Archive for the ‘Media’ Category

Sweden’s Mother of the Year

Media, Society: November 17th, 2006 by PR

Never mind the Nobel Prizes – Sweden’s Mother of the Year has been announced.

How would you decide the Mother of the Year? What would the criteria be? How would you measure? Can the qualities and success of a mother be evaluated until the child is a fully-developed adult? (The Nobel committee often waits decades before awarding a science prize, since the true effects of a discovery can take that long to be felt.)

Amazingly, all of the attendees of the award were second-rate celebrities or media names. Are the best mothers in Sweden really all celebrities? It looks like the award was made more for ‘achievements despite being a mother’.

OK, OK, the awards are run by Mama magazine, this is what they do, glitz sells etc. - but an award for a hard working, low-income, anonymous, unglamorous woman, doing what she can with limited means to give her kids the best possible upbringing would have been worth a lot more than this fluff.

Copy and paste – the journalist’s top tools?

Business, Media, Miscellaneous: November 16th, 2006 by JS

Isn’t Google News great? Here at Local Towers one of our guilty pleasures is surfing Google to see who’s quoting us as their source – it’s always a good ego trip.

What’s slightly less fun is to find that people are copying and pasting your stuff without crediting you. When the culprit is Xinhua, the state news agency in China (run by the Propaganda Ministry), I rather doubt a phone call pointing out the finer points of press ethics will cut much ice. Compare this article we published yesterday…

Professional boxing has been illegal in Sweden since 1970, but it could be time to start booking ringside seats after the new Martial Arts Delegation has its first meeting in Örebro today, Dagens Nyheter reports.

…with this from Xinhua this morning:

Professional boxing has been illegal in Sweden since 1970, but it could be time to start booking ringside seats after the new Martial Arts Delegation has its first meeting in Orebro, local media reported on Wednesday.

Xinhua continues…

The new law came into being in order to protect those who participate in violent sports from brain injury. As a result it is possible that professional boxing will soon be welcomed back into the Swedish sporting community, if it is seen to take the necessary precautions, Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter reported.

“I don’t like professional boxing the way it is now, but I hope it is allowed because it would be good for the boxers,” ringside doctor Sanna Neselius told the newspaper.

The only word in that excerpt changed by Xinhua was ‘newspaper’. In the original story Sanna Neselius was quoted as talking to The Local. Because that’s what she did.

Xinhua have also plagiarised us in this article about Saddam Hussein, (The Local’s article), a piece about the elections (The Local’s piece), and in this piece about whaling (The Local’s piece).

They’ve also done it here (TL’s piece), here (TL’s article), and here (TL’s article). Oh, and here (TL).

Not sure whether to be flattered or indignant. Getting your facts from other publications is standard journalistic practice (although it’s a good idea to check them first), but it’s generally considered good form to at least rephrase the information and credit your source.

As another journalist points out…

“Within the traditional media, certain media reporters have abandoned truth in news and ignored professional ethnics to use easy and convenient Internet tools to plagiarize news. This type of behavior is becoming more frequent, and has become a huge public evil for journalism.”

That was written by Yuan Bixia, a journalist working at… you guessed it… Xinhua.

Anders Borg loves boobs

Media, Offbeat, Politics: November 16th, 2006 by PR

But which Anders Borg? Trying to find out a bit about Sweden’s finance minister this week, we came across a blog written by an Anders Borg.

This Anders Borg is based in Sweden and his profile could certainly fit the man holding Sweden’s purse strings:

I have always been interested in politics, and have as I have grown older realized that the answers to many of my questions are found in the Classical Liberal tradition.

His posts offer well-presented opinions on a variety of political and economic issues, many written in English. One such post addressed the ad campaign for bras run earlier this year by underwear company Lindex. Their strapline (geddit?) was ‘We love boobs’. So, it seems, does Mr Borg:

I can go on ranting and preaching about the beauty of the female body for hours on end, but I’ll end with saying that there are few things that I have such a genuinely uncomplicated feeling towards as boobs. I love ‘em.

