Kiruna’s city transformation: A world-unique phenomenon

This study examines differences between local and national news reporting on the relocation of Kiruna. The analysis covers 332 articles published between December 1, 2015, and November 30, 2025, from four national newspapers (Svenska Dagbladet, Dagens Nyheter, Expressen, and Aftonbladet) and two local newspapers (Norrbottens-Kuriren and Norrländska Socialdemokraten). A quantitative content analysis is applied.The study investigates which actors receive the most coverage, how the relocation is framed, and how LKAB’s influence is represented at local versus national levels. The analysis is grounded in a framing theory, including the human interest frame, the concepts of space of place and space of flows, and gatekeeping theory.The results show differences in actor visibility and framing. National media highlighted local politicians and residents more frequently. It is also notable that the human interest frame is used more frequently in national media than in local media. Local news reporting was generally more neutral, while national news reporting leaned more towards either positive or negative portrayals. In the articles mentioning LKAB, relatively few were framed as clearly positive or negative, and the distribution between local and national reporting was fairly even. National media also placed greater emphasis on Kiruna’s history, cultural heritage, economy, and negative consequences for residents, while political coverage was relatively balanced across local and national news. In summary, the study contributes to an increased understanding of not only what the news media report on at both local and national levels, but also how they choose to frame the news and which actors are given attention in the articles. It also highlights how both the relocation of Kiruna and LKAB are represented in the news coverage.