The role of Arabic-speaking media in the Swedish election campaign: : A qualitative interview study of Alkompis and Radio Sweden Arabic ahead of the 2026 parliamentary election

In Sweden, Arabic is the second most spoken mother tongue, making Arabic-language media an important source of political information for a significant segment of the electorate. Despite this, research on the role of Arabic-language media in Swedish election campaigns remains limited. This study examines how two of the most influential Arabic-language news outlets in Sweden Alkompis and Radio Sweden Arabic prepare for and conduct election coverage ahead of the 2026 Swedish parliamentary election. The study focuses on editorial priorities, journalistic considerations, and perceptions of democratic responsibility toward an Arabic-speaking audience. Using a qualitative research design, the study is based on six semi-structured interviews with journalists working at the two news organizations. The analysis is guided by framing theory, agenda-setting theory, and alternative media theory, which together provide a framework for understanding how political issues are selected, presented, and contextualized for minority-language audiences. A thematic analysis was conducted to identify recurring patterns related to editorial decision-making, audience adaptation, and democratic engagement. The findings show that both Alkompis and Radio Sweden Arabic define their mission as providing “Swedish journalism in Arabic,” with a strong emphasis on accessibility, clarity, and contextual explanation. Editorial priorities are shaped by both journalistic norms of balance and impartiality and by perceived audience needs, particularly regarding issues such as migration, citizenship, welfare, and political participation. Audience interaction especially through social media plays a significant role in influencing agenda-setting, illustrating a circular relationship between media production and audience expectations. While both outlets stress neutrality and equal representation of political actors, differences emerge due to organizational conditions. Alkompis, operating as an independent commercial outlet, emphasizes flexibility and audience-driven formats, whereas Radio Sweden Arabic, as part of public service broadcasting, faces stricter institutional constraints and resource limitations. Nevertheless, journalists at both organizations express a strong sense of democratic responsibility, viewing their work as essential for enabling informed political participation among Arabic-speaking voters. The study contributes to journalism and media research by addressing a gap in knowledge about minority-language election coverage in Sweden. It highlights the democratic significance of Arabic-language media as both information providers and facilitators of political inclusion, and suggests the need for further research on minority media’s role in increasingly fragmented and multilingual public spheres.