By: Ellen Hagström, Photo: Ellen Hagström & Magnus Svenungsson
The live TV coverage of the Norrmalmstorgsdrama in the 1970s, which later came to define the Stockholm syndrome, was pivotal in Magnus Svenungsson’s youth. He understood that he wanted to become a journalist. Today, he is considered one of Sweden’s star investigative reporters, frequently recognized as “the man that was yelled at by Ingvar Kamprad”.
I had the privilege of meeting Magnus at the editorial office of Uppdrag Granskning (Mission Investigate) in Gothenburg. Navigating the building was an experience, with double doors and stringent security measures revealing a labyrinth of studios, control rooms, and costume departments.
Upon meeting him, I was struck by his analytical and structured demeanor. He eagerly shared a recent development in his investigative process: the use of AI to analyze court cases. He also showed me his latest Excel files, offering me a glimpse into the methodical approach to his craft. It was akin to a doctor’s process: first, you assess the tests, then you prescribe the treatment.
“I think I’m a bit of an auditor type. I enjoy scrutinizing and… well, I find it really fun to sit and… observe and analyze, see structures, and figure out. I like to look at annual reports”, Magnus says.
Uncovering doping among cross-country skiers
I wanted to talk to Magnus about the investigation from which I knew him. “The Blood Race”, made by Mission Investigate in 2013, where abnormal blood profiles among cross-country skiers in the 1990s were pointed out.
Airing “The Blood Race” was a sensitive matter. Just one year earlier, the Norweigan Ski Association had threatened to sue NRK a couple of years earlier for airing a Finnish documentary about doping. Due to this, or maybe thanks to this, the show succeeded in captivating a remarkable 1 million viewers, whose mixed emotions shone through in the subsequent program chat.
“There is no value in investigating 20 years into the past! As usual, you are bringing up old, damaging issues. The same thing with KAMPRAD! For heaven’s sake, can’t you find some fresh fruit for once????”, a viewer named Matrixloud wrote.
Magnus’s response is a good way of summing up his journalistic philosophy: “The truth can be as old as it wants for me. If it’s unknown, it should come out”
The controversy did not stop Magnus from returning to the topic a few years later. This time, he engaged in collaboration with Hajo Seppelt from Germany’s ARD broadcaster, freelancers in Switzerland, and the Sunday Times. The result was “Olympic Games – A Dirty Game,” a three-part follow-up series aired by Mission Investigate in 2018, just before the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang. Once again, it’s evident that Magnus prioritizes the impact of his investigations over potential public criticism.
Quitting and then returning to Mission Investigate
Despite his commitment to the truth, Magnus’s choice of becoming an investigative journalist has not come without a personal toll. In an interview with Swedish Radio in 2018, he announced that he was going to quit his job as a reporter at Mission Investigate due to the constant stress of finding content for the next show. “It’s a profession that you live with”, Magnus says frankly.
After raising foster children with his wife, he decided to come back to Mission Investigate as an editor, and he says that he is back on the treadmill. “I think it’s embarrassing that I am back. I had been interviewed saying that I’m going to quit, and then I need to quit”, he says. “Like when bands are announcing their final tours and then re-unite?”, I ask. “Yes, exactly!”, Magnus laughs.
But despite Magnus’s feelings of being back, the editorial team seems to appreciate his presence greatly. Right now, he and the team are nominated for the Golden Spade for their investigation on “the Swedish sperm scandal” and when I say goodbye to him, to once again face the tight security and control doors, a young female journalist in his team shouts to us: “Magnus is the best!”
| Name: Magnus Svenungsson Age: Born in 1963 Lives: Borås Family: Wife and three grown-up sons Work: Editor at Mission Investigate Tip to aspiring journalists: “Love Excel!” Awards: Winner of Stora Journalistpriset (Great Journalism Prize) in 1998, awarded the Guldspaden (Golden Spade) both in 2003 and 2008, silver at the New York Film Festival (IKEA Investigation) |