Haga man suspect reports Expressen
Expressen have been reported to the press ombudsman for publishing the name and a photograph of the Haga man suspect.
"The publication has stimulated quite a debate, so I think it's a good thing it's going to be investigated," said the paper's editor in chief, Otto Sjöberg.
The Haga man suspect himself filed the report via his lawyer, Leif Silbersky.
The day after the police arrested the man suspected of carrying out a series of brutal attacks on women in Umeå, his name and picture were spread across the front pages of the tabloid press.
Leif Silbersky wants the Press Council (PON) to decide whether the actions of the press have broken ethical rules, which emphasise the need for caution in publishing potentially damaging pictures or personal information. Only the person in question can make such a complaint, but a large number of members of the public have nevertheless contacted the press ombudsman since Expressen identified the suspect.
"In this case, there's been an unusual number of reactions in the form of phone calls and e-mails," said press ombudsman, Olle Stenholm.
Apart from the fact that the suspect was named before he was even charged, Leif Silbersky also points to the prospect of the publication damaging the investigation. The man, who maintains his innocence, has volunteered to appear in identification parades.
"We have now been deprived of that right because his picture has been plastered all over the papers in Umeå and surrounding areas," said Silbersky.
But according to Otto Sjöberg, the possibility of conducting identity parades was already reduced by the police's release of artists' impressions of the suspect.
"You must remember that the press doesn't have the same job as the police. The police investigate, we report," said Sjöberg.
Comments
See Also
"The publication has stimulated quite a debate, so I think it's a good thing it's going to be investigated," said the paper's editor in chief, Otto Sjöberg.
The Haga man suspect himself filed the report via his lawyer, Leif Silbersky.
The day after the police arrested the man suspected of carrying out a series of brutal attacks on women in Umeå, his name and picture were spread across the front pages of the tabloid press.
Leif Silbersky wants the Press Council (PON) to decide whether the actions of the press have broken ethical rules, which emphasise the need for caution in publishing potentially damaging pictures or personal information. Only the person in question can make such a complaint, but a large number of members of the public have nevertheless contacted the press ombudsman since Expressen identified the suspect.
"In this case, there's been an unusual number of reactions in the form of phone calls and e-mails," said press ombudsman, Olle Stenholm.
Apart from the fact that the suspect was named before he was even charged, Leif Silbersky also points to the prospect of the publication damaging the investigation. The man, who maintains his innocence, has volunteered to appear in identification parades.
"We have now been deprived of that right because his picture has been plastered all over the papers in Umeå and surrounding areas," said Silbersky.
But according to Otto Sjöberg, the possibility of conducting identity parades was already reduced by the police's release of artists' impressions of the suspect.
"You must remember that the press doesn't have the same job as the police. The police investigate, we report," said Sjöberg.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.