Exiled journalists find safety in Finland but few opportunities to continue their work: 15 recommendations to improve their reception

Finland ranks 6th in RSF's 2026 World Press Freedom Index out of 180 countries and territories analysed, making it a leader in this field. Yet it ranks 19th out of 30 countries in terms of international support for media freedom, according to the 2025 International Media Freedom Support Index (IMFS), which measures support for journalists who have left their home countries.

"When You Arrive in Finland, You Step into a Dark Room," a report written by researcher Hinni Aarninsalo, is backed by eight Finnish organisations, including RSF Finland. Drawing on 48 interviews, including 22 with exiled journalists living in Finland, the report found that most of the exiled journalists interviewed struggle to find work in Finnish media. Among those living in Finland, 64% are unemployed, and only 14% work in the media sector. According to the study, existing support relies largely on individual initiatives and short-term projects. Finland also lacks both an emergency visa scheme for journalists at risk and a structured national system providing long-term support to exiled journalists and media organisations.

These gaps stand out even more when compared with other European countries that have developed comprehensive support ecosystems for exiled journalists, particularly those from Russia. In 2023, between 1,500 and 1,800 Russian media professionals were working in exile across some 30 countries, according to the JX Fund, a European fund established in 2022 by RSF and its partners. These journalists have settled in particular in Latvia, Lithuania, Germany and France. In Riga, the capital of Latvia, the NGO Riga Media Hub supports nearly 300 exiled Russian journalists, providing them with workspaces, psychological support, medical assistance and professional networking opportunities. Latvian authorities view this support as an investment in both national security and the fight against propaganda.

By contrast, several people interviewed for the report - who work with, or are themselves, exiled Russian journalists - estimated that there are around ten Russian journalists in exile in Finland. And of all the exiles interviewed, just two were employed. Most had tried to enter the Finnish media sector but eventually gave up due to a lack of opportunities and appropriate support structures, the study found.

Fifteen recommendations to improve support for exiled journalists in Finland

The report sets out 15 recommendations aimed at Finnish authorities, media, funding bodies, and civil society groups.

15 recommendations to strengthen support for exiled journalists in Finland

The report sets out 15 recommendations aimed at Finnish authorities, media organizations, funders, and civil society groups to strengthen Finland's support framework for exiled journalists.

1. Systematic approach in foreign policy

If Finland wants to present itself as a leading country for media freedom, it should defend free information and journalist safety in its foreign policy as well. This means, for example, that Finland should take systematic and prompt positions on global situations where journalists have been endangered because of their work and where independent information does not flow freely, like in Gaza.

2. A visa system that supports a safe route to Finland for journalists at risk

The largest share of interviewees named a humanitarian visa as the most important single measure to support journalists in exile. Offering a safe route of entry and the possibility of relocation for the duration of a security threat is a central action requiring political will. During Prime Minister Sanna Marin's government (2019-2023), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was tasked with advancing the introduction of a humanitarian visa, but the project arrived too late in the government term and lapsed under the subsequent Orpo government. Several countries have emergency visa systems specifically for media workers: all Baltic states had such systems in place according to the 2025 IMFS index. Finland could draw inspiration from this approach, particularly given that it currently has neither a humanitarian visa scheme nor a humanitarian residence permit, the latter having been available until 2015.

3. Responsibility for those trained with development aid funds

Finland must take particular responsibility when its own development aid activities place people at risk in their home countries. Finland trained female journalists in Afghanistan for nine years before the Taliban's return to power in 2021. Yet no dedicated protection mechanism has been established for these at-risk groups since 2021. Finland could also consider creating a safe haven programme, following the example of many countries that provide emergency refuge for journalists facing acute threats.

4. Better recognition of security threats that follow journalists

Some journalists in exile experience security threats even after arriving in a new country. Transnational repression takes many forms - hacking, physical violence, psychological intimidation. This possibility and the diversity of threats must be recognised among authorities as well as in organisations and newsrooms. In the asylum process, it should be identified from the very start of the procedure.

5. Immediate identification of journalists who have come in exile and directing them towards support

The report recommends improving the identification of exiled journalists as soon as they arrive in Finland, so that they can be quickly referred to organisations and support structures equipped to assist them. Since 2025, only journalists who have been granted refugee status have received some level of referral to media-sector organisations.

Exiled journalists should also be identified through municipal employment services, asylum procedures, and other reception and integration mechanisms, helping ensure they can access the support and services available to them. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) could also continue referring journalists admitted through resettlement programmes to specialized organizations capable of supporting their professional and personal integration.

6. A change of perspective in Finland

The report calls on Finland to move beyond an approach that views exiled journalists solely through the lens of employment. Enabling them to continue their professional work from Finland should also be seen as an investment in media pluralism, the diversity of voices in the public sphere, and the fight against disinformation. This perspective is notably championed by the multilingual news division of Finland's public broadcaster, Yle, which argues that "multilingual news services constitute a first line of defence against disinformation and foreign interference" and represent "a strategic investment in societal security, social cohesion and economic well-being."

