Iceland review - 2016, Page 74

72 ICELAND REVIEW
Birgir Guðmundsson is associate
professor of media studies at the
University of Akureyri’s facul-
ty of social science. His academic and
research interests include media poli-
tics, local media and their interaction
with national and international media,
and media legislation. Before joining
Akureyri University, he worked at vari-
ous Icelandic publications, including as
editor of several national newspapers.
Birgir was also chair of the selection
committee for the Icelandic journal-
ism prize from 2003 to 2014. Here, he
answers questions about journalism and
the media in Iceland.
The interview with former
Prime Minister Sigmundur Davíð
Gunnlaugsson about his links to an
offshore company in Panama made
international headlines earlier this year.
The revelations ultimately led to the PM
resigning and early election this October.
What impact did the Panama Papers
leak have on journalism and journalists
in Iceland?
I think perhaps the impact has been two-
fold. On the one hand it has reminded
Associate professor of media studies Birgir Guðmundsson
talks to Zoë Robert about freedom of the press, the challenges
of working as a journalist in a small society, the impacts of
the tourism boom on the Icelandic media and more.
journalists in Iceland of the potential
power of the press and served as a facil-
itator to critical journalism vis-à-vis the
power elite; though it has not prompted
a much-needed discussion on the use of
deception, borderline methods, narra-
tives and framing. On the other hand, it
has drawn their attention to the impor-
tance of networking [in Iceland and
internationally], in particular in inves-
tigative reporting. Big news stories in
Iceland have indeed been a result of
international cooperation, for example
both the Panama Papers and before that
the WikiLeaks and Kastljós [RÚV news
magazine] story in 2010 on the [2007]
helicopter assault on civilians in Iraq.
What can you tell us about the
Icelandic Modern Media Initiative?
In 2010, Alþingi, the Icelandic parliament,
unanimously accepted a resolution that
was labeled the Icelandic Modern Media
Initiative [IMMI]. This was a cross-par-
tisan proposal and aimed at changing the
legal framework in Iceland in order to
increase freedom of expression in areas
such as whistleblower protection, source
protection, data protection and protec-
STATE OF THE
FOURTH ESTATE
tions against libel tourism. In short, to
create a sort of international safe haven
for freedom of expression. On the basis
of this resolution a steering committee
has been formed within the Ministry of
Education, Science and Culture looking
into how, and in what way, laws need to
be changed to this end. Also, a non-gov-
ernmental institute, the International
Modern Media Institute, was formed on
the basis of the parliamentary resolution
and has advised domestically and inter-
nationally on issues of legislation, new
media and freedom of expression.

Is this something you consider to be
realistic? What stands in the way of
making this a reality?
I think this is moderately realistic, but
the matter has not received much atten-
tion in Iceland. I think, in fact, that it
has received more attention abroad. The
work that is being done on this within
the government system progresses slow-
ly, and bold measures such as granting
high profile whistleblowers protection
can be politically complicated in relation
to Iceland’s cooperation with other coun-
tries. Some of the things have been under
PHOTOS BY PÁLL STEFÁNSSON.
PHOTOS BY PÁLL STEFÁNSSON.