SVT:s Uppdrag granskning ett av de mest högprofilerade TV-program som specialiserat sig på uppgiften att granska makten. Programmet studeras i den egenskapen som en fallstudie inom forskningsområdet journalistik och makt. Journalistisk granskning av makt utgör ett sätt på vilket det demokratiska samhället hanterar vissa typer av överträdelse, skuld och ansvar. Uppdrag granskning kan i det sammanhanget ses och undersökas som en social institution som agerar inom det rätts-moraliska området. Reportrar identifierar överträdelser, leder i bevis, intervjuar offer och vittnen, ställer överträdare till svars samt initierar diskussioner kring rättvisa, moral och samhällsansvar. En narrativ analys av fem utvalda program inriktar sig på att undersöka hur programmets granskningar konstruerar institutionell identitet samt formerar, reproducerar och legitimerar journalistikens egen makt och legitimitet då de presenteras i rättsnarrativ form. En kvantitativ innehållsanalys av Uppdrag gransknings samtliga program mellan 2001-2014 ger svar på frågorna: Vilka makthavare granskas? Vilken typ av maktmissbruk eller missförhållanden handlar granskningarna om, inom vilka problem- och samhällsområden görs de? Fem journalister har också intervjuats i syfte att ge perspektiv på deras egna tankar, reflektioner och åsikter om journalistik och makt. Avhandlingen utgör ett bidrag till den fortlöpande diskussion om mediernas makt och förhållande till makt som efterlyses i demokratiutredningen SOU, 2000:1 ”En hållbar demokrati” / Journalism is one of many institutions dealing with transgressions at a societal level. This dissertation is partly about how it has come to occupy that position, but foremost about how practicing that mission constructs and defines journalism as a social institution and constructs identity, legitimacy and power. The object of study is one of the most high-profile programs of investigative television journalism in Sweden, Uppdrag granskning (Mission Investigate), which is analyzed as an instrumental case study.A quantitative content analysis of all 1,034 of Uppdrag granskning’s episodes broadcast between 2001-2014 shows that the public sector is more investigated than the private, and that Vård och omsorg (social care), Ordningsmakt (society monitoring power) and Handel och industri (trade and industry) are the most frequently investigated fields. Whereas the fields of Media (media), Kultur (culture) and Genus (gender) are fields investigated to a minor degree. Politicians and other public officials are more often the objects of investigation than other professional groups. A narrative analysis of five episodes shows how investigations construct journalism’s institutional identity, and reproduce and legitimize journalistic power when presented in the form of a legal narrative. The dissertation also features results of an interview study with five of Uppdrag granskning’s journalists. They give their own perspectives and reflections about investigative journalism and power.The results of the qualitative analysis show how the examined episodes of Uppdrag granskning construct journalism as an institution that: (1) identifies what is wrong in society, and who is responsible, (2) acts as a constructor and guardian of societal moral, (3) interacts in an intricate way with the formal legal system, investigating it, collaborating with it andsometimes stepping in where it fails, (4) exercises a form of justice that is mainly retributive towards those investigated, serves to restitute victims and by means of an emotional focus endeavors to engage and activate viewers’ sense of justice, (5) justifies means of deception and deceit to expose wrongdoing, (6) faces the creative challenge of shouldering the journalistic mission to investigate in a just and fair way, while at the same time making sure the investigations are dramatic and interesting enough to be worth watching on prime time television.

Som följd av mediernas felaktiga publiceringar av anklagelser mot Fredrik Virtanen under metoo-hösten 2017, gjorde Uppdrag granskning ett program där de granskade mediernaspubliceringar, som mötte stor kritik. Kritiken väckte vårt forskningsintresse för att genomföradenna studie. Syftet är att studera Uppdrag gransknings program “#metoo och FredrikVirtanen” med metoden MCDA för att ta reda på hur anklagelserna och de sociala aktörernablir representerade. Studiens vetenskapliga perspektiv grundas i genusteorin med fokus på hurkvinnor blir representerade vid sexualbrott. Tidigare forskning visar hur rape myths kommertill uttryck vid nyhetsrapportering av sexualbrott och det använder vi sedan för att sätta vårtresultat i relation till. Vi har utformat två frågeställningar för att reda på hurrepresentationerna i avsnittet ser ut. I analysen finner vi tecken på en orättvis representationav de sociala aktörerna. Däremot visar vårt resultat att Uppdrag granskning inte gör sigskyldiga till reproduktion av rape myths.

This study examines the ethics of investigative journalism. Especially the ethical considerations of the methods used by the journalists. The study have used a thematic analysis through semi-structured interviews with investigative journalists about their investigations. The real life examples were used as a solid basis of what journalists have done while also considering what literature suggests for ethical journalism. The two were compared and analyzed to find a cohesive answer to the question: how do journalists reason the methods they use during a journalistic investigation? The conclusion came down to journalists following the laws and their editorial office’s own ethical rules as closely as they can while still using so-called “sneaky” methods. However if the information is important enough and there is no other way to gain it  journalists deems the act of law- and rulebreaking justified in the cause of public good.

