SVT’s Uppdrag gränskning program has paused its review of a well-known literary figure, just weeks before it was due to be broadcast, citing concerns about protecting those involved. The episode had been expected to cause a stir within the Swedish literature industry, with a recently published article in Vi magazine highlighting its potential impact. The programme had already hired lawyer Johan Eriksson, who has attempted to discredit one of the reporters involved in the review, claiming some of the allegations could constitute defamation. SVT’s Axel Björklund said there was no new broadcast date set, but the review was only paused.
With only weeks left until publication, SVT’s Uppdrag review stops the program about a well-known literary profile – this after the profile connected the star lawyer Johan Eriksson.
Axel Björklund, the responsible publisher of Uppdrag grunskning, says that there are several combined reasons why the program is not broadcast at the appointed time:
– The review is paused because we cannot fully see that we can protect everyone involved.
Even before publication, it was one of Uppdrag gränskning’s most talked about reviews, about a power holder in literary Sweden. In a recently published article in the magazine Vi, the upcoming review is described as having the potential to shake up the Swedish literature industry, and that it includes several of Sweden’s greatest authors. According to Aftonbladet, the episode was to be broadcast before the summer.
With only weeks left until publication, SVT’s Uppdrag review stops its planned disclosure.
To help influence SVT, the profile has hired lawyer Johan Eriksson, who has been named Sweden’s best lawyer for several years. In a document with 75 points, Johan Eriksson tries, among other things, to discredit one of the reporters doing the review.
“No new date”
Uppdrag review’s responsible publisher Axel Björklund is careful that the review has not been stopped and says that there are several contributing events that paused the publication.
– I cannot comment more than that the review is paused because we are not fully
ut can see that we can protect everyone involved, he says.
Hasn’t it been stopped?
– It is not stopped, it is paused. We have not set a publication date, says Axel Björklund, who does not want to go into details about when the review was scheduled to be broadcast.
Aftonbladet has read the document that Johan Eriksson sent to SVT. In the first point, lawyer Johan Eriksson establishes what the assignment review should be about:
“Assignment review has for some time been conducting review work regarding X company X. The review has also come to include one of company X and founder, X.
The information that (the company) has received so far indicates that the review primarily concerns alleged shortcomings in the work environment and X’s behavior in various respects.”
“May constitute defamation”
Several of the tasks in the program would, according to Johan Eriksson’s document, imply a designation of the profile as criminal and reprehensible in its actions, as well as possible connections to criminals.
Johan Eriksson writes that there are no reasons in his lawyer’s investigation to go into how his client reacts to the accusations and claims that his client is not a public figure.
In his investigation, Johan Eriksson claims that it may constitute defamation that a reporter at Uppdrag gränskning contacted several people and told them what the lawyer describes as “very serious information” about the profile.
“To sum up, Task Review’s provision of said information to various people within the framework of the ongoing review work can be considered defamation,” writes Johan Eriksson in his 75-point investigation.
He then tries in two points to discredit one of the reporters doing the review.
Don’t want to comment
Aftonbladet has unsuccessfully sought lawyer Johan Eriksson.
Assignment review Axel Björklund says that in recent years it has become significant
it is more common for lawyers to be hired in connection with an audit.
– Everyone is free. You have to make your own decisions and the lawyers have theirs
role. I have no objection to that, it is clear that our review will pass it
kind of backfire.
Have there been any police reports in connection with this review?
– I don’t want to comment on that.
The CEO of the designated company writes the following in a written comment to
Aftonbladet:
“We will never comment on rumors and at the moment decline to comment on SVT’s actions further from our side.”
“Since there are no substantiated allegations against X, I hope that after two years of investigation he can soon get some breathing space and that no gang spirit stands in the way of that. We resist being hanged for being innocently accused.”