The mass media coverage of Latvia

It has its natural explanation - from being a great example of successful adjustment from a centrally controlled economy to market economy conditions, the Latvian economy has now become an equally striking example of how bad things can go if the liberal hand is allowed to go too far.

Furthermore, there is a linkage with the Swedish banks - the ominous signs in Latvia also affect Sweden and the Swedish economy. The link is bidirectional, some of the media elements have also examined whether the Swedish banks have a responsibility in what is happening in Latvia today.

But, if we look back on the time since the fall, the events in the new neighbor countries on the other side of the Baltic Sea have not been so dominant in the news feed. After the very beginning when it was clear that it was history that was written, there was a period of time when very many of the journalists who wrote or made radio / TV spots mixed both countries' capitals and the news flow was mainly about crime, smuggling and prostitution.

Of course, there was much else to report, but they never really went through with it and more than once the expression "the whole world is our field" had to stand as an argument why a news about Latvia had give way to an element of a country far away. The reasons why it became like this, one can only speculate.

The image created in the Swedish mind was in any case that the three countries often changed governments, had low wages and - over time - that there is much to see, the short vacation was recommended, it was safe to travel and safe tourism. On the business pages, it was sometimes showed that a Swedish company had invested in a production in Estonia, Latvia or Lithuania.

Sweden contributed to their rapid development with various types of assistance, including two Baltic Billions.

Among the rejected news about Latvia, there were certainly a few who could give clues to the events we see today and I cannot help but still wonder - if the Swedish media interest in the neighbor countries had been a little larger when the curves pointed upward, perhaps we would not have been equally surprised by the events we see today, perhaps the hard landing could have become somewhat softer if the awareness among people in the neighborhood would have been better.

But now we have to accept the situation and still try to make the best of the situation. Then comes the next question – is there a risk that the massive negative media coverage of Latvia creates an image so dark colored that Swedish companies do not dare to do business with Latvian in the belief that everything is so dark that you cannot trust anyone?

It is perhaps natural, but unfortunate, because both prices and wages are falling drastically right now in Latvia, a so-called internal devaluation is going on.

The exporting firms have much to offer and are now more anxious to sell than ever. There is no reason not to take advantage of the opportunities these crisis times offer. Anyone who recognizes this and dare to take the final step will be tomorrow's winners - but then you have to search for information yourself and not just rely on the media.