Centre for Media Studies at SSE Riga

How do journalists uncover hidden threats—and bring them to light across borders?

Join us for a public lecture with Holger Roonemaa — Tallinn-based investigative journalist and Head of the Investigative and Fact-Checking Desk at Delfi Estonia.

In this edition of the Media Matters event series, Holger will take us inside the world of high-impact investigations into Russian espionage, sabotage, and other malign activities targeting the Baltic region.

From the early days of reporting to cross-border collaborations after 2022, this lecture will go beyond the headlines:
• How have Baltic journalists exposed covert Russian operations?
• What goes on behind the scenes of major investigations like Kremlin Leaks and Say Privet?
• How can regional journalism shape the broader European understanding of Russia?

Gain insight into how investigative teams evolved into pan-European collaborations—and what it takes to bring complex stories to an international audience.

📍 April 29, 2026
🕕 18:00
📌 SSE Riga
🎟 Free entry
🗣️ English

🔗 Register here: https://forms.gle/jCj1MFhFa1v2ipjX7

Seats are limited — reserve your spot and be part of the conversation.

📣 European media managers — this is for you.

🚀 Applications are open for the Sustainability & Media Management Training Programme.

Built for local & regional media leaders in Europe ready to grow and future-proof their organisations.

✔ Strategy, marketing, finance & leadership
✔ Practical tools you can apply immediately
✔ Your own media growth plan
✔ Free (EU-funded) + travel support

👉 Apply now:
https://mediacentre.sseriga.edu/expert.../erj-registration/

👉 What does a hands-on training programme for media managers actually look like?

The Sustainability & Media Management Training Programme supports managers of local and regional media organisations in strengthening strategy, leadership, and long-term sustainability.

Participants take part in several intensive training modules in Riga, starting on 18 May 2026, working closely with international experts and peers from across Europe. The focus is on practical learning — discussing real newsroom challenges, sharing experiences, and testing ideas that can strengthen media organisations. 🤝

Throughout the programme, each participant develops a growth and sustainability plan tailored to their own outlet, turning the training into something directly applicable back home. 📈

The training programme is part of the EU-funded EXPJOU initiative, implemented by the Centre for Media Studies at SSE Riga Riga Centre for Media Studies together with Journalismfund Europe.

✨ Participation is free of charge, and travel and accommodation are covered.

📅 Applications are open until 2 April 2026.

🔗 Apply Now & Learn More:
https://mediacentre.sseriga.edu/expert-reviewed-journalism/erj-registration/

🔎 Are you a local or regional media manager in Europe ready to strengthen your organisation’s future?

📣 Applications are now open for the Sustainability & Media Management Training Programme.

Designed for European media leaders, this programme helps you strengthen both strategic leadership and business sustainability — with practical tools you can immediately apply in your media organization.

You will work on:

💡 Strategy & Crisis – direction under pressure
💡 Marketing & Media Tech – audience to revenue
💡 Finance – numbers that drive decisions
💡 Leadership – culture that performs

Throughout the programme, you will develop a concrete growth plan tailored to your own media organisation, guided by experienced international experts.

✨ The programme is free of charge for selected participants, with travel and accommodation support provided.

📍 Open to local and regional media outlets across Europe.

🔗 Apply here:
https://mediacentre.sseriga.edu/expert-reviewed-journalism/erj-registration/

Learn more about the programme on our website.

Yesterday, we launched our new Media Matters event series with the lecture “The Role of Investigative Journalism in Recent Political Developments in Lithuania” by Šarūnas Černiauskas (Center for Investigative Journalism SIENA, Lithuania).

Šarūnas shared the story of a joint investigation carried out in the summer of 2025 by SIENA and Laisvės TV journalists. The investigation drew wide public attention to potential conflicts of interest involving Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas. As public pressure increased, the Prime Minister resigned, and an official investigation was launched.

He also spoke about controversial attempts to reform Lithuania’s public broadcaster, LRT, and the broader implications such efforts may have for media independence.

This case highlights the essential role of strong and independent media in a democratic society.

Follow us for the next events in the Media Matters series, dedicated to exploring the role of media in public life.

