Silence is not an option – Journalists forced into exile in Central America drew strength from collaboration and regional cooperation networks
The operational environment for the free media in Central America deteriorated dramatically in 2025. Authoritarian governments in Nicaragua and El Salvador drove independent media outlets into exile, but journalists continued their work nonetheless and strengthened…
The first sign language news broadcasts began in Somalia
In 2025, men in Somalia received training on promoting women’s rights in the workplace, journalists and policymakers were trained in peace journalism, and the country’s first sign language news broadcasts began. Somalia has been in the midst of a civil war for over 36…
The support project for female journalists expanded to Uganda, and the number of training sessions increased
In 2025, more than 500 journalists participated in the training sessions organized by Vikes’ “Women in the Media” project. The 220 articles produced as part of the project covered topics such as issues affecting women, politics, and corruption. In Tanzania, Uganda,…
Community radio stations supported by Vikes reach over 15 million people in Tanzania and Uganda
In 2025, more than 400 journalists participated in training sessions organized by Vikes’ East Africa project. These training sessions led to the production of hundreds of programs and articles on disability, climate and environmental issues, and daily life in rural…
Siellä missä demokratia horjuu, taide kantaa
What do music, film, and art have to do with democracy? May, an artist born in Myanmar, and Freddy Lim, a Taiwanese musician and diplomat, believe that art is what helps people understand one another, even in places where freedom of speech is restricted and society is…
Under what conditions is our worldview shaped?
Global crises, technological upheaval, and an increasingly competitive media landscape are challenging the role of journalism. Marjo Heinonen, Executive Director of Vikes, examines how development cooperation in the media sector is responding to these changes. Lately…
