The Finnish National Committee of the International Press Institute (IPI) has awarded its 2026 Free Speech Award to Suvi Tanner, Editor-in-Chief of Lapin Kansa, in recognition of her courage in defending the editorial independence and autonomy of Keskipohjanmaa newspaper against internal pressure from its parent company, Hilla Group.
Tanner was dismissed from her position as editor-in-chief of Keskipohjanmaa in May 2025, following her decision to file a supervisory request concerning the company’s CEO. The CEO had reportedly sought to exert influence over the editorial content of the group’s publications.
In its award citation, IPI Finland states that it is the duty of an editor-in-chief to defend the freedom of the press — including against pressure from within the organisation. Tanner demonstrated exemplary courage by standing up to the parent company’s management, despite being fully aware of the risks to her own career. In this case, fulfilling the duties of an editor-in-chief came at the cost of her job.
The case served as an important reminder to the media landscape that editorial independence also encompasses protection against internal corporate pressure. As the financial conditions facing the media continue to deteriorate, IPI emphasises that media owners and commercial management must respect editorial autonomy. This is essential to ensuring the public’s right to information. Independence is also, in the long run, the only guarantee of commercial success — and thus continuity — for journalistic media.
Accepting the award, Tanner emphasised that the editor-in-chief plays a central role in safeguarding media independence. Despite Finland’s generally strong press freedom record, she noted that pressure on media organisations does occur domestically as well.
“There is no editor-in-chief or newsroom anywhere — in Finland or elsewhere — that has not faced pressure,” Tanner said. “For a newsroom to produce bold, insightful, critical, and high-quality journalism, it needs support and a clear direction — a backbone. That is the editor-in-chief’s responsibility.”