What is the state of public service media in Sweden?

Drawing on research, policy and practice, authors Anne Kaun and Michele Madeleine Biendara demonstrate that public broadcasting remains deeply embedded in society and is widely used across different demographic groups. These institutions continue to enjoy high levels of public trust, particularly with regard to education, news and crisis reporting. 

The paper also identifies growing pressures and difficulties for PSM. Emerging political debates around impartiality and the role of public service media in times of crisis have intensified, contributing to increasing regulatory constraints. 

Planned funding cuts and budget declines pose additional challenges. Both the financial and political pressures risk undermining the independence and long-term sustainability of the PSM system.

At the same time, ongoing digitalization and the integration of artificial intelligence open new opportunities for innovation, audience engagement and personalized content distribution. Yet these developments also carry risks, including threats to credibility and audience fragmentation.

About the authors:

Anne Kaun is a Professor of media and communication studies at Södertörn University. She is a founding and board member of the Knowledge Centre for Public Service Media (K-pub) at Södertörn University. 

Michele Madeleine Biendara is a Master’s student in media, communication and cultural analysis at Södertörn University, Sweden. During her studies she was a research intern at the Knowledge Centre for Public Service Media (K-pub).