I en tid då tidningsbranschen står inför en omfattande strukturomvandling, är jakten igång att hitta komplement och substitut till gamla intäktskällor. Som ett led av detta har intresset väckts för att använda crowdfunding för att finansiera nyhetsjournalistik. Crowdfunding är en finansieringsform där privatpersoner och organisationer kan ansöka om ekonomiskt stöd från ett större antal finansiärer. Frågan är dock om det finns en potentiell marknad för crowdfunding-finansierad journalistik i Sverige.Den här rapporten ämnar kartlägga den svenska befolkningens kännedom om, och deras inställning till, att finansiera journalistik med crowdfunding. Detta görs genom en enkätundersökning som syftar till att svara på följande frågor:Vilken inställning har den svenska befolkningen till crowdfunding som en finansieringsformför granskande journalistik?Vilka förutsättningar krävs för att finansieringsformen ska accepteras av svenskanyhetskonsumenter?Vilka hinder upplever svenskarna till att betala för granskande journalistik med crowdfunding?Resultatet visade att kännedomen om crowdfunding är låg och slutsatsen är att marknaden för crowdfunding är omogen i Sverige. Vidare är det är få som uppger att de med crowdfunding skulle kunna tänka sig att betala för en journalistik granskning i förväg. Dock ställer sig en femtedel positiva till finansieringsformen och en potential finns att omvandla denna inställning till betalningsvilja om rätt åtgärder görs.Respondenterna är beredda att betala för granskningar av orättvisor eller missförhållanden och gärna ämnen som de har ett personligt intresse av att få granskat. En förutsättning för att få finansieringsmodellen att fungera i Sverige är att man lyckas formulera för läsaren vilket mervärde som följer att betala för journalistik i förväg. Samtidigt krävs att framtida crowdfundingtjänster är tydliga kring finansiärernas rättigheter och skyldigheter, tillsammans med en fullständig transparens kring processen. / In a time when the newspaper industry face major structural changes, a search for new andsupplemental sources of revenue has begun. In line with this, crowdfunding has been addressed as a way of financing journalism. Crowdfunding is a model of financing where individuals and organizations, can apply for funding from a wide range of funders. Several experiments have occurred in the world, e.g. Spot.us and Krautreporter. The question is whether there is a potential market for crowdfunded journalism in Sweden.The purpose of this paper is to describe the market for investigative journalism financed withcrowdfunding, from a consumer’s view. This is done through a survey that aims to answer the following questions:What is the attitude of the Swedish population towards crowdfunding as a form of financing of investigative journalism?What conditions are required for crowdfunding to be accepted by Swedish consumers?What obstacles do Swedish consumers experience to pay for journalism with crowdfunding?The results show that awareness of crowdfunding is low and the conclusion is that the Swedish market for crowdfunding is immature. Furthermore, only a few percentages of the respondents stated that they would be willing to pay for a journalistic work in advance. However, one fifth of the respondents are positive to the model of financing, and there are signs showing that this attitude can be converted into a willingness to pay, if the right measures are made.Most of the respondents state that they are willing to pay for the investigation of maladministration or injustices, and preferably subjects that they have a personal interest in getting audited. However a prerequisite for the model to work in Sweden is that one manages to articulate the added value of paying for journalism in advance. In the same time, future crowdfunding services must be absolutely clear about the financiers' rights and responsibilities along with full transparency around the process.

Vi har i denna studie analyserat hur Uppdrag granskning och Kalla fakta strukturerar och förmedlar granskande journalistik. Syftet är att med hjälp av en genreanalys öka förståelsen för hur programmen förhåller sig till sitt demokratiska uppdrag som ingår i genrens ideal, och därmed hur de uppfyller den demokratiska roll de fått samt tillskrivit sig själva. Genom att tillämpa ideologikritiskt perspektiv, myt och symbolisk makt har vi utforskat symbolers betydelse, maktens strukturer, ideologins inflytande och kanalernas intressen. Uppdrag granskning utmärker sig genom noggranna undersökningar, men brister ibland i ifrågasättande. De varierar sin stil och kombinerar medkänsla med professionalism, men visar tendenser att förenkla ämnen. Kalla fakta påvisar noggrannhet, men vissa granskningar saknar djupgående verifiering. De använder dramatiska element och formar narrativ utifrån ideologiska perspektiv. Resultaten utmanar båda programmens roll som objektiva granskare, där tendenser till förenkling, skapande av gemensamma fiender och undvikande av strukturell analys är bekymmersamma för deras demokratiska uppdrag. Uppdrag granskning och Kalla fakta kan inte säga sig helt uppfylla genrekraven för granskande journalistik, och nära skjuter ingen hare. / In this study, we have analyzed how Uppdrag granskning and Kalla fakta structure and convey investigative journalism. The purpose is to, through genre analysis, enhance understanding of how these programs relate to their democratic mission inherent in the genre's ideals, and thus, how they fulfill the democratic role they have been assigned and attributed to themselves. By applying an ideology-critical perspective, myth, and symbolic power, we have explored the significance of symbols, power structures, ideological influence, and channel interests. Uppdrag granskning distinguishes itself through meticulous investigations but occasionally lacks in questioning. They vary their style, combining compassion with professionalism, yet show tendencies to simplify subjects. Kalla fakta demonstrates precision, but some investigations lack in-depth verification. They employ dramatic elements and shape narratives based on ideological perspectives. The results challenge the role of both programs as objective scrutinizers, where trends of simplification, creation of common enemies, and avoidance of structural analysis are concerning for their democratic mission. Neither Uppdrag granskning nor Kalla fakta can claim to fully meet the genre requirements for investigative journalism. Close, but no cigar.

