trampoline
15-12-2008, 04:24 PM
this is the biggest story in Iceland at the moment, finally someone steps up:
The statement of Jon Bjarki Magnusson
I feel the need, for my own conscience, to inform that a news article that i wrote for DV on November 6th 2008 about Sigurjon Th. Arnason former bank director of Landsbanki was canceled. I am doing this because it is my duty towards the readers and the people of the country to inform about these cases. I have tried to convince myself for over a month to not do this. That it would be better to forget this and keep my mouth shut. I have not been able to forget this incident, and i can not keep it to myself any longer. I think it is not acceptable that some individuals out there can stop the normal process of the news. I can not be guilty of this secrecy and bluffing in the power of wealth in these last and worst times.
November 6th I wrote an article about Sigurjon Th. Arnason former bank director of Landsbanki that had settled in an office in the housing of Landsbanki at Posthusstraeti 8. Reynir Traustason editor of DV asked me to do this assignment.
After two visits and more attempts to get a hold of Sigurjon through telephone i finally got to ask him a few questions. Following that I wrote an article where amongst other was said that Sigurjon is starting a consulting company in the housing of Landsbanki. Also he hoped for assignments from Landsbanki.
I returned the article to the news director like usually and did not expect anything other than it would be published in the paper the day after. When i showed up for work the day after Reynir Traustason called me to his office and told me that “big individuals” stopped the article. He said he was not happy about this decision to back away from the story but decided to do so. I started thinking after this information but i convinced myself that it would be better to leave things as they are.
Shortly before that or October 10th there was an article in DV that had the headline “We failed you.” There Jon Trausti Reynisson one of two editors of the newspaper says that the media had failed the nation. I feel there is a reason to review that article.
It starts like this “The collapse of the Icelandic economy is not from arranged outer situations but from democratic reasons. The nation should never have went ahead full blast off the ledge if it was not for the bluffing for years. The bluff was from politicians, businessmen and also them who were supposed to protect the nation against the bluff, the media.”
I see it so that by stopping this news article DV was not protecting the nation from the bluffs, but continued it. The headline should be “We are failing you now.”
Free media is something that the nation needs now. In times like these, with shocks like the shocks the Icelandic nation is going through, there needs to be unconditional demand that the media is free and can tell the news they think is needed and how they want to. They need to be independent from the interests of few, money, sponsors, political influences of lenders. And if this fails I think that it is the duty of the people to inform about this.
I am not aware of who it was who convinced the editor of DV to cancel the article. But Reynir told me at a meeting that we had that these individuals are powerful and this was clearly about the life or death of the newspaper. From his words is it clear that he was threatened. He had to obey. I will not make little of the pressure my editor was put into; not publishing a news article or put the life of the newspaper itself in danger. It is difficult to be in this situation.
But I disagree with his decision. I think it is best for him, DV, the whole nation, that the whole series of events that he referred to in his discussions, when he explained that the article would not be published, will be published for everyone to see. - That this is even also our only available protection in these situations. And that the big news article must be this: Unnamed individuals attacked against what is supposed to be one of the cornerstones of democracy in Iceland. It is my demand and the demand of all of us that there must be firm - that this will be answered:
–
What sort of a threat is it that the editor of DV had to suffer, and who was or who were the ones threatening?
–
Ever since this happened I have been wondering how common this is in Icelandic media. That certain articles that have been processed are just pulled out of the process because they hurt the interests of someone important. There are stories about these things, but few, if any, reach the eyes or ears of the public. If no one steps forward and speaks about these happenings openly in “free media” it is possible that a large group of people stand in the belief that there is no censoring going on in Icelandic media and everything is fine and dandy.
But that does not really matter what is said in this article. Probably it has nothing important in it, but it is clear that at this time the demand for news about the enterprise of Sigurjon Arnason was a great deal, and what was happening in the offices at Posthusstraeti. And also how many “big news articles” were pulled out of the publishing process because some men out there think it would be inconvenient for them for those articles to be published?
At the Island there was a coverage about the office of Sigurjon on November fourth and sixth at the website T24 where amongst other was stated that Sigurjon was working very hard on “solving” debt complications of companies that are related to Baugur with Landsbanki.
Amongst other this is said:
“On the street corner is stated that the idealist is behind the purchase of Raudsol of the media field of 365 hf is Sigurjon Th. Arnason, former bank manager of Landsbanki. It is stated that he is now working hard at “solving” debt complications of companies related to Baugur with Landsbanki. Sigurjon is said to be working close ith Jon Asgeir and related individuals but Sigurjon and Ari Edwald, chairman of 365, are old team-mates in university politics and the Union of young Independence men. They who are standing on the street corner and wondering how the purchase happen on the island after the government nationalized the banks are wondering if and then how the former directors of banks, who are now bankrupt, are dealing with matters regarding the payoffs of the debts of some certain clients.”
Andres Jonsson covered the work of Sigurjon on his blog November 5th: “Amongst the clients of Sigurjon (with Baugur and Raudsol) are Samson, a large British bank and a large German bank. Also some other foreign and domestic individuals. They trust no one better than Sigurjon to guard their interests related to Landsbanki, as he has been the one who put all these trades up at that time.”
