News & Updates

The same conference, two perspectives. Susanna Siironen and Marko Siekkinen share what the b° Future Festival conference in Bonn meant to them.

Local Journalism – Susanna Siironen

In October 2025, I attended the b° Future Festival in Bonn with a grant from the C. V. Åkerlund Media Foundation. The event brought together media professionals from around the world committed to constructive journalism.

One of the conference’s key themes was the importance of local journalism. Although local newsrooms may sometimes be considered less significant, even within the industry, one message came up repeatedly: journalism that is close to people is precisely what helps build a strong connection between audiences and the media.

Jakob Moll, co-founder of Zetland, reminded us that journalism is ultimately about serving the audience. Journalists should ask themselves: what value does this story bring to people?

I work in Yle’s local newsroom. The conference reinforced my understanding of why this work matters – and how it can be done well.

The grant made my participation possible. Without it, I would not have been able to make the trip.

Solutions Journalism – Marko Siekkinen

In October, 700 media professionals from 37 countries gathered in Bonn for the b° Future Festival around one question: what should journalism look like tomorrow?

One answer came up again and again: solutions-oriented. Not just reporting on problems, but also looking for possibilities, solutions and hope.

In her opening speech, Nina Fasciaux of the Solutions Journalism Network said something that stayed with me: journalism is also about caring and building connections. It is not only about delivering facts – it can bring people together rather than sowing division.

Trust between the media and audiences is declining around the world. Solutions journalism is one way of addressing the challenge of rebuilding that trust.

The C. V. Åkerlund Media Foundation grant brought me into this conversation. I warmly encourage others to apply.