Professional development
The breakdown of active members in the Union of Journalists across media sectors shows print media still dominating.
The share of active journalists, excluding retirees (26 percent) and students (5 percent), reveals the significant role of print media in the Finnish media market. In 2016, 53 percent of journalists worked in print, and of those 35 percent in newspapers, 18 percent in magazines, 33 percent in public service broadcasting at Yle, eight percent in commercial television and radio, four percent in book publishing and two percent in information services (Union of Journalists in Finland 2016.)
During the last few years the share of magazine journalists has increased. The share in broadcasting media has decreased due to the changes in public and commercial broadcasting companies. At the same time, the workforce in independent TV production houses has increased. The main increase in the number of members is in the Helsinki metropolitan area. The share of freelance journalists and entrepreneurs, 9 percent in 2016, does not show any clear changes. The percentage of retired members will increase markedly in the next few years.
Finnish journalists work under numerous professional titles, such as journalists (newspapers, magazines, radio, television, websites), freelance editors, chief editors, photographers, video photographers, communication officers, communication entrepreneurs, publishing editors, graphic artists, translators as well as teachers and researchers of communication, journalism and media.
Due to the fragmentation of the journalistic workforce, there is continuing education available at many institutions: at the continuing training centres of the universities and the universities of the applied sciences and as in-house training at media companies. Increasing online publishing and video use in print media requires new skills.
Employment statistics of 2014 from Statistics Finland show, that 14,244 people were employed in journalistic and film and photography work. Occupations by share were: journalists 35.8 percent, radio and television journalists 18.5 percent, broadcasting and audio-visual technicians 15.0 percent, photographers 14.8 percent, production assistants and other stagecraft associate professionals 8.4 percent, managing editors and subeditors 5.3 percent, and announcers on radio and television and other media 2.1 percent. Occupational classifications are using the 2010 classification by Statistics Finland.
Translators are not included in the group of journalistic and film and photography workers, but some are members of the Union of Journalists. According to the Union, the degree of organisation of employed journalists is about 90 percent.