Unique Collaboration for Journalists’ Safety

The heads of Dagens Nyheter (DN), Swedish Television (SVT), Swedish Radio ((SR), Svenska Dagbladet, Expressen, Aftonbladet, Dagens industri and TV4 have signed a joint declaration of intent regarding travel to high-risk areas.

The initiative to develop a common safety declaration was started after DN photographer Paul Hansen was shot and injured in Mosul in 2016. The purpose of the declaration is to “establish an industry-wide approach with the ultimate goal of strengthening the security of our employees and media contractors.”

“Normally, we compete with Aftonbladet, Svenska Dagbladet and other media companies, but there is no competition when it comes to the safety of our journalists,” says DN’s Editor-in-Chief Peter Wolodarski. “The world has become more dangerous at the same time it’s more important than ever that we as journalists are on the ground. That’s why this initiative is so important – we never compromise with the safety of our journalists out on assignment.”

The document, signed by Peter Wolodarski, Hanna Stjärne (SVT), Cilla Benkö (SR), Thomas Mattsson (Expressen), Sofia Olsson Olsén (Aftonbladet), Fredric Karén (SvD), Lotta Edling (Di) and Casten Almqvist (TV4),  includes statements that all who are assigned to regions marked by war and conflict must have relevant safety training and protective gear, that media companies must undertake risk analyses to respond to and that there should be a functioning organization for communicating with those out in the field.

The companies signing the joint declaration also agree to taking the same responsibility for freelance journalists assigned to cover conflicts as for those who are salaried employees.

Those working with safety issues within the media companies have collaborated informally during previous crisis situations, such as when DN and Aftonbladet worked together when journalists Magnus Falkehed (DN) and Niclas Hammarström (Aftonbladet) were kidnapped in Syria in 2013.

“The joint declaration that we’ve signed is unique, and we hope that other international media companies consider following our initiative for the safety of journalists,” says Wolodarski.