Anne Leppäjärvi selected as one of the world's remarkable women media leaders

Anne Leppäjärvi is the Degree Director of Journalism at Haaga-Helia. She is responsible for both the Bachelor's and the Master's degree in Journalism.

Leppäjärvi says she is delighted and honoured to be included in the IPI list. 

– It is motivating that journalism education is seen as such a key player in the field of media. I think that in journalism education, we are doing our part to find solutions that on the one hand can ensure the quality of journalism, but also reach people and strengthen trust between journalists and audiences. The role of journalists is absolutely crucial in an open society, says Leppäjärvi.

Working for press freedom is crucial

On its website, IPI highlights Leppäjärvi's work as a media literacy expert and her efforts to tackle online disinformation in journalism education.

– Press freedom is becoming more and more difficult every year, and the work of journalists is being made difficult, even obstructed, in many parts of the world. The number of autocratic countries is growing, and their leaders have become masters at spreading disinformation on social media. The first step is to make the work of independent journalists more difficult, Leppäjärvi says.

Anne Leppäjärvi is also vice-chair of the European Journalism Training Association and a member of the national advisory board for journalism education in Finland. In spring 2016, she won the Bonnier Grand Prize for Journalism for her work on journalism education reform. Leppäjärvi has also co-founded Haaga-Helia's training programme for journalists with an immigrant background, the first of its kind in Finland.

Read more

IPI's listing of the 20 remarkable women media leaders
Journalism education at Haaga-Helia
Training Programme for Immigrants Journalists