Finland Times

 

A three-week training programme for foreign journalists in Finland began on Monday in Helsinki.

 

During the training under the Finland Foreign Correspondents' Programme, a group of young international journalists will have an opportunity to learn more about Finland, Finnish society and the Finnish way of life, said a press release of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs issued on Monday. 

 

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has been organising the Finland Foreign Correspondents' Programme (FCP) since 1990, targeting for young international journalists. This year’s programme will conclude on August 28.

 

A total of 22 foreign journalists representing Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Indonesia, India, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Norway, Poland, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine, and the United States are participating in the programme.

 

The programme is an important part of the Foreign Ministry's work in the field of public diplomacy. It is also a significant investment in future media relations. The aim is to increase the participants' interest in Finland and strengthen Finland's profile in the long run, according to the release.

 

More than 400 journalists have taken part, so far in the FCP since 1990.

 

During the programme, the participants will be familiarised with Finland's history, politics, economy, culture and other key issues.

 

They will also have meetings with Finland's political leadership, including the Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini and Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Lenita Toivakka.

 

The programme includes a weekend hosted by a regular Finnish family and visits to Hanko, Turku, and the Åland Islands.

 

The participants will also work for two days in the following Finnish media: Helsingin Sanomat, Iltalehti, Ilta-Sanomat, Kauppalehti, MTV, STT-Lehtikuva and the Finnish Broadcasting Corporation Yle.

 

The participants selected from among 1,500 applicants are 21–29 years old.

 

The number of applicants was twice as high as in 2013 when the programme was last organised.