Suggestions for future research

This exploratory study was the first attempt to research the topic of the Russian‑language media landscape. The findings presented in this report are neither conclusive nor exhaustive. Further research is needed to explore the topic in greater depth and more holistically. This report also only includes a fraction of the analyses that the collected data allows. Therefore, additional thematic reports and information packages based on further analyses will be released after this report is published. These will include:

• Thematic analysis of the Russian-language social media networks in Finland;
• An investigation into the factors behind the emergence and evolution of Russian-language media in Finland;
• An examination of the methods employed by Russian-language media in Finland to establish and nurture trust. This will encompass the sourcing of information, the verification of facts, and the utilisation of feedback mechanisms.
• Analysis of the positioning and perception of Yle Novosti and other Russian-language media, including how Yle Novosti defines its role within the field, and how it is viewed by other actors who see it as both a reference point and a subject of discussion.
• An evaluation of the sustainability of Russian-language media and how they fund their work when resources are limited.
• An assessment of risks and future plans, including how Russian-language media assess the challenges they face, anticipate changes, and see their development.
• A study of the subjects and themes that resonate most strongly with Russian-speaking audiences in Finland, and the manner in which media outlets define, engage, and respond to their audiences.

In addition to the data that has already been gathered, further research is required to gain a better understanding of the Russian‑language media landscape in Finland. Some of these gaps were referred to in the limitations section of the current research and parts of this report. Further directions for future research could include:

• The network connections between Russian-language and Finnish-language media in Finland.
• The network connections between Russian-language media in Finland and Russian-language media in other countries.
• Content analysis of selected Russian-language media, focusing on how particular news items and topics are chosen, formulated and interpreted, paying attention to framing practices and editorial choices across different media.
• Audience analysis focusing on deeper audience engagement, triggers for engagement with certain topics, audience connections, and spread across different accounts.
• A media consumption study of Russian-language media on various social media platforms in Finland among the Russian-speaking population, focusing on motivations for following certain accounts, trust and media consumption preferences between platforms.