Gustafsson, Karl Erik and Per Ryden. A History of the Press in Sweden.
Soukup, Paul A.
Gustafsson, Karl Erik and Per Ryden. A History of the Press in
Sweden. Goteborg: NORDICOM-Sverige, 2010-2011. Pp. 369. ISBN
978-91-86523-08-4 (paper) SKR 250.00.
Most media scholars in the United States and England will know, at
least in outline, the history of the English-language press, from its
beginnings in London. Those in the U.S. may also have some familiarity
with the foreign-language press in their country, a press that
flourished in various immigrant communities beginning in the late 19th
century and that still exists today in parts of the country. However,
most will probably not know much (if anything) about the history of the
press in other countries.
This history of the press in Sweden provides an outstanding remedy.
Condensed from the original four-volume work, this more or less
chronological history offers a wealth of insights into the development
of the press and the (often similar) challenges it has faced in the
Nordic region. The authors note, "While shortening the text,
however, we have added new research results. We have discovered new
patterns and connections that were not previously apparent to us"
(p. 11). Though they had to limit illustrations and back matter to fit
the one-volume limit, they do make the bibliography and references
available on the project's website (www.presshistoria.org). Given
their approach to the history, Gustafsson and Ryden note that "a
history of the Swedish press, such as the present one, deals primarily
with those newspapers and magazines that were printed, had a number of
issues, were generally available in Sweden, and have been
preserved" (p. 13).
While a review like this cannot really summarize the book without
simply repeating its history, it can point out some key facts. The
history of the Swedish press begins in 1645 (p. 18). And much of the
output of the Swedish press has been preserved, thanks to a government
edict in 1661 mandating the preservation of at least a copy of every
printed work. Not surprisingly, major cities (Stockholm, Gothenburg, and
Lund) had papers, but so did a number of provincial towns.
The Swedish press did not exist in isolation, but borrowed ideas
from foreign publications (p. 28); like most European governments, the
Swedish government placed some censorship restrictions, which affected
the development of the press. However, a constitutional guarantee of
freedom of the press dates from 1766; the authors point out, "Not
only was it path breaking in Sweden, even in an international context it
was a remarkable document. At the time, no other country had gone as far
in guaranteeing the freedom of the press" (p. 41). And, similar to
the case in most other countries, the Swedish press history often
becomes the history of influential individuals--owners, publishers,
editors, writers, and their spouses who often carried on the work.
Each century offers its own developments: from liberalism in the
early 19th century to a political press in the later part of that
century to press wars in the early 20th century. The period between the
wars (1920-1940) saw great growth while the 1950s witnessed structural
changes, which still affect papers today.
The volume details not only the newspaper history, but also that of
magazines and their sometimes specialized audiences. And it addresses
the fragmentation of the audience in recent years, along with the rise
of digital or online papers.
The book provides an excellent and readable introduction to press
history in Sweden. The authors add some context of the history of
Sweden, since press history takes place within that national history.
The book features two indices: one of people and one of
publications. As noted, apart from a few illustrations of front pages,
all other images and the full bibliography appear on the website.
--Paul A. Soukup, S. J.
Santa Clara University
