According to the new chairperson, Vikes is a unique player and it has been great to watch it grow. “The importance of work has not been diminished in the world,” says Reeta Pöyhtäri.
Reeta Pöyhtäri has been elected as the new chair of Vikes. She enters the task with excitement and enthusiasm.
“Vikes is doing important work, and I’m happy to contribute to it,” says Pöyhtäri, who works as a university lecturer at the University of Tampere. Her backing organisation in Vikes is the Finnish Association for Media and Communication Studies.
Reeta Pöyhtäri has been a member of Vikes’ Board since 2017. During this time, Vikes has, among other things, successfully applied for programme support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“It has been great to watch Vikes develop and grow. At the same time, the importance of our work in the world has not diminished, but has grown steadily,” says Pöyhtäri.
There are many themes in Vikes’ work that Pöyhtäri has explored through research.
“For example, freedom of expression, the role of media and journalism in democracy and society, hate speech and online harassment, media diversity, immigration issues in the media, and so on,” Pöyhtäri says.
She has also previously worked at UNESCO’s Department for Freedom of Expression in Paris.
“I got to promote journalists’ safety projects in developing countries myself, so I got a glimpse into the world of development cooperation.”
Olli Ylönen is Vice Chairman of Vikes and the other members of the Board are Pauliina Grym, Aura Kaarivuo, Maija Koski, Sarri Kukkonen, Salla Nazarenko, Katri Nisula and Outi Salovaara.
“Vikes is unique”
Reeta Pöyhtäri points out that Vikes is a unique actor in the Finnish field of organisations, as no one else is involved in development cooperation related to media and freedom of expression. In Europe, Vikes has sister organisations such as the Danish International Media Support and the Dutch Free Press Unlimited.
Pöyhtäri believes that cooperation with European organisations could be strengthened.
“Of course, this is already happening, but there is more scope for joining forces.”
Pöyhtäri believes that media support organisations are needed to increase understanding of the role of a functioning media, journalism and journalists in society.
“The media affect the stability of societies and the rights and opportunities of ordinary citizens in societies,” says Pöyhtäri. “The media are also needed to keep those in power under control.”
Pöyhtäri is currently following the elections and the kind of government that will be elected in Finland with great excitement. Among other things, it will affect what happens to Finland’s development funds.
“Media and freedom of expression have been quite well-supported development activities,” says Pöyhtäri.
“But other actors are needed to make our work possible. There is a great need for all development cooperation. If a lot of things don’t work in societies and people don’t have the basic necessities, it can be quite difficult to influence media issues.”
Establishing the programme
In the coming years, Vikes and Reeta Pöyhtäri will be working to consolidate Vikes’ programme. Vikes’ strategy also needs to be updated to reflect the new way of working.
Pöyhtäri thinks that the programme’s emphasis on safeguarding the press and democracy work is good, as is the fact that women and various minorities have been taken into account.
“We could also think more broadly about how we can support these societies. What is the role of the media and freedom of expression, and what kind of activities can be done so that the Vikes programme can also support the wider social structures?” Pöyhtäri asks.
Vikes also needs to consider whether some parts of the programme need to be left out so that more effort can be put into other areas.
“That’s the kind of discussions we need to have.”
Pöyhtäri says it is good that Vikes has also increased its work in Finland. Among other things, Vikes trains media students and organises events and informative discussions.
“The more the importance of these issues is recognised at home, the more support there will be for Vikes’ work.”
Even in Finland, democracy cannot be taken for granted.
“We have all sorts of factors that aim to undermine people’s trust in society, democracy and the media. It’s also important to invest in that here on the home front.”
Reeta Pöyhtäri. Photo by Päivikki Karhula.
