European Journalists Network
The European Journalists Network is an ethical association of journalists in northern Europe. Its main activities are to represent its members vis-à-vis press organizations and institutions, and to organize meetings and travel.
Under its statutes, membership is open to active journalists working in Baltic Rim countries. Public affairs professionals may join as associates.
Throughout the year, meetings and press conferences are organized for EJN members by government departments, associations and companies.
The EJN represents Finland and Scandinavia at the Association of European Journalists, an umbrella organisation for ethical journalists' clubs in Europe.
The annual general meeting 2010 of the EJN was held on Monday 22 February. Adrian Soto was elected president.
Pat Humphreys, Hee Sook Lee, John Pagni and Denisa Udroiu were elected to the executive committee.
Russel Snyder and Francis Weaver were appointed auditors, Faruk Abu-Chakra deputy auditor.
The membership fee for the year was set at 28 euros.
An extraordinary general meeting on 25 May noted that Denisa Udroiu had left the association and elected Simona Drevensek and Nikolai Meinert to the executive committee
Activities in 2009
The annual general meeting was held at Hemingway’s Pub near Hietalahti shipyard, Helsinki on 3 March.
Adrian Soto was reappointed President, John Pagni as secretary and Pat Humphreys as treasurer and international secretary. The other committee members were Hector Hernandez, Hee Sook Lee and Denisa Udroiu
The association continued to act as a clearing house for information that members may have missed, in the form of an occasional newsletter. This mainly concerns events at a European level.
In April, a small group travelled to a hotel inauguration in Tallinn, Estonia. These events are a time-honoured way to meet politicians and business leaders there.
In May we visited the Åland Islands, at the invitation of its Tourist Board, travelling by ship from Turku (see the Treasurer’s blog). Ten members took part. Afterwards most participants continued to Stockholm, where some had interviews to make and others went shopping.
In November three members travelled to Maastricht, Holland for the annual general meeting and congress of the Association of European Journalists.
The EJN's annual Independence Day Party was held in Tartu, Estonia, after a journey there by boat and then train on Friday 4 December. The celebrations on Saturday evening culminated with a musical, the premier of “Kiss of the Spider Woman”, at Vanemuine Theatre. Seventeen members participated.
Activities in 2008
The annual general meeting was held at Hemingway’s Pub near Hietalahti shipyard, Helsinki on Monday 18 February 2008. Adrian Soto was re-elected president, his third term.
Igor Baykov, Hector Hernandez, Pat Humphreys, John Pagni and Denisa Udroiu were elected to the executive committee. Eddy Hawkins and Nikolai Meinert were appointed auditors.
In May the EJN paid a visit to Lithuania. A nine-member group toured the country for four days, staying in the capital Vilnius, the former capital Kaunas, and the port city of Klaipeda. There was an excursion to the Curonian Spit.
Later that month, the Foreign Ministry of Estonia invited us on a fact-finding trip. Five members took part, meeting the top policymakers of the country, including the President, the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister.
In August, members were invited by Viking Line to spend a day on the new, fast Viking XPRS, sailing to Tallinn and back.
The association celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2008.
Activities in 2007
The annual general meeting was held at Hemingway’s Pub near Hietalahti shipyard, Helsinki on Monday 26 February 2007. Adrian Soto was re-elected president, his second term.
Igor Baykov, Hector Hernandez, Pat Humphreys, John Pagni and Jeanette Öhman were elected to the executive committee. Eddy Hawkins and Nikolai Meinert were appointed auditors.
The EJN travelled to Latvia on May 17 at the invitation of the Latvian Tourism Development Agency. Places visited during the 3-day tour were Riga, Siguldas, Liepaja, Ventspils and Jurmala.
A press trip to and tour of the island of Saaremaa was held on September 6-9, organized by the Estonian Tourist Board.
The traditional Independence Day Party was held in Tallinn, Estonia on 5 December. By popular request, details of the proceedings have been suppressed
In light of the Network's increasingly active travel programme, new conditions were drawn up to specify the role of the EJN and the responsibilities of participants.
In preparation for the upcoming 40th anniversary, a competition was held for a new EJN logo. It was won by Juanjo Galán of EFE.