Tag: Finland

Reinventing the news with Finland’s public broadcaster Yle

“Welcome to Yle, I am Miss World!” That is how we were greeted at Yleisradio Oy, Finland’s national public-broadcasting company. Miss World is called Elina Ravantti in real life. The nickname derives from her position as Head of World News and Current Affairs at Yle, where she oversees the production of 220 radio and TV news bulletins per day. Her editors work in Finnish, Swedish, Sami, English, ...  (continue reading)

Education and equity: twin pillars of Finnish culture

Platitudes about education are not hard to find. Education is “the key to success in life”. It is lauded as “our greatest natural resource” and proclaimed to be “the single most important job of the human race”.

But all this implies that education is a uniform, unchanging force for good. Far from it: education is shape-shifting and can serve myriad purposes, whether indoctrination or ...  (continue reading)

A brief resumé of Finland

For the newcomer to Finland, this day 1 of FCP 2016 could have been a perfect introduction to the art of Finnishness. For the 12 of us – some of us being here for the first time in 20, 18 or 7 years – we could finally catch up with the country and jump straight into it.

A short briefing with Kai Mykkänen, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, updated us on current affairs with ...  (continue reading)

Coming home to Finnish nature

One day in Finland and I already feel like I’ve come home to an old friend, even if we are both a little older and wiser. Catching a tram through Helsinki with a gaggle of international journalists, all chatting in a score of languages about current affairs, was as stimulating as the first time I tried it, back on the Foreign Correspondent’s Programme in 2010. It was also a little bittersweet ...  (continue reading)

Henry Hepburn starts the series of blog posts by FCP Alumni participants!

My first visit to Finland in 2001 is one of the highlights of my career in journalism – but there’s a lingering guilt about it.

I arrived in Helsinki that summer straight out of a postgraduate journalism degree, and still unsure of where my first job would take me. The Foreign Correspondents Programme provided me with many eye-opening issues and vivid characters to write about, but I was still ...  (continue reading)

The thisisFINLAND – Alumni Edition 2016 participants are here!

The alumni search was arranged in 12 countries for the thisisFINLAND Foreign Correspondents’ Programme – Alumni Edition. Big thank you too all applicants! The admission process is never easy as all the applicants are highly motivated professionals with extensive background in journalism and communications. It is always heartfelt to notice your deep interest in Finland. Some of you have fresh ...  (continue reading)

Get on board! Apply to the thisisFINLAND Foreign Correspondents’ Programme – Alumni Edition 2016!

Have you ever participated in the Foreign Correspondents’ Programme or Young Journalists, as it was first called in the 90’s? Did you spend the most amazing and interesting weeks of your life in Finland? Are you eager to see and feel what Finland is all about in 2016, waiting for its’ 100 years anniversary around the corner? This might be your chance for another Finland-packed experience. ...  (continue reading)

Are you interested in Finland now as an FCP alumni? Apply to the thisisFINLAND Foreign Correspondents’ Programme – Alumni Edition 2016!

We made a promise and we intend to keep it, as Finns usually do… During even years, ie starting 2016, we start organizing smaller and shorter FCP alumni meetings for handpicked media professionals that have previously participated in the FCP programme, or the Young Journalists programme, as it was first called in the 90’s. Come and spend a week learning about Finland today, Finnish society ...  (continue reading)

Next time 2017, but before that an alumni meeting

With the winter soon knocking on the Helsinki doors it is tempting to think back at the sunny weeks of ThisisFINLAND Foreign Correspondents’ Programme 2015. It just has to be among the most inspiring and creative tasks a Finnish diplomat gets to work with. Such an honor and such a joy to get to know 21 young international media professionals, and to be able to show them the many sides and faces ...  (continue reading)