On the final day of its spring session, 22 May, the UJF Council decided on guidelines for international activities and a new discussion platform for members. The union also voted in favour of investigating the establishment of a new electronic freelance directory. The UJF will continue to engage actively in international work. Such activity supports the union's core mission of defending freedom of expression, the ethical principles of journalism and the working conditions and safety of journalists and other professionals within our member sectors. These responsibilities are set out in the guidelines on international work approved by the Council today. The union engages in international cooperation through both umbrella organisations and networks and bilaterally with journalists' unions in other countries. We are active participants in the Nordic Journalists’ Federation (NJF) and the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), among others. The UJF's international work is based around European advocacy work, Nordic cooperation and solidarity. Although the union is not currently affiliated with a global umbrella organisation, it is active in numerous international forums. In addition to journalism, the UJF cooperates with organisations in the cultural and audiovisual (AV) sectors. A key part of this work involves supporting the representation and professional development of journalists in less affluent countries and crisis regions through solidarity activities. Union to pilot a new discussion platform for members The UJF is introducing a digital discussion platform to better understand the needs, wishes, values and views of its members. This will initially be a one-year pilot, beginning no later than next autumn. The new platform is intended for use in strategy work involving member consultation and collective agreement processes, as well as for training and student engagement. The union's member associations and branches could also use it to engage their own members. The Finnish company Howspace is handling the technical implementation of the platform. Union to look into creating a new electronic freelance directory The Council also discussed a proposal from the organisation Finnish Freelance Journalists (SFJ) for the UJF to take over the publication of the electronic Freelance Directory. The SFJ is discontinuing both editions of the directory at the end of this year due to financial constraints. The electronic directory also needs a thorough overhaul. By the end of the year, the union will assess the required technical solutions and compare the costs of maintaining the directory with its benefits. Avainsanat: council Press Freedom UJF