Åkerlund Journalism Prize
For Excellence, Responsibility and Boldness in Journalism
The Åkerlund Journalism Prize is awarded every two years in recognition of a significant, exceptionally high-quality, responsible, or boundary-pushing media act. The prize was established in the foundation’s 90th anniversary year, 2021, and is awarded on April 12, C. V. Åkerlund’s birthday.
Next Award
The 2027 prize will be the fourth in its history.
Award Criteria
The prize can be awarded for journalistic work that meets one or more of the following criteria:
- Social Impact: brings new perspectives and promotes transparency, inclusivity, and diversity.
- Creativity and Originality: demonstrates a new way of storytelling, seeing, or exploring a phenomenon.
- Long-Term Significance: leaves a lasting impact on media, society, or journalistic practice.
- Collaborative Impact: successful cooperation between, for example, media, NGOs, researchers, or communities.
- Courage and Risk-Taking: addresses difficult topics, takes risks, or reveals uncomfortable truths.
Selection and Participation
The recipient is selected by the foundation’s board. Personal attendance at the public award ceremony is required to receive the prize
Åkerlund Journalism Award
2025: Seija Vaaherkumpu (YLE) and Elina Järvinen (Suomen Kuvalehti)
The 2025 Åkerlund Journalism Award was granted to Seija Vaaherkumpu and Elina Järvinen. Both are veteran journalists who have enriched Finnish media in their own unique ways over several decades. Vaaherkumpu and Järvinen are uncompromising professionals whose work combines originality, precision, and social relevance. They exemplify journalism with lasting impact and a deeply human touch.
You can read more about the award criteria [here].
2023: Emil Kastehelmi, John Helin, Eerik Matero & Pasi Paroinen
The 2023 recognition award (20,000 €) was granted to the working group of Emil Kastehelmi, John Helin, Eerik Matero, and Pasi Paroinen. The group demonstrated exceptional initiative and showcased the power of open data and citizen journalism through their work.
2021: Heikki Pursiainen and Roger Wessman
The first Åkerlund recognition award was granted in 2021 to economists Heikki Pursiainen and Roger Wessman for their professional expertise expressed through a journalistic format. The award highlighted the exceptional value of combining the skills of economics and journalism at a time when such interdisciplinary insight is in high demand.
