Journalists' trust in companies is on the rise

Journalists trust Finnish companies more than professional and employer organizations, according to T-Media’s annual MediaBarometer survey.

In 2017, 88 percent of journalists said they trusted Finnish companies, compared with 80 percent in 2013.

Trust in labor market organizations is in sharp decline. Only 47 percent of responding journalists now trust employer organizations, compared to 71 percent in 2013. Currently, 64 percent of journalists trust labor unions—in 2013, the corresponding figure was 83 percent.

“Public confidence in Finnish companies has clearly improved, but the trend is the opposite for labor market organizations. Individual organizations still enjoy high trust ratings, but trust in the labor market system as a whole has eroded. Over the four-year monitoring period, trust has dropped by nearly 20 percentage points,” saysSari Maunula, Research Director at T-Media.

Antti Palola is Finland's best organizational leader

In the survey, journalists were asked to spontaneously name who they considered to be Finland’s best labor market or union leader.Antti Palolaof STTKreceiveda significant number of mentions in the survey.

“I am grateful for the recognition I have received. In various contexts, I have emphasized not only the fundamental mission of the labor movement, but also the rapid changes in the operating environment and the necessity of reform. This recognition is a sign that I am not alone in my thinking,” Palola commented on the research findings.

Palola, who has served as STTK’s president since 2013, has earned praise from journalists for his compelling communication style.

“Palola is seen as a broad-minded leader who works for the greater good, rather than simply promoting the interests of his own organization. This is seen as boosting trust among journalists,” Maunula says.

Riku Aalto of the Industrial Union received the second-highest number of mentions.

In the MediaBarometer survey, which evaluated corporate media communications, the best CEO wasHenrik Ehrnroothof Kone,andthe best communications director wasAtte Palomäki of Wärtsilä.

For more information:

Sari Maunula
Research Director
+358 50 409 1543
sari.maunula@reptrust-staging.fi-p.seravo.com

T-Media’s MediaBarometer surveyed journalists’ perceptions and views of Finnish organizations and their media communications. During the survey round for organizations, a total of 237 Finnish journalists were interviewed by phone, and data collection took place from May 19, 2017, to August 25, 2017. During the corporate survey round, a total of 157 Finnish journalists were interviewed by telephone, and data collection took place from November 16, 2016, to January 25, 2017.