Founding Audience Developer

Founding Audience Developer
Editorial creator and community builder

Helsingin Sanomat is exploring new ways to make Finnish news more accessible, relevant and engaging for international residents in Finland, especially those who prefer to follow news in English or Easy Finnish.

We're combining journalism, audience insight, AI-supported tools and product development to find out what international residents want and need from Finnish news. We'll test ideas, content and formats with the people they're meant for from the start.

We're looking for a Founding Audience Developer to join us at this early stage. You'll create and present engaging journalism, become a recognisable face and voice of the project, and connect with international communities.

This is a hands-on role for someone passionate about journalism, storytelling and connecting with people. You'll primarily adapt Helsingin Sanomat's reporting into accessible, platform-native content while occasionally creating original, source-based explainers. All content will follow Helsingin Sanomat's journalistic standards.

What you'll do

• Create and present: Turn Finnish news into compelling short-form videos, audio clips, social posts and explainers. Appear on camera and develop your own presentation style.

• Explain the news: Read Finnish-language journalism, identify what matters and explain it accurately and clearly for international audiences, adding context that Finnish news coverage may take for granted.

• Build an audience: Develop channels and relationships with international communities in Finland, listen to their questions and learn what earns attention and trust.

• Experiment and learn: Test new formats, tools and ideas, using feedback and analytics to identify what audiences value.

What we're looking for

You're a curious, creative and self-directed storyteller with sound editorial judgement and a collaborative approach.

You should have:

• Experience creating content about news or current affairs, with a solid grasp of sourcing, accuracy and verification.

• Confidence on camera and behind a microphone, with hands-on content production skills.

• Excellent spoken and written English, and Finnish reading comprehension strong enough to work accurately from source material. English does not need to be your first language.

• The ability to explain complex topics clearly without losing essential facts, context or uncertainty.

• An understanding of international communities in Finland, and a willingness to experiment and learn from audience feedback.

You don't need a journalism degree or an existing following. What matters is your editorial judgement and ability to connect with people.

What success looks like

By the end of the first six months, the project should have a distinctive editorial voice, a set of tested formats and genuine relationships with international communities.

The insights generated will guide what we build next and how we make it useful, engaging and trustworthy.

What we offer

You'll join a small multidisciplinary team spanning editorial, product, design and technology. Your work will shape how we engage audiences and where the project goes next. You'll have access to Helsingin Sanomat's journalism and editorial expertise, with practical support available as needed.

This is a full-time, six-month fixed-term role at Helsingin Sanomat. Your manager will be Kalle Jokinen, and you'll work closely with the Founding Editorial Lead and the wider team.

If the project progresses successfully and there is a mutual fit, there may be an opportunity to extend the role or move to permanent employment.

The preferred start date is as soon as possible, by agreement. The team is based at Sanomatalo in Helsinki. We work together regularly in the office while supporting a practical hybrid model.

How to apply
Please send your CV or LinkedIn profile and links to two or three relevant examples of content, channels or communities you have built or contributed to. Existing examples are preferred, and no separate pre-assignment is required at the application stage.

If you don't have an existing on-camera example, you're welcome to include a 60-second phone video in English. Production polish is not expected, and preparation should take no more than 30 minutes.

Applications close on Sunday 8 November 2026. Apply as soon as possible, as we will begin interviewing candidates during the application period.

For more information about the position, please contact

• Antti Karvanen, Sanoma Media Finland, +358 50 4000 643, antti.karvanen@sanoma.com

• Kalle Jokinen, Helsingin Sanomat, +358 40 524 9284, kalle.jokinen@sanoma.com

If we’re unable to answer your call, please send us a text message and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

Helsingin Sanomat

Helsingin Sanomat on Pohjoismaiden suurin päivälehti, joka palvelee journalismillaan yhteensä kahta miljoonaa suomalaista viikottain. Tilauksia Hesarilla on yli 400 000, joista valtaosa on jo digitaalisia. Helsingin Sanomat onkin digitaalisessa journalismissaan ja kerronnassaan johtava suomalainen tiedotusväline, mistä osoituksena lukuisat vuosittain ansaitut kansainväliset palkinnot. Tinkimätön journalistinen laatu on pitänyt HS:n asiakastyytyväisyyden niin printti- kuin digitilaajienkin keskuudessa korkealla tasolla. Laatu on myös tae sille, että HS:n tilausmäärä digitaalisessa jatkaa kasvuaan.

Sanoma Media Finland on Suomen suurin kaupallinen mediatalo. Teemme luotettavaa ja kiinnostavaa journalismia, elämyksellistä viihdettä ja vaikuttavia markkinointiratkaisuja. Olemme mukana ihmisten arjessa ja juhlassa, vaikutamme valintoihin ja käsitykseen maailmasta, autamme yrityksiä menestymään. Sillä on merkitystä.

Meillä on isot, kaikkien tuntemat mediabrändit ja joukko maan suurimpia digipalveluja. Sanoman mediat tavoittavat 97 % suomalaisista joka viikko.

Sanomalla työtä tehdään asiakas edellä, datan pohjalta, fiksusti, vastuullisesti ja yhdessä. Meillä jokaisella on tilaa kehittyä, toimia ja olla oma itsensä. Arjen käytännöt joustavat ja niitä kehitetään jatkuvasti. Tähtäämme korkealle ja teemme tosissaan, mutta töissä on myös hauskaa. Työkavereina on alan parhaat tekijät: luovia kykyjä, huippuasiantuntijoita, kehuttuja esihenkilöitä ja ylipäätään poikkeuksellisen kivoja ihmisiä. Tavoitteenamme on monimuotoinen, yhdenvertainen ja osallistava työpaikka.

Työ Sanomalla näkyy, kuuluu, herättää tunteita, vaikuttaa ja saa aikaan keskustelua. Onko sulla #sanomista?

Sanoma Media Finland on osa Sanomaa, joka on kuluttajamedian ja oppimisen eurooppalainen edelläkävijä.

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Sanoma Media Finland

Sanoma Media Finland is the leading Finnish cross-media company and a forerunner in the digital transformation of media.

Our brands deliver relevant, inspiring and captivating content across media channels that reach almost every Finn every week. For advertisers, we are a trusted partner with insight, impact and reach.

Our mission is to offer Finnish media content also to next generations. We are part of Sanoma, an innovative and agile learning and media company.