Right to information

How it is used by journalists in Sweden

Mats Amnell

This is what I am going to talk about

• The RTI-emergency – helpdesk for journalists
• Public access to information �– how it legally works in Sweden
• Test: How well does it really work?
• Common problems for Swedish journalists
• Tips and experiences

The Freedom of Press Act 1766

The rights

• To read/take part of documents, photos, �maps, film etc kept by public authorities �or by most publicly owned companies.�
• Free of charge (almost)�
• No need to be a Swedish citizen, no age limit, �no limit of number of documents�
• No need to tell who you are och or purpose �(with som exceptions) �
• Quick handling (0-2 days)

Some examples of public information

• Extensive information about individuals, �companies and organisations �
• Most documents within authorities and courts�
• Registers and databases �
• Public archives

A number of exceptions

• National security/military information�
• Relations with other states or �international organisations�
• Police matters/investigations �
• Personal integrity/private information �about persons, companies, organisations

Examples of how the right is used

List from the municipality List from local police

Examples of how �the right is used

How well does it work?

• Requests to 150 (out of 290) local authorities to give out the employment contract of the municipality director with information about salary.
• Requests from journalist, student and citizen

Qustions:

• Will the document be given out?�• How long time will it take?�• Equal treatment?�

The test

How well does it work?

​

​

After 3 workdays. 40 36 32

​

After 10 workdays. 46 39 41

​

No reaction after 20 days. 1 3 1

Journalist Student Citizen

Present and future threats against RTI in Sweden

• Handing over public affairs to private�entrepreneurs (schools, hospitals, homes for elderly etc)��
• Covid-19, the war in Ukraine, a more unsafe world�
• Organized crime�
• Misuse of RTI by journalists

(…and perhaps in other countries)

The RTI help desk for journalists

• Help to journalists in 200-250 cases every year since 2014. Free of charge.
• Advice and information (75 %)
• Cases taken to court (25 %). (Often successfully)
• Gives encouragement to exercise the rights
• Run and financed by Medieinstitutet Fojo (part of Linneus University)

Experiences

Common problems journalist have to face

• Slow handling
• Poor motivations or lack of motivations�when documents are denied
• Email
• Access to documents before�political decisions are made
• Police matters

Some tips and advice when the authority says ”No!”

• Be updated. Buy a book about how the law should be interpreted
• Ask for a formal decision for av possible appeal to the court
• Use judicial arguments – not moral ones
• Keep up good relations with the officials
• Give the official time
• Don´t ask for 1000 documents. Ask på 10 and later the other 990.
• If you have a legal problem in Sweden – ask The RTI Help Desk