uutisjournalismi

Uutisjournalismi, or news journalism, denotes the professional practice of reporting current events and information of public interest. In Finnish media discourse, it refers to journalism that prioritizes timely, verifiable, and accurate reporting intended to inform the public, while distinguishing reportage from opinion writing and feature journalism.

Core principles include immediacy paired with verification, attribution, and accuracy. Journalists gather facts from multiple sources, corroborate information, and present findings with context and, when appropriate, opposing perspectives. Transparency about sources and corrections policies are standard features. Coverage typically centers on political, social, economic, and cultural affairs that affect public life, and often employs beats such as politics, crime, or health.

Ethical considerations emphasize fairness, minimization of harm, privacy protection, and avoidance of sensationalism. Journalists strive for independence from outside influence and for accountability through corrections and public disclosure of errors.

In Finland, uutisjournalismi operates within professional codes of ethics maintained by journalist associations and the editors of media organizations. Major outlets—national newspapers, public broadcasting Yle, and news agencies such as STT—practice and adapt these standards for their audiences online and offline. The digital era has expanded news gathering and distribution to real-time updates across websites, apps, and social media, while raising challenges around misinformation, trust, and sustainability.

While closely related to investigative reporting and editorial writing, uutisjournalismi remains defined by its focus on timely, fact-based reporting on current events for the public.