I as a reporter was stopped, my article was not published and then I am asked to not speak of it. By looking at what has been published in leading articles in DV about everything has to be on the table I felt this was the opposite. The bluff that has been criticized harshly had reached the editorial of DV.
In an article October 10th in DV says also; “DV will continuing this show more steadiness in the communications with politicians and businessmen. They will not be allowed to get away with lying to the nation without remarks. Because those who lie to the media are also lying to the public. The bluff has to be eradicated, because it is the cancer that crashed the nation.”
I agree with this and answer the calling of the newspaper. I encourage more reporters that have had their articles pulled out and canceled to step forward, and finally i want to repeat the demand that the following questions will be answered:
–
What sort of a threat is it that the editor of DV had to suffer, and who was or who were the ones threatening?
–
The article that was canceled
Sigurjon Th. Arnason former bank director of Landsbanki settled in on the third floor in the office housing of Landsbanki at Posthusstraeti a few days ago. This he confirmed to DV. He says he is not working for the bank, but himself.
When asked what operations are in the office he says he is trying to set up a small consultant company. “See. What I am trying to see is if one has a chance to work in consultant for various parties. One is trying to create work,” says Sigurjon and adds that he wants to keep it to himself what he intends to do with the company.
Rents from Landsbanki
Sigurjon rents the office from the Landsbanki. He says that Landsbanki rented the housing from a company that owns real estate all over the city. He says the office housing is empty and the offices in the building are being emptied. “This is all more or less empty now,” he said.
The reporter of DV visited him in the housing yesterday. At the fourth floor, above the new office of the former bank director, were offices of Landsbanki but there were still operations there. When Sigurjon was asked about this he said; “then they just have not moved it yet. But I do not know specifically. I think this housing is to be rented for some innovation operations,” he says.
Hopes for assignments
Sigurjon says that various divisions of Landsbanki used to be in the house. He does not want to get into that any further than that. On a sign that is on the wall outside the door of the house it says that on the third floor, where the office of Sigurjon is, is the legal division of the bank. When he was asked about if he has started to advice Landsbanki he says; “yes i´m hoping I can have some assignments there like anywhere else. Of course.”
He states that it can well go so that he will assist the bank in some assignments. When asked if he had owned shares in the bank he says that he did not. Sigurjon says that lately he had been documenting what happened in the events before the crash so it would be available to insure that men had the correct information.
“I am of course always willing and ready to help Landsbanki. I am always ready to do so,” he says in the end.
News Article by Jon Bjarki Magnusson, former reporter of DV
The statement of Jon Bjarki Magnusson
I feel the need, for my own conscience, to inform that a news article that i wrote for DV on November 6th 2008 about Sigurjon Th. Arnason former bank director of Landsbanki was canceled. I am doing this because it is my duty towards the readers and the people of the country to inform about these cases. I have tried to convince myself for over a month to not do this. That it would be better to forget this and keep my mouth shut. I have not been able to forget this incident, and i can not keep it to myself any longer. I think it is not acceptable that some individuals out there can stop the normal process of the news. I can not be guilty of this secrecy and bluffing in the power of wealth in these last and worst times.
November 6th I wrote an article about Sigurjon Th. Arnason former bank director of Landsbanki that had settled in an office in the housing of Landsbanki at Posthusstraeti 8. Reynir Traustason editor of DV asked me to do this assignment.
After two visits and more attempts to get a hold of Sigurjon through telephone i finally got to ask him a few questions. Following that I wrote an article where amongst other was said that Sigurjon is starting a consulting company in the housing of Landsbanki. Also he hoped for assignments from Landsbanki.
I returned the article to the news director like usually and did not expect anything other than it would be published in the paper the day after. When i showed up for work the day after Reynir Traustason called me to his office and told me that “big individuals” stopped the article. He said he was not happy about this decision to back away from the story but decided to do so. I started thinking after this information but i convinced myself that it would be better to leave things as they are.
Shortly before that or October 10th there was an article in DV that had the headline “We failed you.” There Jon Trausti Reynisson one of two editors of the newspaper says that the media had failed the nation. I feel there is a reason to review that article.
It starts like this “The collapse of the Icelandic economy is not from arranged outer situations but from democratic reasons. The nation should never have went ahead full blast off the ledge if it was not for the bluffing for years. The bluff was from politicians, businessmen and also them who were supposed to protect the nation against the bluff, the media.”
I see it so that by stopping this news article DV was not protecting the nation from the bluffs, but continued it. The headline should be “We are failing you now.”
Free media is something that the nation needs now. In times like these, with shocks like the shocks the Icelandic nation is going through, there needs to be unconditional demand that the media is free and can tell the news they think is needed and how they want to. They need to be independent from the interests of few, money, sponsors, political influences of lenders. And if this fails I think that it is the duty of the people to inform about this.
I am not aware of who it was who convinced the editor of DV to cancel the article. But Reynir told me at a meeting that we had that these individuals are powerful and this was clearly about the life or death of the newspaper. From his words is it clear that he was threatened. He had to obey. I will not make little of the pressure my editor was put into; not publishing a news article or put the life of the newspaper itself in danger. It is difficult to be in this situation.
