Kb Mosaik celebrates five years and 50 issues

Many people in Sweden are unable to keep abreast of what is going on around them, their language is a barrier. Something must be done, thought Kristianstadsbladet's editor-in-chief Jörgen Svensson and the then chairman of Sparbanksstiftelsen Lennart Ohlstenius. No sooner said than done. Kb Mosaik was born.

– It soon grew into an integration project. It's fantastic to have been part of it, says Jörgen Svensson.

Lennart Ohlstenius had grown tired of hearing ”they'll just have to learn Swedish”.

– I thought we could do it the other way round, and give the immigrants a chance to understand the Swedish community and the people.

What were you hoping for?

– That we could reach out. Both with simple, everyday things such as how to sort refuse and with important, difficult questions in the community.

Were you successful?

– Yes, it worked out just as I had imagined. But it wasn't a foregone conclusion. With Inga-Lill Bengtsson as editor a driving force joined the project. The newspaper is as important today as it was when it started.

Jörgen Svensson wants to emphasise the people who have worked with Kb Mosaik for the past five years. Kb Mosaik has taken on immigrants who are trained journalists.

– Several of them are now established in the community. Our expectations have been met in many ways. And Mosaik has received attention in various ways, for which we are glad.