Was this written by Sweden’s finance minister? The blog entries stopped around mid-February – just when things were hotting up for the election. There’s nothing on there to suggest involvement with the Moderates or an impending government role, but it’s a tantalising thought.

Would the boob-loving Mr Borg please reveal himself!

Update – 2006-11-17

Beta Alfa 2.0 points out to us that sadly Boobs Blog Borg is not Budget Borg after all. It seems he dealt with the matter some time ago. Bang goes another exclusive. Thanks Beta Alfa 2.0.

Linda Skugge and the BBC

Media: November 15th, 2006 by PR

Linda Skugge, Expressen’s outspoken columnist, reports on her blog that she was contacted by BBC World Service on Sunday. The Beeb was asking her to discuss the Swedish Authors’ Fund – the system of state funding for artists which Skugge has slammed - on their Europe Today programme.

Presumably they picked up the story from The Local and assumed she would be good value for a few barbed comments.

But alas, Linda had to decline:

“My English is too rusty so unfortunately I can’t participate, despite the fact  that there are 150 million listeners…I only know one word in English: fuck. If anyone can give private English lessons in the north of town, I’m interested.”

Linda, if you’re reading this post, we’ll be happy to oblige. Just pick up the phone. Oj, förlåt! Linda, om du läser det här blogginlägget, vi vore glada att hjälpa till. Det är bara att ringa.

Ljungberg Sweden’s Footballer of the Year

Media, Sport: November 14th, 2006 by PR

Fredrik Ljungberg won Sweden’s Footballer of the Year award, the ‘Gold Ball’, on Monday night, while Lotta Schelin claimed the ladies’ version, the ‘Diamond Ball’.

As Ljungberg walked the long walk to centre stage, gold confetti rained down upon him. Grinning from ear to ear the Arsenal midfielder and Sweden captain stepped up to the microphone – and gracefully admitted that it had been a rather disappointing year, starting with Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat against Barcelona in the Champions League Final.

“The Champions League Final made a big impression. That was hard for a while. It hasn’t sunk in yet – we thought their first goal was offside.”

But then came Sweden’s World Cup campaign in Germany. 

“That was the biggest thing for me this year. It helped me after the Champions League Final. We began a bit hesitantly and the whole thing didn’t end well, but the matches against England and Paraguay were good.”

Ljungberg’s rare headed goal to seal the win over Paraguay was the high point. 

“That feeling when the whole stadium celebrated will stay with me for the rest of my life.”

Footnote:

The awards threw up a bizarre mishmash of celebrity. Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt put the serious matter of running the country aside for an evening to hand out an award and cheerfully delivered a few jokes about how the event reminded him of election night.

Then ageing British boy band Take That showed up, performed a song, and handed the ‘Best Striker’ award to Marcus Allbäck. “You look great,” said host and former Miss Sweden Jessica Almenäs. “So do you,” leered Gary Barlow.

Later, former England manager Sven-Göran Eriksson took to the stage to present an award and was welcomed by excited applause. “Thank you very much,” he said. “It’s a long time since anyone has applauded me.”

Expressen’s legal gamble: high stakes or high ground?

Business, Media, Society: November 13th, 2006 by PR

Clicking through the sports section on Expressen, what’s notable is the deluge of ads for foreign-run gambling sites.

The law, upheld (in theory) by the Swedish Gaming Board, is perfectly clear:

Prohibition of promoting participation
In order to uphold the Swedish gambling regime the Lotteries Act contains a prohibition of promoting participation in lotteries arranged outside Sweden and unlawful lotteries. The prohibition of participation in foreign or unlawful lotteries covers such activities as selling lottery tickets, receiving stakes or passing on prizes and advertising.

Right now, by carrying their advertising, Expressen is promoting participation in games run by Nordic Bet, Parbet, Spelbolaget, Sportingbet, Fulltiltpoker, 24hPoker, Betway and bet365. Expressen argues that the Swedish law breaches EU regulations and has gone to the EU court to fight its case. In the meantime, the revenue from the advertising will probably fund the legal battle.

