Espresso News – Compass

The aim of the Espresso News – Compass project was to help newcomers accelerate their integration by introducing a digital information channel and preparing for an analogue print publication in parallel. The project would create insight and awareness of Swedish society and increase social knowledge about how we live in Sweden.

Competence advertising agency currently publishes newspapers in three municipalities. After having included Arabic content in these, it became clear that there is a lack of information regarding integration into Swedish society. The project owner therefore wanted to convey how we live in Sweden in articles and films in an attractive and interesting way through an information channel aimed at new citizens in four languages: Arabic, Dari, English and Swedish. What does gender equality look like in practice? What laws and regulations apply to raising children? What are women's rights? What are men's obligations?

The project consisted of starting up the new information operation. The set-up was done in collaboration with the employment agency and the municipality, among other things, and was a project support for companies. The project owner has also had a lot of contact with Skåne Nordost, which is a collaboration between six municipalities, and other companies and associations in the area. The project budget included costs for personnel. Equipment was also purchased for writing articles and producing films. A used car was invested in for reporting trips.

During the project period, two newly arrived people were employed and 5-10 interns worked with news, translations and social media. The developed Media Channel consisted of a website and a Facebook page. A project film was created by the employed journalist from Syria based on the filmed interviews with newly arrived and foreign-born people carried out within the project. The interviews were conducted to find out what information and knowledge about Sweden newly arrived people lack and wish they had in order to enter Swedish society. The results will be used as a knowledge bank in further work. Continued funding is a challenge.

LAG board's justification for car accident

The project creates conditions for newcomers to understand and enter Swedish society and thereby improve their employment opportunities. News and information concerning integration into Swedish society are provided in different languages, both analogue and digital. The project focuses on providing information that may be important to know about Swedish society, such as the rights and obligations of women and men, child rearing, etc. A separate editorial team is being set up to be responsible for the publication. The project will be run in broad collaboration with municipalities, student associations and organisations and is expected to lead to new jobs for a group that may have difficulty entering the labour market today. The project contributes to achieving the goals of social inclusion in Skåne's Ess strategy.