On returning to Sweden, he transferred to a journalism programme. After graduation he started working for a television news agency, and began to dream of doing longer segments and more in-depth stories.
After close to a decade working in television news, where he met his wife Lovisa Thuresson, a director with Sweden’s 60 minutes current affairs programme, Joachim took up a producing role on Mission Investigate — a television programme focusing on investigative journalism with a public service broadcaster, which offered more scope for his growing passion.
“I quickly realised I really liked challenging people in power who avoid detection.
“We always go after politicians as they are the easy bait — they have to answer questions. But I was more interested in those who very rarely get questioned. I enjoyed being a ‘troublemaker’ in the sense of stirring things up to see what comes to the surface.
“Some of the stories we did early on had a big impact on Swedish society, and to see things change as a result of our work was very motivating.”
However, Joachim has, on many occasions, had cause to be concerned about repercussions. He says some people will go to extreme lengths to prevent exposure.
“During an investigation where we uncovered state bribery, a politician became aware of a journalist’s plan to write a story and so hired a contract killer who went by the name of ‘The Lemon’ to silence the reporter. However, ‘The Lemon’ believed the politician to be unreliable, so gave him up to the police instead.
“The politician was able to avoid prosecution but his aide ended up in prison as he was responsible for all the communications. So we do have to consider our safety and security at times.”
Despite these potential threats, he says living in Sweden affords journalists protections their colleagues in other countries do not enjoy.
“A story we did involving a multinational telecommunications company operating dishonestly throughout Central Asia resulted in one of the journalists who worked with us being framed and thrown in jail.
“So, for my close colleagues in countries with limited freedoms, I fear constantly as they have no protections or laws ensuring their safety as journalists. I’m not sure I would be doing this work living in those circumstances, so although I have had people react to my investigations, it is nothing compared to what others experience.”
He says there are developing threats to the field of investigative journalism which all in the profession should be mindful of.
“In Europe, what we are seeing now is a worrying political change and for the first time in many years there is clear political intent to go after the free media. If we include what is occurring in the United States, we need to ask if this is a considered movement to position the uncomfortable or objective truth as the enemy.”
Joachim says this is now happening all across Europe.
“There is a concerted effort to manipulate the public trust in news media, which is the undermining of a democratic institution.
“What is happening in Poland, Turkey and Malta, where journalists are restricted, sacked and threatened, is something new. I mean, when and how did Malta become a ‘banana republic’ where journalists are not safe?
“There needs to be a profession watching the ‘power people’, those in trade, finance, corporations, politics and the judiciary, and in modern society this has always been the media.
“A subtle change is occurring which is concerning for us all. We need to closely monitor this to ensure the democratic tradition of free press is not slowly eroded.”
Similarly, he says, controlled or reduced financing for independent media is a threat to journalism maintaining a vigilant watch.
“Combined with political pressure, limits to finances will lead to restricted news freedoms and less news sources to navigate.
“Look at a state where you have the monopoly on truth — that is a dictatorship.
“This is why people should support independent local media, buy newspapers and subscribe to online content that is independently produced.”
This month, many of the country’s leading investigative journalists attended the fifth annual Centre for Investigative Journalism Conference in Wellington. Joachim was invited to speak and shared the process of organising effective investigations, and international co-operation among journalists.
“This profession is very competitive, it is in our genes as news reporters to be first or better, and we should not underestimate the power of competition.
“Our jobs require a lot from us. If you want to maintain the level of journalistic edge required, then often 40 hours a week is not enough. So we need to learn to work smarter and more corroboratively.”
Joachim believes what makes a good journalist is someone who can latch on to a story and persist despite numerous setbacks.
“I’m not really good at anything, I’m not technically minded and not great with people, but I am stubborn.”
He also says technology has changed the journalistic landscape, but the core skills of journalism remain unchanged.
“When we did the ‘Panama Papers’ story I had to read thousands of documents while my colleagues would use a computer to search the data, organising it, asking questions from it. In that sense journalism has changed . . . but overall you need to be persistent, patient and have a passion.”
So, how did an investigative journalist from Scandinavia find his way to Gisborne?
Joachim says the relaxed New Zealand lifestyle is one of the things that drew them here.
“I came to Gisborne in the late 1990s and while things have changed, it is still the same amazing place I remember, with wonderful people and amazing scenery.
“In a positive way it is really like entering a different time. People will greet you as you go about your day, which just does not happen in Stockholm. It took us a while to adjust to this but now we love it.
“People leave their muddy boots outside to not make a mess in shops, so wonderful.
“Your country is so young and I think this is significant. You still have eels in the rivers and people fish for them, that is wonderful.
“There are values here that are so different and refreshing.
“We have been here now for six months which has been very positive for us and made us realise life is so much more than the world I normally live in.”
He says one of the things that is interesting and fantastic about New Zealand is how laid back it really is, and how people are not easily impressed.
“This laid-back ‘surfing’ attitude is wonderful when it comes to relationships with other people and we really notice this coming from Europe. But, of course, if you are looking to change important things quickly, this can be a barrier.”
Joachim and his family are on their way back to Sweden but they hope to return, and there is talk of perhaps a permanent move.
“Every day we would walk around town and talk about how we could combine our passion for investigative journalism with our love for this part of the world. We love the lifestyle here, the amazing beaches and scenery, and maybe it is time for a change.”