What’s with ignoring laws you don’t agree with? Expressen wasn’t exactly sympathetic when certain ministers said they didn’t pay for their TV licences because they disagreed with the system.

Aftonbladet takes the same position as Expressen, but Svenska Dagbladet and Dagens Nyheter do not carry gambling ads. Where is the criticism of the tabloids’ stance? Where are the calls for the editors (who have already been fined by a Stockholm court) to resign?

Maybe it’s considered OK, even bravely defiant, to break a law that we all think is ridiculous. But newspapers, like government ministers, also need to maintain the moral high ground. If they don’t, why should we listen to what they have to say about other law-breakers?

Want a Stockholm apartment for 1 krona?

Business, Media: November 11th, 2006 by PR

Online auction company Bidster is running an eye-catching ad campaign at the moment. The web site turns the usual bidding system on its head: here it’s the lowest bid that wins the auction.

And amongst the flat screen TVs and holidays there’s a real bargain to be had: a 1 room, 27 sqm apartment near Karlaplan, newly renovated and fully equipped. It could be yours for 1 krona. And the company has set the maximum price at 50,000 kronor. Someone’s going to get the bargain of a lifetime.

The only catch is that your bid, submitted by SMS, doesn’t just have to be the lowest – it must also be unique. (In other words, someone has probably already bid 1 krona.)

But it’s an ingenious idea. The flat is worth about 1 million kronor. The SMS bids cost 20 kronor each. Just 50,000 bids and the company is happy.

So the question is, what’s the least likely number between 1 and 50,000 that anyone will submit? Maybe 1 krona is so obvious that nobody would bother. Maybe it’s worth a sneaky bid…

Why the rest of Sweden hates Stockholmers

Media: November 10th, 2006 by PR

They do, you know. And to find out why, just watch Söderlund & Bie on SVT1 next Thursday evening. The programme follows journalist Ann Söderlund as she tries to cram her daily life into the meagre 24 hours available. Poor Ann has three small boys, a husband, a TV deal and a weekly magazine column to fit in – but luckily for us, she still finds time to dispense valuable advice for less capable parents.

She gets the advice from her friends who live in big houses or fine apartments and who she vists in her hefty SUV.

“Take one problem at a time,” advises Ammi. It must be good advice because Ammi lives in a gorgeous house in Saltsjöbaden. “Do your dream job,” suggests another sage.

Poor, dear, scatty Ann, her blonde locks cascading over breasts which evidently produce more milk than Arla, writes the ideas down on a big piece of paper for us to read. Writing! Try it yourself!

Towards the end of the programme Ann drops her bombshell. She’s gone and sold her SUV and has bought a gorgeous house in the archipelago! Try it yourself!

Lest we think it’s all play and no work for poor, dear, scatty, spontaneous, wise, courageous Ann, we get to watch her type a bit on her two laptops, then think for a bit, and then type a bit more, like Carrie Bradshaw except maternally fulfilled. Finally she rounds up the advice:

“Prioritise your time, take one thing at a time, sell your house and move to an apartment,” she says, and then smiles to the camera.

“Oh, and do your dream job. I already am.”

Why has SVT funded this? And what must they think of this in Borlänge?

Absolut hypocrisy

Media, Politics, Society: November 8th, 2006 by PR

Sweden’s state-owned alcohol company Absolut has been forced to withdraw an ad in Germany because of its less-than-subtle reference to Herbertstrasse, the focal point for Hamburg’s sex trade.

Alcohol has always been linked to sex in advertising. Prostitution is legal in Germany. The ad was cheeky and inoffensive. So what’s the problem?

The problem is that Absolut is owned by Vin & Sprit, which is owned by the Swedish state. And the Swedish state is emphatically opposed to prostitution and the exploitation of women in advertising. Indeed, before the World Cup last summer, Sweden’s equality ombudsman Claes Borgström went so far as to suggest that the Swedish team should boycott the tournament because of prostitution in Germany.

