[TankGirl]

27.7.2006

A minor episode from our series "The Amazingly Stretching Ethics of the Press"...

To: Customer Service, Svenska Dagbladet
From: Fredrik Moberg, subscriber
Subject: Your View on Ethics

I have today had the questionable pleasure to observe the following:

1. Svenska Dagbladet publishes an article "Unethical messages in Piratbyrån's shop" on both its paper and online editions. The writer of the article tries to establish a connection between the thinktank Piratbyrån and a number of clothing items with a "gross sexist message" that are on sale in webshop Peer99. The only real connection between Piratbyrån and Peer99 is that Peer99 also sells Piratbyrån's clothes. Any connection between Piratbyrån and clothing with a "gross sexist message" does not, however, exist.

2. It is found that Svenska Dagbladet itself sells porn films on its own web shop.

3. The fact that Svenska Dagbladet sells porn films is being mentioned in the reader comments to the article.

4. The comments disappear without traces or explanations.

5. Steps 3-4 are being repeated several times during the day.

6. Category "Adult Films" disappears without trace or explanations from Svenska Dagbladet's web shop.

7. The original article remains available on the online edition of Svenska Dagbladet.

I would like to know which ethical principles Svenska Dagbladet is following when it:

1) Sells porn itself

2) In the next breath condemns the sexual messages printed on clothing that are on sale at Peer99 webshop as "unethical" or "grossly sexual"

3) Tries to indicate connections that do not exist

4) Censors comments that point out shortcomings in the newspaper's own conduct

5) Removes porn from its own web shop in secrecy, without explanations

6) Continues to keep the original article available on its website

Please publish this letter and your answer to it both in your paper and online editions to show that you take it seriously and that you welcome a debate on the topic of press ethics.

Kindly yours,
Fredrik Moberg
Your subscriber