Promoting democracy, pluralism and vitality in society

Contributor to a sustainable society

Alma Media’s media brands are committed to defending freedom of speech and a pluralistic and democratic society. They engage in ethical, objective and transparent journalism and help citizens improve their media skills.

Other Alma Media services also strive to enhance the vitality of their communities and support the balanced development of society, often in cooperation with other organisations, educational institutes or other companies.

While the methods vary, the goal is the same: providing people with tools for sustainable growth in both professional and private life.

Workshops spark life in young people

In autumn 2018, Alma Media, the Finnish Children and Youth Foundation and the City of Helsinki organised a three-month arts workshop for 14 Helsinki-based young people facing challenging life circumstances.

Over the course of the workshop, the young participants visited Alma Media and tried their hand at photography at Alma Media’s studio. The work produced by the project participants was turned into an advent calendar for Alma’s Instagram account and one of the participants joined Alma Media for a TET work practice period after the workshop ended. The workshop also included a visit to the Amos Rex art museum.

Implemented in cooperation between Alma Media, the Finnish Children and Youth Foundation and the City of Helsinki, the workshop was part of the FCYF art workshop programme aimed at strengthening young people’s self-esteem, courage and social skills through art. With strengthened life skills, the participants are in a better position to approach their studies and working life.

“Media companies everywhere, including Finland, have undergone a rapid digital transformation, and people are increasingly consuming media content on their smartphones. The workshop gave the young participants the opportunity to produce a diverse range of digital content, which made it a natural fit for us. At the same time, we got a good look at how today’s young people actually consume and create content,” says Kirsi Hantula, Corporate Responsibility Manager at Alma Media.

An opposing force to fake news and hate speech

Responsible media companies must internalise how they can best support democracy and open dialogue between citizens.

One way to achieve this is to develop the ways editorial teams work and to open up this information to public scrutiny. Alma Media’s editorial teams have set quality goals for the content they publish. The key indicators used in monitoring their achievement include the number of condemnatory decisions by the Council for Mass Media as well as the results of reader surveys.

If the results decline, the editorial teams take action to respond.

Alma Media’s editorial offices also cooperate with schools in many ways. One of the focuses of this cooperation is media education. We consider it important for schools to produce children who have the capacity to act sensibly both as consumers and producers of content.

Interesting but not irresponsible

Headlines can be bold but they must not upset or insult anyone. Facts must be checked and false rumours exposed, states Iltalehti’s Editor-in-Chief Erja Yläjärvi.