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 In responses regarding the 65 Degrees North report on the ’multicultural’ mother’s day party, commentators have accused this publication of non-journalism, bias, and attacking its readers and funding, as well as presenting predominantly negative news articles.
As a small paper, but the only English language webzine in Oulu, the articles we publish tend to have a certain weight and register. We recognise and embrace the fact that our piece may be the only published on a city or expat-organised event and that this creates tensions and expectations–particularly as our mission statement is, openly, to ‘promote Oulu as an international city.’
We are, as a rule, sensitive to the wishes of local interviewees, friends, organisers, and public figures.
However, as a newspaper, we expect you to hold us to the most rigid standards of accuracy, objectivity, and freedom of speech. Our value, particularly to a growing international audience, exists in our integrity or not at all.
The multicultural mother’s day article consisted of accurate descriptions of a local event, with no conscious omission, and with verbatim quotes from the organisers of that event; also with no significant omission. It cross-referenced recent debate on ‘multiculturalism,’ a term raised in both the title of the event and by Kaleva readers in recent response to foreigners’ issues.
This newspaper is in entire support of the personal freedoms and happiness of every attendee of any event, municipally organised or otherwise, and warmly defends the right of mums to dress up, dance, get to know each other, and offer advice.
We also stand behind the right of our international writers and readers to debate, without apology, what constitutes ‘multicultural,’ and whether a ‘multicultural’ event, however lively, represents their interests. We do not see this as a personal attack upon the organisers, or upon Oulu the municipality, rather–call me idealistic–an opportunity for free exchange of opinion.
If anyone involved in the event, or any reader for that matter, would like to publish assenting or dissenting views, we would be more than happy to meet with them and publish those views in full.
Yours,
Ata Bos
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