DEBATE • Initiating a study with a scientific approach to investigate the impartiality and objectivity of public service is likely to be met with skepticism from those concerned and many others. They are keen on their independence. They argue that there is a clear mission and equally clear governance. However, there are many of us who do not share that view, not least conservative voters who year after year express lower confidence in public service.

It is heartening that the Tidö Party’s public service proposition in May 2025 includes a proposal for a research study on public service’s ability to be impartial. The purpose is to strengthen the legitimacy of the operation in all groups; after all, everyone pays for public service.

Public service is likely Sweden’s largest opinion shaper, where news programs form the core of the actual opinion shaping. A certain worldview is pumped out there every day. But there are other worldviews, not least in other countries and in free media.

There is much omitted by public service, and the perspectives are also debatable, such as the Rapport broadcast at 7:30 p.m. on August 12, when Trump’s decision to address the homeless occupation of city land in Washington was only reported as a condemnable decision. A more balanced treatment of the problem would have been to show the extensive misery and its consequences, and that the average American believed that the homeless should no longer be allowed to occupy city land.

Disparaging attitude

At the time of writing, in August 2025, there are major demonstrations in Poland against mass immigration, as well as in England. The coverage of this in England has been sparse in public service. Information. Reports of the major demonstrations in Poland have been conspicuously absent. Information about the demonstrations would have given Swedes a better understanding of how our neighboring country Poland is achieving positive development by, among other things, avoiding mass immigration. The demonstrations in England have been described with a disparaging attitude by emphasizing that it was about right-wing extremism.

These two examples would be noted in a scientific study as tendentious news and omitted news, respectively.

Must take the Tidö Party’s proposal seriously

It is also not reasonable that the Tidö Party’s proposal is often problematized by public service. After all, it is a political majority that wants to implement changes that they believe are good. This should also be more reflected in the news reporting.

From the Gaza reporting, it can be noted that public service