The state’s ownership of Vin & Sprit is an anomaly that cannot continue. The double standards of a government owning a booze firm (not to mention the retailer Systembolaget) can no longer be covered up by vague references to concern for the nation’s health.

The Reinfeldt government is planning a series of privatisations. Vin & Sprit must be in the first round of sell-offs to put an end to this Absolut hypocrisy.

The Local: over 200,000 readers

Media: November 7th, 2006 by PR

In October, The Local had more unique readers than ever before.

207,565 discerning individuals turned to us for Swedish news and features. If you’re one of the recent converts, welcome. And if you’ve been following events in Sweden with us for a while, thanks for your support.

Winnerbäck v. Idol 2006

Media, Society: November 7th, 2006 by PR

Swedish folk rocker Lars Winnerbäck has withdrawn an ad for his new ‘best of’ album from TV4 at the eleventh hour. The reason, he writes in DN today, is Idol 2006.

Winnerbäck, who eschews celebrity as much as possible, says that the show – the hunt for Sweden’s next big pop sensation – encourages bullying.

Young people with dreams and ambitions come to TV4′s Idol believing and hoping that they have a talent. Some are rejected and derided on nationwide television.

He also slams TV4 boss Jan Scherman’s defence of the show, which was that lots of people like it so it must be OK.

When it’s bullying we’re talking about…that’s like a headmaster defending a gang of bullies because he has five hundred other pupils who aren’t doing anything about it.

Idol is lowest common denominator television. It glorifies disposable celebrity. But it doesn’t sanction bullying. To compare a starstruck wannabee truthfully being told that he or she can’t sing with a child in a playground being singled out, isolated and tormented is, at best, misguided.

Winnerbäck’s musical career has to some extent been built on his principles. His songs ooze with the stuff. And his audience is the polar opposite of the Idol brigade.

So a cynic might suggest that taking such a high profile ‘stance’ against the show would enhance Winnerbäck’s credibility and save a few million kronor in ad costs. All things considered, it might not be a bad commercial decision.

Newspaper column for top Swedish blogger

Media, National: November 6th, 2006 by PO

One of Sweden’s foremost bloggers, Per Gudmundson, made his debut this morning as a columnist at Svenska Dagbladet.

The former SVT producer’s eminently readable blog was forced into a lengthy pause when the state broadcaster found out about its employee’s sideline. But now Gudmundson has left SVT, his blog is back up and running, and he has got the reward his fine writing deserves.

Best of luck to him!

Crime of translation

Media: November 4th, 2006 by PR

Aftonbladet reports that a flasher in the US has been handed an unusual punishment: wearing a T-shirt declaring that he is a sex offender. What’s odd, though, is the uncaptioned photo accompanying Aftonbladet’s report:

Unless he lives in certain small pockets of Minnesota, that’s hardly going to cause the chap much embarrassment Stateside.

Why you’ll never win a Nobel Prize

Media, Offbeat: November 3rd, 2006 by PR

A lifelong dream to win a Nobel Prize is dashed. Apparently, I can’t. Nor can you. Not because we aren’t good enough at churning out literature or ground-breaking enough in science or peaceful enough, but because one does not win a Nobel Prize.

Not according to the latest entry in Catharina Grünbaum’s entertaining language column (Swedish) in Dagens Nyheter, anyway. In Swedish, and presumably in English too, one is awarded (tilldelas) the prize, or one simply gets it. The reasoning is that Nobel is not a competition. The Oscars, on the other hand, are competitive.

So you could win an Oscar but you’ll never win a Nobel Prize.

Fashion blogs

Media, Swedish Life: November 3rd, 2006 by PO

E24 has an interesting article (Swedish) on the new-found power of fashion bloggers.

Media Culpa highlights the five fashion blogs in Bloggtoppen’s top ten.

And here is Engla’s Showroom (Swedish), the one we wrote about on the main site.