When Xuefei Chen Axelsson, a journalist who lived in Sweden for nearly 20 years, was deported under suspicion of espionage, Göteborgs-Posten did more than just report on the story. It turned the local investigative case into a worldwide media story.

With the launch of the three-part podcast, The Journalist and the Spy, the Swedish newspaper generated international attention, sustained audience engagement, and introduced a new visual and audio storytelling model for the newsroom.

A personal story with international intrigue

Axelsson had a Swedish family and worked as a reporter before being detained and deported by the Swedish Security Service in 2024. Her lawyer was not informed of the exact charges against her, and the reasons for her deportation remained classified.

Göteborgs-Posten identified the case as an opportunity to explain how China’s growing influence affects Sweden and its institutions through a concrete human story.

The podcast revealed Axelsson had documented ties to Chinese intelligence agencies and was suspected of activities in Sweden linked to those networks. The reporting showed she had access to senior Swedish officials and institutions for more than a decade.

The investigation also established a clear institutional pattern: No individual had ever successfully challenged the Swedish Security Service in comparable deportation cases, illustrating a shift in how Sweden enforces deportation laws in matters of national security.

Inside a secretive deportation case

The newsroom built the investigation through extensive reporting, including analysis of hundreds of hours of video footage and thousands of social media posts. This research revealed how Swedish authorities handled the case and how little information had been made public.

The editorial team decided to publish the findings as a three-part podcast documentary, supported by a modern visual story released across multiple platforms, to reach readers and listeners worldwide.

The story was not confined to Sweden; international media outlets reported on the investigation, including major global publications and Chinese Communist Party–affiliated newspapers.

This attention turned the podcast into a global news story and extended Göteborgs-Posten’s reach far beyond its domestic audience. The international attention amplified the original reporting and positioned the newsroom as a credible source on espionage, national security, and democratic accountability.

The project also produced exclusive editorial value. Göteborgs-Posten secured interviews with both Axelsson and representatives from the Swedish Security Service, providing rare insight into a highly secretive case.

These interviews added depth and authority to the narrative and differentiated the podcast from other coverage of the issue. The reporting combined investigative rigour with narrative storytelling to maintain listener interest across the entire series.

Sustaining attention through long-form investigative audio

Audience engagement remained strong throughout the project. The newsroom reported the final episode of the podcast attracted even more listeners than the first, demonstrating sustained and growing interest over time.

This outcome showed that long-form investigative audio can retain audiences when the story is structured carefully and grounded in original reporting.

Beyond audience reach, the project advanced Göteborgs-Posten’s digital storytelling capabilities. The newsroom introduced an innovative scrollytelling format to accompany the podcast, integrating audio, visuals, and narrative text into a single experience. This approach expanded how the newsroom presents complex investigations and created a model that can be reused in future projects.

The Journalist and the Spy delivered a combination of editorial impact, international visibility, and storytelling innovation.

The podcast informed the public about a critical national security issue, sparked a global discussion on espionage and democratic responses, and demonstrated how investigative journalism can travel across borders when it is rooted in strong reporting and clear narrative design.

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