“You’re writing about the topics that actually matter to us,” a member of The Local commented on one of our stories this week.

Not only was it obviously a lovely comment to receive at the end of a long week but it put the finger right on a crucial point: what stories do readers value? And are journalists actually covering those?

Too often is the media logic that we as journalists know best what stories to cover and our job is to explain the world to readers. But I think that a lot of the time it’s actually the other way around.

We got a lot of help from our readers and members of Indians in Sweden groups on Facebook to cover one of our biggest stories this week: that Indian parents are putting off applying for Swedish citizenship out of fear that migration laws and delays could then render their children stateless.

This is a huge story even for people who aren’t directly affected. Every piece of unnecessary red tape (and it’s hardly necessary for children to risk statelessness) that blocks Sweden’s ability to retain international talent hurts individuals as well as the country’s growth and competitiveness.

Yet, as far as I know, we’re the only news site in Sweden to have covered this story, so far.

We could only have written this with the help of readers (and we spoke to many more than those quoted in the article), so with that story fresh in mind, I also want to say that if you have a story tip that you’re thinking of sharing with a journalist: do it! Don’t assume we’re already aware.

I read an article today about how Google’s major update to its algorithms in March sparked a huge downturn in traffic for a lot of serious publishers around the world, including established brands such as The New York Times. We’ve also been affected by the change here at The Local.

That’s why it’s such a relief that at The Local, our biggest resource isn’t tech giants. It’s you.

Everything you as paying members do sustains our journalism and enables us to keep covering the topics that actually matter to you, foreign residents in Sweden. Whether you’re a casual reader, someone who comments on our stories, someone who shares story tips – it’s all appreciated.

But if you like the newspaper you subscribe to (doesn’t have to be The Local, it could be someone else!), tell them, and tell other people, and tell them what you like. To cover the topics that matter to you, we need to know how our journalism matters to you, so again, don’t assume we’re already aware.

In other news

Foreign researchers in Sweden can in some cases have up to a quarter of their salary exempted from income tax for seven years under Sweden’s ‘expert tax’ rule, but many people who don’t realise they qualify miss out due to a tight application deadline.

But how do you know if you qualify for the tax relief? Here’s how.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has no plans to break off the government’s collaboration with the Sweden Democrats, he told a press conference this week, after an undercover investigation revealed that the party had been running a so-called “troll factory”.

Sweden is experiencing a labour shortage, partly due to the fact that the skills of immigrants in the country are not well matched with the labour market, a new report suggests.

Sweden’s labour migration clampdown will harm the green transition, Green Party co-leader Daniel Helldén claimed in an interview with The Local’s Sweden in Focus Extra, a bonus episode for Membership+ subscribers.

Voting for the 2024 European elections will soon get under way, but who do the Swedish parties want to send to the European parliament? We’ve created a guide to the top candidates.

And finally, let’s end on a fun note. US star Lenny Kravitz shared his memories of dating a Swedish girl in the unassuming city of Motala in his youth. It involved potatoes, apparently.

Thanks for reading.

Have a good weekend,

Emma

Inside Sweden is our weekly newsletter for members which gives you news, analysis and, sometimes, takes you behind the scenes at The Local. It’s published each Saturday and with Membership+ you can also receive it directly to your inbox.