Journalist Elina Grundström appointed Visiting Professor of Journalism

Journalist, Master of Social Sciences Elina Grundström, 49, was appointed the next Visiting Professor of Journalism at the University of Tampere. The panel preparing the appointment proposed her unanimously for the year-long post that starts in August.

“Elina Grundström is a multitalented journalist who easily fulfils all the recruitment criteria for the professorship. She stood out among the 11 excellent candidates with her clearly thought-out teaching plan,” says Docent Heikki Hellman, Dean of the School of Communication, Media and Theatre.

Grundström has worked as a journalist for over 25 years in different media. In 2006-2010 she was the editor-in-chief of Vihreä Lanka newspaper. At the moment she is a freelance journalist and is writing a book on ore prospecting. Next autumn she will also publish a book called Musta orkidea [Black Orchid] on the trade in orchids and global environmental problems.

Grundström has twice been the recipient of the Finnish Government Prize for Dissemination of Information; in 1995 for founding the Hiidenkivi magazine and 2005 for writing about global social questions. Her book Alkuperämaa tuntematon [Country of Origin Unknown] earned her the annual prize awarded by the Association for Investigative Journalism in Finland.

During her term as the Visiting Professor, Grundström plans to do research and teach about the narrative construction of the story and advocacy journalism in the new media environments.

The University of Tampere established the post of the Visiting Professor of Journalism in 2007. The post was funded by the Helsingin Sanomat Foundation for the first five years. Last year the University of Tampere made it a permanent post.

An experienced journalist is appointed annually as the professor and she or he is expected to disseminate her/his know-how and experience in the field to students of journalism and to develop teaching in the field. The aim of the professorship is to bring the experiences of professional journalists closer to university teaching and research.

The panel that prepared the appointment consisted of Dean Heikki Hellman, University Lecturer Laura Ahva, Professor Ari Heinonen, student Juuso Määttänen, Principal Lecturer Hanna Rajalahti and President of the Helsingin Sanomat Foundation Heleena Savela.

For more information please contact
Dean Heikki Hellman
heikki.hellman@uta.fi
tel. 040 571 3184