Sýn criticised for ending 40-year television news service

Sýn, the Icelandic media company, is making a serious mistake by ending the production and broadcast of television news after 40 years, according to Sigríður Dögg Auðunsdóttir, chair of the Icelandic Journalists’ Union. Mbl.is reported the decision on Monday.

“This is a huge disappointment. It is awful to hear that the history of Stöð 2 and Sýn television news has come to an end,” Sigríður Dögg said.

She said the decision was not entirely unexpected, noting that Sýn had already stopped broadcasting television news at weekends.

Sigríður Dögg said it had become clear what was likely to happen when Sýn decided to sell its online and radio media outlets to Síminn while retaining its television news operation. When that deal was reversed, she had hoped the company would use the opportunity to review the newsroom, its role in society and its value to the company.

“This is simply people who do not understand news. I think this is a mistake,” she said.

She said Sýn’s annual reports stated that its television news programmes reached 50,000 people every day. The value of that daily connection to the company, the newsroom and the company’s image could not be measured in money, she said, stressing the importance of public trust in the newsroom.

“Research has shown that television news enjoys the highest level of trust, much more than online news, for reasons that are very well defined. For them to be willing to take the risk and sacrifice this without exploring every possible way to strengthen the newsroom further is a huge disappointment. I reiterate that I think this is a mistake,” she said.

She also said it was distressing that employees would lose their jobs and that the Journalists’ Union would support its members closely.

One daily newspaper and one television news outlet

Once Sýn’s television news service closes, only the state television broadcaster will continue to provide television news.

“It is awful that we are a society with one daily newspaper and one television news outlet. No more needs to be said about that; everyone knows it. Everyone agrees that news media are fundamental to democratic debate and democratic decision-making,” Sigríður Dögg said.

She referred to a referendum on continuing negotiations over Iceland’s membership of the European Union, saying that when Gallup asked people where they obtained information, a large majority said from the media.

“Everyone agrees on how important it is to have diverse, multi-voiced and high-quality news media, but people also need to be willing to pay for them,” she said.