Journalist Sebastian Dahlström is taking over as editor-in-chief of Nyland Brigade's unit newspaper Fanbäraren. With a background at Svenska Yle (the Swedish-language public broadcaster in Finland) and his own production company, he now looks forward to reconnecting with the brigade where he himself completed his military service.
What is your background?
The greater part of my professional life I have worked as a news journalist at Svenska Yle, primarily in radio journalism. For the past few years I have run my own production company, where I work as a freelance journalist, graphic designer and illustrator. I hold a Master of Social Sciences degree from the University of Helsinki.
Why did you choose to work in the defence sector?
Nyland Brigade is one of the significant Finland-Swedish institutions, and Fanbäraren has for decades been a window into the brigade's activities, where the Finnish Defence Forces, voluntary defence work and the everyday life of conscripts converge. It is an honour to take over stewardship of this venerable publication.
What made you accept the role as editor-in-chief of Fanbäraren?
When I was asked to become editor-in-chief of Fanbäraren, I saw it as a chance to reconnect with Nyland Brigade, where I myself served as a conscript in 2000 and subsequently took part in refresher exercises. The brigade is located in my home town of Raseborg (southern Finland) and is an important part of the town. It will be exciting to follow the brigade's activities more closely through Fanbäraren, and I am especially looking forward to working together with the conscripts who help create some of the newspaper's content.
What does your new position involve?
Fanbäraren, which is published four times a year, is funded by the Nyland Brigade's Guild (Nylands Brigads Gille). The content is produced by representatives of the guild, permanent staff at Nyland Brigade, conscripts and the editor-in-chief. My task as editor-in-chief will be both to produce content for the newspaper and to coordinate the work ahead of each issue.
What is at the top of your agenda for the next six months?
Getting into the working routines around Fanbäraren and further deepening my knowledge of Nyland Brigade's activities. Alongside my work as editor-in-chief, I will also continue with other assignments as a freelance journalist and illustrator.