The Supreme Court’s decision to acquit journalist and author Johanna Vehkoo of defamation charges against Oulu politician Junes Lokka is important and reassuring for freedom of expression, said UJF President Hanne Aho following the judgement, 11 January. The ruling overturns those of lower courts that imposed and upheld Vehkoo’s conviction over a private Facebook postRead More
The Council of the Union of Journalists in Finland, which met 26 November, has called on the Finnish government to help Afghan journalists get out of Afghanistan. “We have a duty to help those who are now in mortal danger after cooperating with Finnish media and journalists. There are reportedly about twenty such people inRead More
Three journalists from the national daily Helsingin Sanomat have been charged today for publicising a security secret and attempting to do so. The charges are extremely serious for freedom of expression. Helsingin Sanomat published an article in December 2017 about the Defense Forces’ Intelligence Research Centre. The Finnish Constitution was being urgently amended at theRead More
The press freedom situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated rapidly from difficult to impossible under Taliban rule. New media regulations were introduced on September 19, placing restrictions on independent media and freedom of expression. The regulations stipulate, for instance, that stories “contrary to islam” cannot be published. The International Federation of Journalists condemned the coercive restrictions,Read More
(Trade Union News from Finland – Heikki Jokinen) Journalists from Afghanistan have arrived safely in Finland, say the Union of Journalists in Finland UJF. The Union accommodates them with their family members temporarily in flats the union owns. For security reasons, the Union cannot disclose yet how many people have arrived and how they gotRead More
The Taliban’s rapid advance into Kabul and the accompanying takeover in Afghanistan have endangered the safety of journalists working in the country. People who have been working with the West are also particularly at risk. “The UJF is deeply concerned about the situation of our Afghan colleagues. All journalists are now afraid,” said union presidentRead More
Salla Nazarenko has been appointed as the UJF’s International Affairs Specialist at the Journalists’ Union. She will take up the post at the end of August. Juha Rekola, who has held the post until now, will retire during the autumn. Salla will be responsible for international work and union members’ international services. Her work willRead More
The highest decision-making body of the UJF, the Council, met remotely for its spring session from 20 to 21 May 2021. The meeting dealt with matters ranging from the rules of teleworking to government support for the media, EU copyright rules, occupational health for freelancers, the work of the Mediakunta cooperative, solidarity with journalists inRead 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