According to Millariikka Rytkönen, the end or reduction of STT’s news poses a threat to fact-based information and the functioning of Finnish society and democracy. She points out that Finnish news reporting and the working conditions of journalists have been severely weakened in recent years, and that many journalists have been dismissed: The biggest ever cooperation negotiations in the history of the broadcaster took place in the spring after the government froze Yle's funding. This week, MTV was also reported to be in the process of cooperation negotiations, with 45 employees to be laid off. Sanoma’s newspapers, such as HS, have also laid off employees in recent cooperation negotiations. Millariikka Rytkönen points out that the ongoing cooperation negotiations and austerity measures are eating away at the coping of journalists and weakening their well-being in their important work.
– "The freedom of expression and the quality of social debate in Finland will also be weakened as news coverage is reduced and journalists are laid off. Citizens need news from Finnish news media in order to make informed voting decisions and to function in society," says Millariikka Rytkönen.
Well-functioning news media play a significant role not only for Tehy members and the entire social and healthcare sector, but also for the security of supply. STT and other Finnish media reliably and comprehensively monitor and report on the situation of the Finnish social and healthcare sector and its jobs, as well as on changes that affect the people of Finland. The Finnish freedom of press has been among the best in the world by international standards, but we need to take care of it, Rytkönen says.
– "I hope that political and media decision-makers will make wise decisions that will secure the operating environment of the Finnish media and the professional well-being of journalists. This way, they can allow citizens to continue to have freedom of expression, i.e. the opportunity to receive and send information without being prevented from doing so. Decision-makers must also secure the freedom of press for media representatives. Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right and a cornerstone of democracy, but it will be weakened if the operating environment for media and journalists deteriorates. We must ensure the news coverage of STT, MTV, YLE, HS, as well as local and regional newspapers, and take care of our journalists," Millariikka Rytkönen says.
Further information: Tehy President Millariikka Rytkönen, requests for interview through Special Advisor Mila Huovinen, [email protected], tel. +358 400 540 005.
