Minister calls Sýn news shutdown sad and damaging

Logi Már Einarsson, Iceland’s minister of culture, innovation and higher education, has described Sýn’s decision to end its television news broadcasts as “sad and damaging” and a return to earlier times, mbl.is reports.

Sýn will broadcast its final television news bulletin tonight. The company is also ending production and broadcasting of the programme Ísland í dag and has laid off more than ten employees.

“These are, of course, sad and damaging developments,” Logi told mbl.is. He said there had never been a greater need for strong, edited and reliable media to counter misinformation, half-truths and misleading messages, which he said had increased through unconventional news sources such as social media and artificial intelligence.

Logi said he had grown up in a society where the state broadcaster RÚV held a monopoly in radio and television. Opening the media market to competition had been a very positive step, he said, adding that Sýn’s decision was a regrettable return to that earlier period.

The minister said the current situation in Iceland’s media market had developed over many years. He called it particularly sad that action had not been taken sooner to find ways to strengthen journalism.

Logi said securing more support for privately operated media had been among his first projects after entering the ministry. The government presented an action plan at the end of last year and had secured funding for it, he said, while acknowledging that some measures might need to be changed because the development was rapid.

He also said responsibility did not rest solely with media companies and the government. Public awareness, as well as awareness among companies and institutions, needed to be increased about the important role of the media, he said. More incentives were needed for companies and institutions to direct advertising spending to domestic media, and for people to pay for subscriptions.

Logi said several projects were under way in the ministry. Officials were completing the bills needed to fully implement the action plan, reviewing media legislation and preparing a new service agreement with RÚV. He said the ministry would also seek dialogue with media companies.