But I disagree with his decision. I think it is best for him, DV, the whole nation, that the whole series of events that he referred to in his discussions, when he explained that the article would not be published, will be published for everyone to see. - That this is even also our only available protection in these situations. And that the big news article must be this: Unnamed individuals attacked against what is supposed to be one of the cornerstones of democracy in Iceland. It is my demand and the demand of all of us that there must be firm - that this will be answered:
–
What sort of a threat is it that the editor of DV had to suffer, and who was or who were the ones threatening?
–
Ever since this happened I have been wondering how common this is in Icelandic media. That certain articles that have been processed are just pulled out of the process because they hurt the interests of someone important. There are stories about these things, but few, if any, reach the eyes or ears of the public. If no one steps forward and speaks about these happenings openly in “free media” it is possible that a large group of people stand in the belief that there is no censoring going on in Icelandic media and everything is fine and dandy.
But that does not really matter what is said in this article. Probably it has nothing important in it, but it is clear that at this time the demand for news about the enterprise of Sigurjon Arnason was a great deal, and what was happening in the offices at Posthusstraeti. And also how many “big news articles” were pulled out of the publishing process because some men out there think it would be inconvenient for them for those articles to be published?
At the Island there was a coverage about the office of Sigurjon on November fourth and sixth at the website T24 where amongst other was stated that Sigurjon was working very hard on “solving” debt complications of companies that are related to Baugur with Landsbanki.
Amongst other this is said:
“On the street corner is stated that the idealist is behind the purchase of Raudsol of the media field of 365 hf is Sigurjon Th. Arnason, former bank manager of Landsbanki. It is stated that he is now working hard at “solving” debt complications of companies related to Baugur with Landsbanki. Sigurjon is said to be working close ith Jon Asgeir and related individuals but Sigurjon and Ari Edwald, chairman of 365, are old team-mates in university politics and the Union of young Independence men. They who are standing on the street corner and wondering how the purchase happen on the island after the government nationalized the banks are wondering if and then how the former directors of banks, who are now bankrupt, are dealing with matters regarding the payoffs of the debts of some certain clients.”
Andres Jonsson covered the work of Sigurjon on his blog November 5th: “Amongst the clients of Sigurjon (with Baugur and Raudsol) are Samson, a large British bank and a large German bank. Also some other foreign and domestic individuals. They trust no one better than Sigurjon to guard their interests related to Landsbanki, as he has been the one who put all these trades up at that time.”
I as a reporter was stopped, my article was not published and then I am asked to not speak of it. By looking at what has been published in leading articles in DV about everything has to be on the table I felt this was the opposite. The bluff that has been criticized harshly had reached the editorial of DV.
In an article October 10th in DV says also; “DV will continuing this show more steadiness in the communications with politicians and businessmen. They will not be allowed to get away with lying to the nation without remarks. Because those who lie to the media are also lying to the public. The bluff has to be eradicated, because it is the cancer that crashed the nation.”
I agree with this and answer the calling of the newspaper. I encourage more reporters that have had their articles pulled out and canceled to step forward, and finally i want to repeat the demand that the following questions will be answered:
–
What sort of a threat is it that the editor of DV had to suffer, and who was or who were the ones threatening?
–
The article that was canceled
Sigurjon Th. Arnason former bank director of Landsbanki settled in on the third floor in the office housing of Landsbanki at Posthusstraeti a few days ago. This he confirmed to DV. He says he is not working for the bank, but himself.
When asked what operations are in the office he says he is trying to set up a small consultant company. “See. What I am trying to see is if one has a chance to work in consultant for various parties. One is trying to create work,” says Sigurjon and adds that he wants to keep it to himself what he intends to do with the company.
Rents from Landsbanki
Sigurjon rents the office from the Landsbanki. He says that Landsbanki rented the housing from a company that owns real estate all over the city. He says the office housing is empty and the offices in the building are being emptied. “This is all more or less empty now,” he said.
The reporter of DV visited him in the housing yesterday. At the fourth floor, above the new office of the former bank director, were offices of Landsbanki but there were still operations there. When Sigurjon was asked about this he said; “then they just have not moved it yet. But I do not know specifically. I think this housing is to be rented for some innovation operations,” he says.
Hopes for assignments
Sigurjon says that various divisions of Landsbanki used to be in the house. He does not want to get into that any further than that. On a sign that is on the wall outside the door of the house it says that on the third floor, where the office of Sigurjon is, is the legal division of the bank. When he was asked about if he has started to advice Landsbanki he says; “yes i´m hoping I can have some assignments there like anywhere else. Of course.”
He states that it can well go so that he will assist the bank in some assignments. When asked if he had owned shares in the bank he says that he did not. Sigurjon says that lately he had been documenting what happened in the events before the crash so it would be available to insure that men had the correct information.
“I am of course always willing and ready to help Landsbanki. I am always ready to do so,” he says in the end.
News Article by Jon Bjarki Magnusson, former reporter of DV