The aim of the study was to examine the news coverage surrounding Stockholm City Theatre’s former CEO Benny Fredriksson during the metoo-movement, from the time of the accusations against him until a time after his death. The questions examined were: How is Benny Fredriksson represented at the time of the publishing of the accusations and at the time of his death? How are the anonymous witnesses and the journalism represented? How does the representation of victims and perpetrators change after the death of Benny Fredriksson? What are the differences and similarities in the reporting of Aftonbladet and Dagens Nyheter? To analyze this, we made a discourse analysis of 12 articles from Aftonbladet and 13 articles from Dagens Nyheter. The results showed that the roles of all the characters change during the coverage. At the time of the publishing of the accusations, Benny Fredriksson is represented as an evil dictator that harasses his employees at Stockholm City Theatre. After his death, Benny Fredriksson is represented as a victim of circumstances, helpless and full of anxiety. At first, the witnesses are represented as scared, helpless victims. At the end of the coverage the representation has changed, and the victims are instead represented as perpetrators that are accused of lying. The journalism goes from being represented as investigative journalism to being represented as a media hunt that killed Benny Fredriksson. Overall, Aftonbladet is more defending of the witnesses and the journalism while Dagens Nyheter is more defending of Benny Fredriksson. The study shows that a death can affect the news coverage and consequently how the characters are represented.

Abstract: During the past decade, media researchers have intensified the study of media scandals and the role of journalism as an institution that holds social actors responsible for malfeasance and wrongdoings. On a micro level of analysis, the main attention has beendirected towards the journalistic interview and its use to promote the impression of guilt and journalistic neutrality. However, such studies have not been able to address the editing dimension of TV journalism that transforms conversation to another type of communicativepractice – that of communication through TV-flows composed of speech sequences, pictures,and sounds. This doctoral thesis develops a theoretical framework for analysis of the functions of editing inthe process of guilt attribution by journalistic TV-flows – e.g. investigative TV reporting. The purpose is also to contribute to an understanding of the relationship between the communicative competences of viewers and the contextualization of speech acts through the composition of TV-flows. The developed perspective consists of three parts: 1) A division of viewers’ reception of TV-flows in two types of interpersonal relations (to a speaker and to the composer) that involves six levels of cognitive activities. This division is based on the Habermasian notion of communicative rationality; 2) An intent-model, that lists communicative intentions expressed by the composer when speech sequences are merged and pictures are inserted; 3) A guilt-model, that encompasses guilt as a mental structure of ontologically separated elements (e.g. deed,intention, norm) and the associative relations that the viewer uses to create a meaningful whole– a fabula of guilt. The conveyed analysis of three cases of investigative reporting illustrates how the developed framework can be applied in the study of guilt attribution. The analyses also describe several compositional strategies by which the viewer is encouraged to make certain meaning, evaluate, and judge. The strategies concern the following areas: promotion of certain understanding of speech, promotion of certain evaluation of the validity claims, and promotion of certain understanding of the speaker’s intentions. Also strategies of positioning of the reporter in constructed discourses, that enhance the impression of her performances and argumentation, are explored. Furthermore, the composer’s strategies for masking intentions to interfere with the speech acts, by increasing intent ambiguity, are described. The guilt-model is used to understand the workings of the TV-flow on an overreaching level of meaning (the fabula level). Here, the analysis explains the interplay between portrayed intentions and acts, and the different ways in which condemning norms can be activated and highlighted. Furthermore, the model explores the possible employment of categorization in theprocess of guilt attribution (e.g. when properties of an individual are transferred to a group). In sum, this thesis contributes to a new way of understanding the reception of current affairs programs and TV journalism, as relation building between composer and viewer, by means of contextualization of speech acts.