Winners of the Finnish Grand Prize for Journalism 2015

Winners of the Finnish Grand Prize for Journalism were announced in Helsinki yesterday. Four winners were chosen from among 738 nominations. The prize is worth EUR 7,500 in each category. Bonnier is founder and sponsor of the independent prize. The winners were:

Journalistic Article/Episode of the Year

Jessikka Aro, Yle Kioski

The jury wrote: Russian Trolls in Finland, Jessikka Aro’s investigative series, covered Russia’s online propaganda and atttempts to influence public opinion in Finland. English- and Russian-language versions of the episodes also attracted considerable attention. After the episodes were broadcast, international media took note of Aro and she’s helped others to investigate propaganda in their own countries. Following the broadcast, Aro has faced intense intimidation, a propaganda campaign against her and attempts to silence her.

Finalists included: Tuomo Pietiläinen, Helsingin Sanomat for “Bergsråden Moved to Portugal”; and Mirva Heiskanen, Pekka Lähteenmäki, Ismo Virta and team, Talouselämä for “Are Media Dying?” (The team included Reijo Ruokanen, Anne Vanhanen, Erkka Felt, Marjut Nousiainen, Pekka Lähteenmäki, Ilkka Jauhiainen and Ninni Myllyoja.)

Journalistic Achievement of the Year

Anne Leppäjärvi, Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences’ Journalism Education

The jury wrote: Technical university Haaga -Helia’s journalism program is lead by educational program director Anne Leppäjärvi, who strives to provide solutions to remedy the media crisis. The educational program provides good networks and develops new ways of working in journalism. Anne Leppäjärvi’s role in this has been central.

Finalists included: Aamulehti’s culture desk: En vecka i Tallinn. The culture desk team included: Markus Määttänen, Simopekka Virkkula, Anne Välinoro, Matti Kuusela, Nina Lehtinen, Erik Ahonen, Tiina Leinonen, Pekka Kymäläinen and Kimmo Penttinen. Also finalsits were Tuomas Peltomäki and team from Uutisraportti, HSTV/Nelonen. The team included Paavo Teittinen, Jussi Sippola, Henry Lehto, Maria Pettersson, Juha-Pekka Raeste, Pekka Torvinen, Kimmo Norokorpi, Jussi Pullinen, Paavo Järvilehto, Boris Stefanov, Uolevi Holmberg, Matti Nousiainen, Mikko Peura, Janne Elkki and Kristiina Marttinen.

Book of the Year

Kimmo Oksanen, Kasvonsa menettänyt mies, published by WSOY

The jury wrote: “What’s left when a man literally loses his face, through which other people meet him? The tough experiences give new strengths, a gift of more sensitively discovering what one can do for others. A deeply human account of the relative nature of life’s difficulties.

Finalists included: Niina Junttila (Kavereita nolla – Lasten ja nuorten yksinäisyys, Tammi) and René Nyberg (Viimeinen juna Moskovaan, Siltala).

Journalist of the Year

Tom Kankkonen, Yle Nyheter

The jury wrote: Tom Kankkonen’s reporting from Syria, Iraq and Turkey have brought events in the regions of conflict closer to Finnish TV viewers and radio listeners. Kankkonen stubbornly finds his way to difficult spots, contextualizing and  scrutinizing as he goes. He keeps his calm, rational and trustworthy demeanor in tough situations.

Finalists included: Vesa Sirén, Helsingin Sanomat och Markus Leikola, freelancer.

Jury

Jouko Jokinen, editor-in-chief, Aamulehti; Vesa-Pekka Koljonen, newspaper advisory, editor-in-chief emeritus; Leena Majander-Reenpää, direktor, FILI Finnish Literature Exchange; Tuomo Mörä, jury secretary, university lecturer, Helsinki University; Pekka Seppänen, columnist, journalist, board chair, Gummerus Kustannus; Leeni Peltonen, freelance journalist, media entrepreneur; Riitta Pihjalamäki, head of journalistic standards and ethics, Yle; Paula Salovaara, media entrepreneur and journalist in Esbo; Jari Tourunen, journalist, PhD; Merja Ylä-Anttila, jury chair, editor-in-chief, MTV news and current affairs. 

Jury members do not take part in deliberations of nominations that affect their own media.