NORDIC 
MEDIA POLICY

In this year’s final issue of Nordic Media Policy, we report on Google’s recent test of removing Danish news, the resignation of KVF’s director following an unusual affair, public service cutbacks in both Finland and Norway, and strong criticism from Swedish publishers towards the government for making journalists’ work more difficult. New statistics show that advertising revenue in Icelandic media is declining. And that’s all for this year. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Google removes Danish news in test

Google has initiated a time-limited test where news content is removed from a small portion of search results in Denmark and seven other European countries, reports the Fix. Google states in a blog post that the reason for the test is that EU regulators and publishers “have asked for additional data about the effect of news content in Search”. The test has faced heavy criticism from the Danish Ministers for Culture and Digitalisation. Jakob Engel-Schmidt, Minister for Culture, tells Politiken: “Every time 100 Danes search on Google, one of them is deprived of the right to obtain the most accurate information”.

KVF’s CEO resigns after unusual affair

Ivan Niclasen is stepping down as CEO of the public service company Kringvarp Føroya (KVF) in the Faroe Islands, writes Journalisten (DK). The resignation comes after it was revealed that he had made an agreement with an individual citizen. The deal meant that the citizen did not have to pay the public service licence fee, unlike all other Faroese citizens. According to a press release from KVF’s board, Niclasen will in the coming month serve as an advisor to the management of the company, and thereafter return to a position as a staff member. For a while, there was uncertainty about whether the resignation as CEO was valid or not, KVF reports.

New chairman of DR

The Danish government has just appointed Lars Gert Lose, with a background in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and as Danish ambassador in Washington, as the new chairman of the board for DR. He will formally take over the position from Marianne Bedsted at the turn of the year, reports DR.

NRK cuts 200 million

The Norwegian public service broadcaster will reduce its costs by 200 million kroner (17 million euros) in 2025, reports Journalisten (NO). The cost savings will result in a reduction of staff by between 70 and 90 full-time positions. According to NRK, cost increases and expensive technological investments are behind the decision. In a comment to Journalisten, NRK’s director general, Vibeke Fürst Haugen, said that she cannot rule out that the savings may negatively impact the broadcaster’s programming.

Layoffs expected at Yle

Enhanced protection for personal data proposed – and criticised in Sweden

The official government report (SOU 2024:75), on enhanced protection for personal data in the press and freedom of expression, proposes limiting constitutional protections for search services that disclose personal data. The review therefore suggests some constitutional exemptions in the Freedom of the Press Act and the Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression. These amendments, set to take effect on 1 January 2027, have faced strong criticism for potentially hindering the work of journalists, according to the Swedish Media Publishers’ Association and the Union of Journalists.

Swedish publishers criticise the government

Does the government want to make it harder for Swedish journalism? That is the question posed by representatives of the organisation Utgivarna [the Publishers], which includes public service companies as well as newspaper and magazine representatives, in an op-ed in Aftonbladet. The signatories of the article argue that several of the official governmental reports recently presented to the government impair journalists’ ability to do their work. They also see similar problems with the application of existing protection and security laws.

Changes in Norwegian Fund for Sound and Image rules

The Ministry of Culture and Equality has changed the rules for grants from the Fund for Sound and Image. These changes affect the payment rules and the requirement for auditor approval of accounts. The new rules will start on 1 January 2025.

Finland issues radio licences in new application round

Last month, the Finnish cabinet granted broadcasting licences for radio in the supplementary call for the new nationwide frequency block TK 26 and 20 individual frequencies. Licences were issued across the country, including to local radio operators, and they will be in force from 1 December 2024 to 31 December 2029. Denmark has also conducted a call for radio licences, this time for non-commercial local radio. The application period ended on 6 December.

Expanded tasks for the Danish radio and TV board

Due to a new law proposal, the Danish radio and TV board will in the future monitor mergers in the media market and ensure that political advertisements in the media are clearly marked. 

New scheme to make Denmark a film and TV hub

Films and TV series shot in Denmark will now be eligible for a so-called production rebate. This initiative aims to put Denmark on the global map as a production hub and ensure that more films and TV series are filmed in the country. The minister for culture plans to engage in dialogue with the industry to gather specific input on the optimal design of a production rebate scheme. The scheme is expected to launch in 2026, the Danish Ministry of Culture writes in a press release.

Streamlined ministry in Finland

The Finnish Ministry of Communications underwent a reorganisation in 2024 to streamline operations. In the beginning of next year, a further step will be taken in this process. From 1 February 2025, the total number of units within the ministry will be reduced, and its organisation structure will be changed.

New report on postal services in Norway

A recent official committee report on the future of postal services in Norway proposes that letters should be delivered to staffed postal points, such as post offices in shops. However, those who need it should be able to choose to have their letters delivered to their mailbox once a week. The report also highlights the future of printed newspaper distribution. The committee’s report will be sent for consultation.

Finland to cut media data production 

Statistics Finland has announced that it will discontinue its media statistics branch as part of changes to its statistical production, effective 2025. This move is driven by government cost-cutting measures, writes NordMedia Network.

New reports and statistics from the Nordics

Less money in Icelandic media

In 2023, the revenues of domestic media experienced a decline of 4%. Despite a modest increase in user-generated income of 1.6%, advertising revenues contracted by 12% year-on-year, writes Statistics Iceland in a press release.  

Economic impact of Denmark’s cultural and creative industries 

In 2022, the cultural industries accounted for 3% of Denmark’s total production. This is highlighted in a new report from Denmark Statistics, which examines the national economic significance of the cultural and creative industries. Radio and television represented the largest share within this sector.

Finland’s media market grew marginally

New figures from Statistics Finland shows that the value of the Finnish media market was nearly 4 billion euros in 2023. This means that the value of the market grew by 1.7% compared to 2022. 

Norwegian media content mapped 

Broad and varied content is evident in Norwegian online newspapers and local radio stations. An analysis by the Norwegian Media Authority of 2.7 million articles, published in 250 online newspapers in 2023, highlights this diversity. Additionally, the content offering of local radio stations was analysed over a 24-hour period through both a manual review of content in 40 radio stations and a survey. 

Media market concentration increases in Sweden

Over the past decade, the number of owners of Swedish news media has declined. This is highlighted in the new Nordicom report, Concentrated Diversity in Global Competition. The trend toward fewer owners has been driven by various deregulations, economic downturns, and new market dynamics.

Icelandic district court upholds Media Commission’s decision 

The District Court of Reykjavik upholds the Icelandic Media Commission’s decision regarding hidden commercial messages in TV shows LXS. 

New Danish guidance on accessibility of television and VoD services

The radio and TV board in Denmark has presented new guidance on accessibility for Danish providers of television and VoD services.

Don't forget our EU newsletter

Did you know that Nordicom has another newsletter about media policy, about what is happening in the media policy sector in the EU? It is called European Media Policy.

About the newsletter
The newsletter Nordic Media Policy reports on media policy developments in the Nordic countries and at the Nordic level. It presents new legislative proposals, parliamentary debates, and new media policy decisions and initiatives. The newsletter also draws attention to new reports and studies in the media field from the Nordic countries.

Nordic Media Policy is published with support from the Nordic Council of Ministers.

Editor
Tobias Lindberg, researcher at Nordicom
tobias.lindberg@nordicom.gu.se

Publisher
Nordicom University of Gothenburg
PO Box 713
SE-405 30
Gothenburg 
Sweden 
www.nordicom.gu.se

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