Vikes in brief
Finnish Foundation for Media and Development (Vikes) is a solidarity foundation for journalists established in 2004 to support freedom of expression here and abroad. Finland is one of the leading countries in terms of freedom of expression, and therefore we even have a duty to support freedom of expression elsewhere.
Vikes aims to highlight the importance of freedom of expression as a human right and a cornerstone of democracy.
Vikes supports press freedom, a more diverse media, journalists’ rights and communication. We believe that freedom of expression is the lifeblood of democracy and that citizens need critical, unbiased information to exercise their democratic rights.
In many countries, the press is not free and journalists are harassed, threatened or even killed. Women are often not well placed in the newsroom. Vikes supports women journalists and the right of journalists to organise. The independence and self-sufficiency of editorial staff will also be supported, and links will be established between the media and civil society.
In Finland, Vikes organises debates and training sessions for journalists and media students.
Governance of the Foundation
Finnish Foundation for Media and Development is a development foundation set up in 2004 (registered in 2005) by 27 communication communities.
The Foundation is managed and represented by a Board of Directors. Vikes does not make a profit, does not pay its board members any fees and uses a lot of volunteer labour.
Vikes is chaired by Jarmo Koponen and the vice chair is Timo Sipola. The other members of the Board are: Reeta Pöyhtäri, Marja Väisänen, Miika Lauriala, Ilja Ojala, Outi Salovaara, Salla Nazarenko, Eveliina Kälviäinen, Satu Koho, Juha Rekola.
Media organizations behind Vikes
Aikakauslehtien päätoimittajat ry, Etelä-Suomen Sanomalehtimiesyhdistys ry, Freelance-ammattiosasto FAO, Helsingin Seudun Journalistit ry, Hämeen-Uudenmaan journalistit ry, Itä-Suomen Sanomalehtimiesyhdistys ry, Keski-Pohjanmaan Journalistit ry, Keski-Suomen Journalistit ry, Maailman Sivu ry, Media- ja viestintätieteellinen seura ry, Media- ja ohjelmatyöntekijät MOT ry, Nelosen ohjelmatyöntekijät NOT ry, Pirkanmaan journalistit ry, Pohjois-Karjalan Journalistiyhdistys ry, Pohjois-Suomen Journalistit ry, Radio- ja televisiotoimittajien liitto ry, Satakunnan Journalistit ry, Suomen freelance-journalistit ry, Suomen Inter Press Service ry, Suomen Journalistiliitto, Turun journalistiyhdistys ry, Vostok ry, Viestinnän opiskelijoiden yhdistys Media ry, YMT – Yhdistyneet mediatyöntekijät ry, Ylen ohjelmatyöntekijät ry and Ympäristötoimittajat ry.
How is Vikes changing the world?
