The object of this study is public journalism and its applications in the Finnish press. Public journalism is an American-based journalistic reform movement and an idea which aims at connecting the media more closely with its readers, and readers with public life. This research examines the ways in which public journalism ideas and practices are manifested in three Finnish newspapers – Itä-Häme (IH, local), Aamulehti (AL, regional) and Helsingin Sanomat (HS, national) – during the period of 2002–2006.
The overall research task is: What is public journalism, how and why has it been applied and interpreted in three Finnish newspapers, and what kind of professional reflections by journalists have these approaches elicited?
This question is addressed by analyzing journalists’ interviews (41) and news stories (174). The interview material acts as the primary research data. Qualitative content analysis of texts and interviews has been utilized as a method of analysis.
Theoretically and conceptually the project is linked to public journalism theory, conceptualizing journalistic professionalism and the public sphere theories.
The study has been part of the project “Journalism Public Profession and Late Modernity” financed by the Academy of Finland and headed by professor Risto Kunelius. The study will be published in English.
Duration: 2004 – 2010
Researcher in charge: Laura Ahva, +358 3 3551 7842, laura.ahva(at)uta.fi
Financed by: Koneen Säätiö, Academy of Finland and C.V. Åkerlund Foundation