The Mongolian media delegation visited Stockholm by the invitation of the Swedish Government and organized by the Swedish Embassy in Beijing between 23 March and April 2, 2006 and hosted by. The delegation consisted from H.Naranjargal, President of Globe International, a Mongolian NGO working on freedoms of expression, information and media, L.Bayasgalan, reporter of Ardyn Erkh, daily newspaper, E. Bolorchuluun, media lawyer and Ch.Choisamba, Ph. D., Journalism professor from the Journalism Department of the Mongolian National University.
Goal of the visit was to learn the Swedish experiences of media freedom, particularly access to information, protection of sources and journalism ethics.
The Swedish Institute hosted the delegation. The Swedish Institute is a public agency entrusted with disseminating knowledge abroad about Sweden and organizing exchanges with other countries in the spheres of culture, education, research and public life. Please visit web site of the Swedish Institute at www.si.se |
The Institute's publishing house supplies a rich array of information materials about Sweden. These publications can be obtained directly from the Institute or, in many cases, from Swedish embassies and consulates abroad. Write to order@si.se
During their trip the media delegation visited the Swedish Parliament, Swedish Broadcasting SVERIGES RADIO, SVENSKA DAGBLADET, daily newspaper, International Press Center of the Ministry for Foreign Ministry, The Swedish Press Ombudsman, Swedish Union of Journalists and SIDA-Swedish International Development Agency.
SIDA
The overall goal of Swedish development cooperation is to contribute to making it possible for poor people to improve the quality of their lives. In December 2003 the Swedish adopted the Government Bill "Shared Responsibility-Sweden's Policy for Global Development" The new policy has the effect that all policy areas have one overriding goal: to contribute to equitable and sustainable global development. For more information you can visit website of SIDA at www.sida.se
SIDA is located at address:
SE 10525, Stockholm, Svevagen 20, tel: 46 8 698 50 00, fax: 46 8 698 56 15
e-mail: sida@sida.se
Diplomatic relations between Sweden and Mongolia were established 1964, though cultural contacts have existed for a long time. Technical cooperation has started in 1990. During the period of 1997-1999, the Swedish-Mongolian cooperation has been concentrated to support for the reform process and contributions to a national poverty alleviation program. Projects have included public administration, banking, health care, water, sanitation and democracy and human rights. Sweden also contributed to disaster relief through the Swedish Red Cross. The total payments during the period of 1997-1999 amounted to SEK 39.23 million.
There are 8 on-going projects in Mongolia and 6 projects under preparation in the field of civil aviation, good governance for human security, administration reforms, arbitration court, heating, environment, education for children with disabilities, strengthen National Human Rights Commission, land relation, geodesy cartography, and Mongolian public radio.
Public Service Radio project is 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 as result of the Mongolian Law on Radio and TV passed in January 2005. The project aims at developing MNR into an independent, impartial, trustworthy and professional public service broadcaster providing information, education and entertainment to all citizens.
The delegation met Jorgen Schonning, Head of Asia Division, Asia Department, Eva Berger, Senior Program Manager Department for Infrastructure and Economic Cooperation and Asa Heden, Country Manager, Asia Department and discussed about possibility to cooperate in the media field.
At the Swedish Press Ombudsman, the media delegation met Kerstin Rosen, deputy PO. The self-disciplinary system of the Swedish press is not based on legislation. It is entirely voluntary and wholly financed by four press organizations: The Swedish newspaper Publisher's Association the Magazine Publisher's Association, the Swedish Union of Journalists and the National Press Club. These organizations also responsible for dor drawing up the Code of Ethics for press, radio and television In Sweden.
The Swedish media Counsil founded in 1916 and it is the oldest tribunal of its kind in the world. The Press Counsil is composed of a judge, who acts as chairman, one representative from each of the above mentioned press organizations and 3 representatives of the general public, who are allowed to have any ties to the newspaper business or to the press organizations.
The office of the Press Ombudsman was established in 1969. Its holder is appointed by a special committee consisting of the Chief Parliamentary Ombudsman, the chairman of the Swedish Bar Association and the chairman of the National press Counsil.
Any interested members of the public cam 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.
Media self-regulation is not developed in Mongolia, so the information about Swedish PO and experiences are very helpful for the journalists.
International Press Center
Media delegation met Andres Bauer, Director, Claes Jenaeus, Director, Foreign Press Center and Maria Gartner, desk officer. The main goal of the IPC is to maintain services for the foreign correspondents working in Sweden or coming to Sweden for shirt period.
Their press service is always on call:
for office hours: 46 8 405 57 30
After hours: 46 8 405 50 10
You also can write before you leave for Sweden to anders.bauer@foreign.ministry.se or
maria.gartner@foreign.ministry.se
Press Service suggests you, when dealing with the media…
" Respect the role of the journalist
" Be helpful in providing information
" Never lie
" Take the time to check facts
" Assume you are on the record
" Do not try to identify sources
" Stay calm
The readers can obtain more information about PO, media freedom culture and traditions in Mongolian language at http://www.globeinter.org.mn/newsdetail.php?nid=236
During the meeting with Arne Koning, Vice President of the Union and President of the European Federation of Journalists the delegation interested in the collective bargaining, ethical issues, the Unions' present activities and its structure.
The delegation was impressed by the following achievements in the field of freedom of expression
" Long tradition of democratic culture
" Powerful Constitution, which guarantees media freedom and banns censorship for more than 300 years
" Highly respected human rights
" Wide access to the public documents
" High media ethics
" Excellent media self-regulation
" High professionalism of the journalists
" High skills of investigating reporting
What said the delegates?
http://www.globeinter.org.mn/en/enewsdetail.php?nid=232
http://www.globeinter.org.mn/en/enewsdetail.php?nid=233
More information about the Swedish media in Mongolian language can be obtained at
http://www.globeinter.org.mn/newsdetail.php?nid=230
http://www.globeinter.org.mn/newsdetail.php?nid=229