How far can investigative journalism go in shaping political events?

Join us for a public lecture with Šarūnas Černiauskas — one of Lithuania’s leading investigative journalists.

In summer 2025, investigations by Siena.lt and Laisvės TV triggered one of the most significant political crises in Lithuania’s recent history, contributing to the resignation of Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas and his cabinet. What happened next sparked nationwide debates about political accountability, media independence, and the future of Lithuania’s public broadcaster LRT — and brought thousands of people to the streets of Vilnius.

At this lecture, we will go beyond the headlines:
• How did investigative reporting influence political decisions?
• What were the consequences for journalists and media organisations?
• What does this case tell us about the state of media freedom in the region?

📍 February 24, 2026
🕓 16:00
📌 SSE Riga
🎟 Free entry
🗣️ English

Register here: https://forms.gle/Qf7W8FzxbQScBN857
Seats are limited — secure your spot and join the conversation.

Photos: People gathered in central Vilnius in December 2025 for a protest under the slogan “Hands off freedom of speech!”

Photo credit: Justinas Stacevičius / LRT

13. februārī Latgales vēstniecībā “Gors” tika aizvadīta šī gada pirmā tikšanās Latgales mediju pārstāvjiem, kurā piedalījās 17 reģionālo mediju žurnālisti.

Tikšanās pirmajā daļā Latgales mediju atbalsta projekta viesredaktore un konsultante Antra Ērgle vadīja diskusiju, kurā redaktori atskatījās uz pagājušo gadu un sprieda par turpmāko sadarbību šogad. Īpaši atzinīgi tika novērtētas viesredaktoru vizītes reģionālo mediju redakcijās.

Pasākums turpinājās ar Latvijas Universitātes lektora Roberta Vīksnes prezentāciju "Reģionālo mediju problēmas, risinājumi un idejas", kurā iezīmējās nepieciešamība Latgales medijiem vairot savu klātbūtni sociālajos medijos, kā arī meklēt veidus, kā stiprināt savu finansiālo neatkarību.

Arī 2026. gadā mēs turpināsim atbalsta projektu Latgales reģionālajiem medijiem, organizējot tikšanās, mācības un viesredaktoru vizītes redakcijās, kā arī jauniešu vasaras skolu žurnālistikā.

📷 Dagnija Bernāne

Want to stay up to date? In our newest newsletter, you’ll find information about upcoming trainings, events, conferences, funding opportunities, and other activities from the Centre for Media Studies at SSE Riga.

👉 Read it here: https://mailchi.mp/sseriga/breaking-news-early-bird-scholarships-for-summer-autumn-events-10340678

Would you like to receive our news by email once every month or two? Visit our website (https://mediacentre.sseriga.edu/) and subscribe to our newsletter — you’ll find the sign-up fields at the bottom of the page. Stay informed and don’t miss what’s coming next!

Looking Ahead: Upcoming Programmes and Events at Centre for Media Studies at SSE Riga As we look ahead to our 2026 programmes and media-related events, we welcome new opportunities while remaining mindful of the challenges ahead. Democracy can only be strengthened together, and we sincerely thank our global community for your continued support and dedication.

Meeting for a secure and competitive Europe 🇪🇺

Last Friday Rīgas Ekonomikas augstskola - Stockholm School of Economics in Riga received a visit from Ambassador Gudrun Masloch and Nikola Marcinko 🤝

Our Schools Rector Anders Paalzow and Centre Director Edgars Spuravs delivered a conversation on a wide range of topics – from European competitiveness and geo-economics, to different business cultures, to the resilience of society (and media) 🗞️

Strong institutions ensure the long-term success of the European economy, and we look forward to possible future cooperation projects 👏 🚀

The second round of the European Ukrainian Media Managers (EUMM) training programme has officially kicked off in Kyiv. It’s inspiring to see editors, media leaders, and journalism educators from across Ukraine come together to strengthen media resilience and professionalism during wartime.

A big thank-you to Fojo Media Institute, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv for this partnership and Swedish Institute for support.

We’re proud to contribute to this important initiative and to grow alongside so many dedicated media professionals.

