The main public support for writers is the Swedish Authors’ Fund. Originators of literary works (authors, translators and illustrators) are compensated for lending in public libraries in accordance with the Government Statute on The Swedish Authors’ Fund (1962:652). The Fund allocates this government compensation. A portion of this compensation is given to the individual author in direct proportion to the number of public loans of his / her work, while another portion is transferred to the Swedish Authors’ Fund which awards grants and scholarships in support of authors, translators, playwrights and journalists in the field of arts. Since 1985, the size of government funds allocated to the Swedish Authors’ Fund, i.e. the Library Fee, is decided in agreements between, on the one hand, the government and, on the other hand, the Swedish Writers ‘Association, the Swedish Illustrators, and the Swedish Photographers’ Association. As of 2015, these agreements are negotiated biannually. In 2021 an agreement was made for 2022 and 2023, in which the parties agreed on a basic amount of SEK 2 for 2022, and SEK 2.04 for 2023. This gives a total sum of SEK 184.8 million for 2022 (an increase of SEK 3.7 million), and SEK 188.5 million SEK for 2023 (an increase of SEK 3.7 million). In 2021, the government allocated an additional SEK 18 million to the Swedish Authors’ Fund as part of a special stimulus package to alleviate the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic in this part of the cultural sector.
Press and media are supported by the government via The Swedish Press and Broadcasting Authority, with the intention of promoting diversity in the general news media on both the national and local level. This funding is distributed in to two main forms of financial support: press support and media support. Press Support is aimed at supporting the distribution and production of regularly published newspapers (paper or digital) with a minimum of 1 500 paying subscribers. It is allocated to all newspapers meeting the criteria. Media Support is aimed at all general media (including web-based media, printed newspapers, radio, and television) whose main purpose is to convey news. Media support is allocated in three forms: Support for local journalism, Innovation and development support and Editorial support. In 2020, a total of SEK 600 million was granted in Press Support.
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