Helsinki (29.04.2021 – Heikki Jokinen) Targeting, harassment or cyberbullying are an unfortunate reality for many people due to their work. The problem is growing, and the unions are working to help victims both in a practical way and through political action. Problems occur in many jobs: from supermarket cashier to police and journalists. In 2019, Read More
The Nordic countries top the global Press Freedom Index published 20 April by Reporters Without Borders. However, press freedom has deteriorated around the world, particularly in Europe. Only 12 European countries can claim to offer a favourable environment for journalism, fewer than ever before. Germany, for example, dropped from the top group because of repeatedRead More
The UJF premiered, 23 March, a documentary programme on the history of the union to mark the hundredth anniversary of the creation of the journalists union and held a discussion attended virtually by some 350 union members. The programme was made for the union by Gimmeyawallet Productions. The documentary, a 13-minute fast paced overview ofRead More
The Union of Journalists in Finland has appealed to the Finnish government to exert pressure on Belarus to release imprisoned journalists and withdraw criminal charges against journalists. The union is also concerned about cases of persecution, torture and ill-treatment taking place in Belarus. The UJF has sent the appeal to Prime Minister Sanna Marin andRead More
The Union of Journalists has voiced clear support for the European Commission’s plans to develop the collective bargaining right of self-employed workers. The union issued a response to the EU initaitive in early February that stresses the need to revamp EU legislation to ensure that collective bargain rights are extended to self-employed people, which inRead More
The UJF has strongly condemned the concerted attack on 16 February by Belarusian security forces on a number of the country’s journalists and journalists’ organisations. State security officials pretending to be police officers, swooped on the home of Andrei Bastunets, the chair of the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) and arrested him. BAJ press secretaryRead More
“Everyone in Finland is entitled to be informed and take part in debate. We must adhere to this unerringly over the next hundred years too,” said UJF president Hanne Aho as the union approaches its centenary on 28 March next year. The centenary will start to be celebrated and marked by various events starting inRead More
The autumn session of the UJF Council met in Helsinki 3-4 December, and discussed the work of the union and priorities affecting the media in light of the impact of the covid-19 pandemic. The Council session was held remotely due to the pandemic. UJF president Hanne Aho highlighted the need for quality news media duringRead More
The Council for Mass Media, the self-regulatory media watchdog, has elected UJF president Hanne Aho as the new board chair of its support association. The support association is a registered NGO that administers the CMM’s affairs and selects its chair and members. The election and the appointment of other board members of the support associationRead More
The union is making change to the process of issuing press cards for 2021-2022. The card will no longer be automatically sent to members. From next year, members will have to order the card from the union themselves. Existing cards will expire at the end of this year. Applications for the press card can beRead More