Looking forward to the journey ahead! 💙💛

Kick-off: Second round of the training programme for Ukrainian media managers in Kyiv

On December 1, we officially launched the second round of the European Ukrainian Media Managers (EUMM) training programme in Kyiv.

Once again, the programme brings together editors and media leaders from across Ukraine and the Institute of Journalism at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv to strengthen professional standards and build the resilience of Ukrainian media during wartime.

“Understanding media as a business is essential for building a democratic and sustainable media system. The Institute of Journalism is proud to contribute to this important initiative,”
said Yuriy Bondar, Director of the Institute of Journalism.

“Supporting Ukrainian independent media is one of Fojo’s priorities. Effective media management in times of war ensures that reliable information reaches the public and that journalism continues to grow even under the most challenging conditions,”
emphasized Veronika Menjoun, Regional Manager for Europe at Fojo Media Institute.

This year, the programme has expanded its reach by engaging faculty from the Institute of Journalism and participants from the KNU Journalism Alumni Association. Editorial teams from Dnipro, Kharkiv, Cherkasy, Zaporizhzhia, the national public broadcaster and investigative journalism projects, including the team behind Slidstvo. Info, have joined the new cohort.

Running until May 2026, the programme will consist of four modules: two in-person and two online.

The EUMM programme is organised by Fojo Media Institute, the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga, and the Educational and Research Institute of Journalism at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, with support from the Swedish Institute.

We are very happy to finalize this year’s Summer School for Youth in Tallinn project and congratulate our top young authors, thank all the participants and partners!

🏆 Top authors of 2025 are Sofija Ossipova, Diana Karlysheva and Arina Sorgina! 👏

During the project, 25 articles by young authors were published on the Rus.ERR news portal (Estonian Public Broadcasting). This year, articles often made it into the portal's top, which means that readers really appreciated the topics. We are very grateful to the platform’s editors - RusERR's editor-in-chief Tatjana Gassova and managing editor Irina Kirejeva.

It has become a great tradition for us to have the final meetings and the project alumni meetup just before the winter holidays. On November 29 in Tallinn we welcomed the project alumni from almost all projects starting 2017. The event was dedicated to journalism, communication and visuals.

Videographer, colorist and blogger Teo Eduard Tido conducted an engaging workshop and shared his tips for successful photo and video shooting.

Summer school alumna Jelizaveta Karavaeva - marketing specialist and designer at Sportland Eesti spoke about the importance of a portfolio and communication. Also project alumna Anna-Maria Ouertani - journalist at Rus.Postimees - spoke about taking your first steps in the media, how to break through and find your place.

On December 10 we visited Äripäev news house and met with Delovõje Vedomosti chief editor Olesja Lagashina to talk about media business and the issues independent media face in Estonia and worldwide.

The project Youth Summer School in Tallinn has been taking place every year since 2017. In August 2025 the project was organized for the 9th time and provided training, networking and internship opportunities for 25 future journalists. After a week of summer training, young journalists worked with partnering media outlet's editors for four months and had an oppotunity to publish their works.

During 9 years, more than 200 young Russian-speaking media enthusiasts have taken part in the project. Many of the alumni have worked as interns or are working in local media and similar fields: journalism, communications, marketing, advertising, design, etc.

We thank Rootsi Suursaatkond Tallinnas / Embassy of Sweden in Tallinn for the support!

Last Thursday, November 6, the newest Baltic Media Health Check 2024–2025 was presented at the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga. 🎓

This year’s edition - “Superpowers of the Baltic Media” - explores how media organisations in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia adapt to constant challenges while maintaining resilience, creativity and strong audience connections. 💬

The report analyses:
📊 Audiences and revenue trends across the Baltic media market
💻 The rise of digital subscriptions
🎥 Video strategies and monetisation
⚡ The growing problem of journalist burnout

📄 The web version of the report is available for download, and the presentation recording can be watched online.

Watch online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiOtUZK07dA
Download: https://mediacentre.sseriga.edu/publications/

Organised by the Anne-Marie and Gustaf Ander Centre for Media Studies at SSE Riga, with support from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Latvia. 🇳🇱