Former Director of News and Current Affairs at Yle to join RISJ as Visiting Fellow

01 Sep 2017

Mr Atte Jääskeläinen, until recently Director of News and Current Affairs at the Finnish Broadcasting Company Yle, will join the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at the University of Oxford as a Visiting Fellow for the academic year 2017/2018.

Mr Jääskeläinen's work will focus on the consequences of digital disruption for business models for news, behavioural incentives for audiences, and the democratic role of media--all with a special emphasis on the challenges and opportunities that exist in small highly developed markets such as those found across much of Europe. He brings to the institute his hands-on experience of leading major change in journalistic organisations across both the private sector and public service media.

"We are delighted to welcome Atte Jääskeläinen to the Reuters Institute", says Rasmus Kleis Nielsen, Director of Research, “we look forward to benefiting from his years of experience confronting the editorial, organisational, political, and technological challenges facing journalism and news media today.”

For over a decade Mr Jääskeläinen was responsible for Yle's major transformation process from totally separate television and radio news organisations to one of the most ambitious integrated public service news operations in Europe. A recent RISJ research report identified Yle News and Current Affairs as amongst the leading innovators and promoters of pro-digital culture in European public service media.

Before joining Yle in 2006, Mr Jääskeläinen was CEO and editor-in-chief of the Finnish News Agency. He also worked 14 years at key editorial posts in the leading Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat, including as political editor and as economics editor.

Mr Jääskeläinen holds a LL.M. with distinction from University of Helsinki.