From this perspective, supporting exiled journalists is not simply a matter of professional integration. It is also a democratic imperative and an important component of resilience against information manipulation campaigns.

7. Recognition of community media in legislation and support for community media

Several interviewees - including both exiled journalists and representatives of Finland's media sector - highlighted the vital role that community media play in strengthening democracy and promoting media diversity. Drawing on UNESCO recommendations, they call for the explicit recognition of community media in Finnish legislation, as well as the creation of a dedicated support mechanism.

Such a reform would help ensure the long-term sustainability of initiatives such as the multilingual news outlet Satakieli, particularly if it were to become independent from Haaga-Helia University. At present, Finnish community radio stations are subject to the same licensing requirements as commercial broadcasters, unlike in many European Union countries where their non-commercial nature is formally recognized in law and reflected in public support policies. The report also notes that an expert group commissioned by Finland's Ministry of Transport and Communications has already recommended the establishment of a dedicated support scheme for community media.

8. Cooperation between organisations

The report highlights that support services for exiled journalists remain fragmented and can be difficult to navigate. Several interviewees called for stronger coordination among the organizations involved, including through mentoring programmes similar to those that the Foundation for Media and Development (Vikes) has been running for several years.

To improve access to information and available resources, the report recommends creating a single, centralized point of access for support services, both online and in person. In the longer term, the establishment of a collaborative hub modelled on the Riga Media Hub-bringing together support services under one roof while fostering connections between journalists and relevant organizations-could provide a promising way forward.

While such an initiative would require a long-term commitment, the report notes that stronger cooperation among stakeholders could begin immediately.

9. Subsidised employment or internship positions for exiled journalists

The report stresses that the top priority for exiled journalists is to be able to continue their professional work. However, several studies indicate that their low recruitment rate is partly due to the limited resources available within newsrooms to support their integration.

In this context, the creation of internships and job opportunities with more flexible language requirements is seen as a key condition for enabling exiled journalists to access the labour market and make full use of their skills. The report also calls for stronger employment support mechanisms within the media sector.

In the absence of dedicated public funding, media organizations are encouraged to make greater use of European funding opportunities that can support the hiring of exiled journalists, helping to facilitate their professional integration while also strengthening newsroom diversity.

10. A change of attitude in the media field

The report highlights a widely shared perception among interviewed exiled journalists that Finland's media sector tends to view their profiles primarily through the lens of language barriers or to question their professional competence. It therefore calls for a shift in mindset and newsroom culture.

The aim should be to move away from a one-way model of knowledge transfer - based mainly on mentoring and support - towards genuine reciprocal collaboration. Exiled journalists often bring strong academic training, extensive professional experience, valuable international expertise, and in-depth knowledge of their countries of origin. These skills represent a significant asset for Finnish media organizations.

The report stresses that exchanges between exiled journalists and Finnish media professionals can be mutually beneficial. This requires greater openness within newsrooms, a willingness to experiment with new forms of cooperation, and the capacity to challenge established practices. This approach should also inform future training and mentoring programmes: the goal is to share knowledge about how Finnish media operate, but not in a top-down manner - rather in a spirit of cooperation and mutual learning.

11. Targeted grant applications for journalists in exile

Regularly launching dedicated calls for applications would provide exiled journalists with tailored financial resources to continue their work, develop new journalistic projects, and maintain their professional activity during their time in exile. Such mechanisms would help preserve independent voices that are essential to media pluralism and strengthen the ability of exiled journalists to keep informing their audiences despite the constraints of forced displacement.

12. Technological support

Technological support is essential to ensuring the continuity of exiled media, in Finland as elsewhere. RSF has notably observed that Apple appears to be cooperating with Russia's media regulatory authority by removing independent Russian media outlets from the App Store, as well as tools designed to circumvent censorship, such as VPNs.

The report therefore recommends strengthening technological assistance for exiled media outlets in order to ensure they can continue their work and reach their audiences despite restrictions imposed by authoritarian regimes.

13. Ongoing training

The training programme at Haaga-Helia University has played a key role in supporting the employment of some journalists, according to interviews conducted for this report. However, its funding had to be renewed on a yearly basis, creating uncertainty about its continuity and making it dependent on individual efforts to secure new funding each time. Several interviewees suggested that Finland should establish a permanent, recurring training programme - for example, every two or three years - specifically designed for exiled journalists. Long-term support would also make it possible to develop training in a more systematic and structured way.

14. Measurement and monitoring

This report has shown how useful it would have been to more carefully document and monitor what outcomes the training and mentoring efforts in Finland have produced so far. When new programmes are being planned, it is essential to decide already at the planning stage how the functioning of programmes and projects will be monitored and measured. This is central to the continuity of support.

15. More research

This report is only a first look at the situation of journalists in exile in Finland. Research on this topic should continue, and in particular a broader comparative analysis of practices in other countries would be valuable for Finland.