Published: Just now
“Assignment review” program on the so-called literature profile has been paused after a top lawyer was called in – which has caused strong reactions.
In a longer comment to Aftonbladet, he gives his version of the events.
“It is surreal and almost impossible to describe,” writes the literature profile.
The decision to pause the “Assignment review” (UG) program on the literature profile was made a few weeks ago.
This after the top lawyer Johan Eriksson in a document of 75 points stated that the research work around the program could constitute a defamation situation on the part of SVT.
The literary profile has anonymously chosen to respond to the accusations against him in an interview with P1’s program “The Media”. Something that has led to UG now reporting “The Media” to the Review Board and accusing the editors of cheating.
“A Kafka-like process”
Aftonbladet has sought the literature profile for an interview, but instead receives a response in a five-page letter.
In it, he likens the reporting around him to a “Kafka-like process”, and says the allegations of serious criminality are “completely baseless”.
He also believes that the reporter was unsuitable to carry out the review because he had previously sought a commercial collaboration with the literature profile’s company.
“For us, against this background, it was completely obvious to contact a legal representative. The situation has been incredibly stressful for everyone affected by it, and it is unacceptable that people’s lives and work should be affected for such a long time without a fair opportunity to defend themselves”.
Furthermore, the literature profile claims that during the two years that the review has been ongoing, all of his private and professional relations have been contacted, which is said to be several hundred people.
“Examining myself from all angles has been the common thread, not a specific question,” says the literature profile.
The literature profile also describes the feeling of being on the other side as “surreal and almost impossible to describe”.
“Did not conduct source investigations”
That the review has now been paused with reference to the fact that UG cannot protect all participants as a result of something that the profile or the company is said to have done, the literature profile means “a continued suspicion of him” and gives rise to “wild speculation about what is the basis of this innuendo”.
“It is clear that I, the company or our legal representative have not done anything whatsoever to justify such a claim”.
Furthermore, the literature profile writes that the legal investigation conducted by lawyer Johan Eriksson was initiated after UG presented what the profile believes were “its accusations against the company”. He also notes that the lawyer’s investigation “does not contain any threats of legal action, and does not touch any sources or witnesses at all”.
“We have not conducted any source investigations whatsoever”, writes the profile, adding that employees have also not been instructed not to talk to journalists.
Reported the company
The literature profile writes that one has no knowledge of any crimes having taken place, and says himself that he has not done anything criminal. He notes that the company has now been reported to the Swedish Work Environment Agency for an independent evaluation of the work environment.
“Not because we have any indications of misconduct of our own, but to get to the bottom of UG’s accusations”.
In conclusion, he states that it is difficult to get redress against the media, and that in his case “the limits were pushed shamelessly”.
“By some, I seem to be condemned in advance, without it even being clear on what grounds I stand accused”.
Uppdrag gränskning’s responsible publisher Axel Björklund comments on the criticism from the literature profile in an SMS to Aftonbladet:
SVT: Is a non-issue
“Of course, I cannot comment on details in an unpublished review. Methodologically, there is nothing about this work that has been unique, we have carried out careful and very serious journalistic work”.
Regarding the claim that the reporter would have been rude since he previously sought a commercial collaboration with the literature profile’s company, Axel Björklund answers the following:
“In 2019, the reporter sent a request for collaboration on a book about Swedbank to a large number of industry players. In this case, the dialogue was short, pleasant and to the point. It’s a non-issue. It is of course not the case that an individual reporter independently decides what he or we should review for a long time.
Björklund has no comment on the fact that the literature profile means that the stated reason why the review has been paused, according to him, gives rise to continued suspicion.