Finland to co-chair Media Freedom Coalition

Finland will start as co-chair of the Media Freedom Coalition (MFC), which advocates for media freedom and the safety of journalists. Finland will hold the two-year co-chairmanship together with Germany and succeed Estonia when it concludes its term as co-chair on 30 June.

Promoting media freedom as part of the efforts to consolidate democracy and the rules-based system is a priority for Finland, which ranked fifth in the latest World Press Freedom Index.

“Our co-chairmanship will focus on protecting journalists and improving media literacy and on broader issues related to global freedom of speech. It is a pleasure to work with Germany on these important themes,” says Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen.

Finland advocates for media freedom, which is integral to freedom of speech and expression, as part of Finland’s foreign and security policy. In Finland’s view, media freedom is a key pillar of a democratic society and has an important role in contributing to comprehensive security. Issues related to media freedom are also high on the agenda of Finland’s Chairpersonship of the OSCE in 2025.

The Media Freedom Coalition (MFC) was established in 2019 on the initiative of the United Kingdom and Canada. It comprises 51 member states from six continents. The MFC is a partnership of countries that advocates for media freedom, the freedom of speech and the safety of journalists. MFC member states work closely with civil society, journalists, other media workers and legal experts with expertise in the matter.

The MFC extensively lobbies on cases in which journalists, groups of journalists or media organisations are subjected to threats. It issues public statements and makes direct diplomatic contact with the authorities either from its member states’ capitals or through their embassies.