MP Kimmo Sasi offers more criticism towards printed media

“The press no longer fulfils its democratic role”, Sasi writes.

Kimmo Sasi

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In the latest issue of the magazine Kanava to be published today, National Coalition Party MP and Parliamentary Finance Committee chair Kimmo Sasi once again explains why the value-added tax rate on journal and newspaper subscriptions has to be raised from the current zero to nine per cent.
      According to Sasi, the main reason is that the press no longer fulfils its democratic role.
     
When the zero tax rate was decided upon in 1963, there was a lot of competition within the press, Sasi says.
      Since then, in nearly every economic area one newspaper has attained close to a monopoly status.
      At the same time the diversity of the printed media has suffered. “The watchdogs of power have turned into just one voice”, Sasi writes.
      According to Sasi, to promote democracy the papers should provide the citizens with strong all-round education, to report on governmental and municipal decision-making, demand arguments for the reached decisions, and inform people of alternatives to the proposed decisions.
      In Sasi’s view, however, the commercial media’s main focus is on the “relationship with the reader”.
      “Hence papers now print stories that people want to read”, Sasi writes. “Communicating, educating, and refining information is being overshadowed by a media culture that emphasises entertainment instead.”
     
Parliament is a prime example of this development, Sasi argues.
      When it comes to writing about Parliament, people rather than issues are what make the headlines.
      Sasi reckons that in the press the True Finns leader Timo Soini was brought into the spotlight well before the last elections, because “it was a way of securing the newspaper subscriptions in the marginalised areas.”
      Sasi also criticises provincial newspapers for the practice by which a municipality’s entire political decision-making is always reported on by the same journalist.
      According to Sasi, this may lead to a situation where the journalist does not just report and analyse the topical issues but starts to demand special treatment.
     
Sasi’s remedy for the weakness of the Finnish discussion and debating culture is that the printed media would request the leaders of different political parties by turns to write newspaper columns on important subjects.
      These columns would then be assessed by their political rivals as well as various experts.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Parliamentary Finance Committee chair Kimmo Sasi deluged with free copies of newspapers after VAT decision (1.12.2011)
  As expected, Parliament approves introduction of VAT on newspaper and magazine subscriptions (24.11.2011)
  Sasi lashes out at Finland´s press and defends decision to introduce VAT on printed media (23.11.2011)

Links:
  Finnish Journalists´ Union: VAT plans for newspapers is in noone´s interest (19.9.2011)

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