this tragic news. For Swedish journalists it was the shock of the professional reputation, when Swedens have heard news about it’s Prime Minister’s murder from other foreign information source. Since then we have begin to broadcast 24 hours everyday. Furthermore Mr.Sonning told us that” In Sweden, public has free access to any information. Anyone who wish can read a letter addressed to Prime Minister. Journalist should be responsible. As there any control and restriction, the editor in cheif of the media outlets must be responsible of whole content of any broadcasted program or publsihed item. As director of news service in many time I have faced lots of problems and was need to independently decide a lot of problems. Most difficult issue in that situation was to decide that someone’s name to be mentioned in the program or not. For example, someone have beaten his wife when he drunk, we hever mentioned his name however, if a politicians have involved such incident we usually mentioned their names to be notify the public so they could make right decision in the next election.

There is a 3 year long project under preparation in the Mongolian Public Radio and it will be implemented by the Swedish Radio under SIDA financing at radio part of Mongolian National Radio and TV, which is under transformation into public service broadcasting from state broadcasting. The project aims to develop MNR into an independent, impartial, trustworthy and professional public service broadcaster providing information, education and entertainment to all citizens.

After that we have visited the International Press Center of the Ministry of Foreigh Affairs which have been aiming to maintain services for the foreign correspondents working in Sweden or coming to Sweden for short period. At the present time, more than 200 foreign journalists are working in Sweden, most of them in capital city Stockholm.

I have thought that in Sweden where freedom of speech and expression are granted it is easy to work for foreign correspondents. The next place of our visit was the Swedish Press Council. It was founded in 1916, is the oldest tribunal of it’s kind in the world and composed of a judge who acts as chairman and one representative from each of the above-mentioned press organizations and three representatives of the general public who are not allowed to have any ties to the newspaper business or to the press organizations.

The office of the Press Ombudsman (Allmänhetens Pressombudsman, PO) was established in 1969. Its holder 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.

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. But 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.

To file a complaint with PO is free of charge. PO also answers queries from the general public on matters of press ethics. A newspaper that has been found to violate good journalistic practice is expected to publish the written decision of the Press Council. It shall also pay an administrative fine.
In recent years, 350-400 complaints have been registered annually. These often concern coverage of criminal matters and invasion of privacy.

We also have met with Mr. Apne Kenig, Deputy head of the Swedish Union of Journalists. It was founded 21 October 1901and now has more than 18 thousand members. He has shared with us his worry on journalists labor agreement which Swedish Union of journalists should conclude with media outlets owners. SUJ is responsible for all journalists and media outlets related legal issues and 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. “Regarding on fight against a mass terror acts the authorities now has a right to listen journalists phone conversation as well as to control an internet communication between them. By joining to EU some information access has blocked for Swedish journalists which has before a free access. A lot of issues are existing and waiting us to resolve” Mr. Apne Kenig told us.

Finally we have visited the redaction of the second largest newspaper of Sweden «Svenska dagbladet» with 170 staff and which has a 125 long history. Mr.Lars Ruding, head of the news service of this newspaper has informed us that “Swedens are a most newspaper reading people in the world for instance a little town with about 20-30 thousand population has more than 2-3 daily. Without a free press for all citizens there can be no justice in any society”.

Sweden has truly wonderful expereince in the field of media freedom and has acheived great sucsess on this field.
I would like to share my thought with Mongolian colleagues which always followed me while visiting Sweden. “When we Mongolians could arrive at Swedish level in the media field”?