Finnbay

Finnbay's articles take a definite editorial stance and almost never carry a byline. Not even the name of the editor is printed in the issue. The author of a piece is named in certain circumstances: when notable persons are invited to contribute opinion pieces. The editors say this is because, they consider the Economist as their role model and "anonymity enables the journalist not to be affected by their private relations with companies, politicians or others."{{cite news|url=http://www.finnbay.com/letter-from-finnbay-regarding-its-authority/|title=Letter From FINNBAY Regarding Its Authority|publisher=Finnbay|access-date=21 April 2014}}

In April 2014, Finnbay was prominently featured in Finnish media after it threatened to start legal action{{cite web|url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/finnbays_english-language_news_reporting_under_scrutiny/7177044 |title=Finnbay's English-language news reporting under scrutiny |publisher=YLE |date=7 April 2014 |access-date=8 April 2014}} against the Finnish ambassador to Russia Hannu Himanen unless he made an apology. Himanen had claimed on Twitter that Finnbay featured a fictitious report{{cite web|title=Russia's Cabinet: Finland's Hands Tight to Cooperate with Russia|url=http://www.finnbay.com/russia-foreign-cabinet-finland-hands-tight-to-cooperate-with-russia/|work=Finnbay|access-date=8 April 2014|date=5 April 2014}} on Finland's relations with Russia was "complete nonsense and grossly misrepresents Finland's position".{{cite web|last=Himanen|first=Hannu|title=Tweet|url=https://twitter.com/HannuHimanen/status/452489981538631680|work=Twitter|access-date=8 April 2014|date=5 April 2014}} The debate was further fuelled, when Helsingin Sanomat published an analysis by researcher Mika Aaltola at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, according to whom the way Finnbay operated had similarities to an information warfare operation, with an aim to confuse public debate.{{cite news|url=http://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/domestic/10096-researcher-finnbay-activities-may-be-part-of-psychological-warfare.html/ |title=Researcher: Finnbay activities may be part of psychological warfare |newspaper=Helsinki Times |date=7 April 2014 |access-date=8 April 2014|first1=Laura|last1=Halminen|last2=Woolley|first2=Niina}}

Johan Bäckman, a Finnish political author, said "Finnbay story about the Finnish attitude towards Russia is presented correctly. The country is formally in the EU, but Finland does not want to be involved in sanctions against Russia. I was surprised mainly to the fact that if someone writes about Finnish affairs in uncooperative manner, then most of often the writer is persecuted."[https://www.ts.fi/uutiset/615907 Bäckman Defends Finnbay] TS, 20 April 2014.[http://www.smobie.com/et-ee/story/1032282/Johan_Baeckman_sueuedistab_Eesti_kaitsepolitseid_Soome_uudisteportaali_uember_skandaali_tekitamises Bäckman Accuses Estonian Police on Starting Fallsified Rumours on Finnbay] Zave, 20 April 2014.

Minister of Defence for Finland Carl Haglund later said that it was unlikely that Finnbay was part of Russia's organised military propaganda.{{cite web|title=Defence Minister: Finnbay "probably not systematic Russian propaganda"|url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/defence_minister_finnbay_probably_not_systematic_russian_propaganda/7180825|publisher=YLE|access-date=10 April 2014|date=8 April 2014}} Neither Ministry of Foreign Affairs nor the Finnish security police (Supo) found any evidence of propaganda in the end.[http://yle.fi/uutiset/mfa_meets_finnbay_founder_does_not_suspect_russian_involvement/7185449 MFA meets Finnbay founder, does not suspect Russian involvement] YLE, 10 April 2014.[http://www.finnbay.com/finnish-ministry-of-foreign-affairs-finnbay-purpose-is-not-to-systematically-spread-damaging-information-about-finland/ Finnish Ministry Of Foreign Affairs’ Official Press Release On FINNBAY’s Purpose] Finnbay, 20 April 2014.

Finnbay received several criticisms as the media website did not mention the name of its editor-in-chief, although this is required by Finnish law for both web and print news. In addition, the street address listed on the publication contact page does not exist. Finnbay however later deleted the invalid address and said that it did not want to reveal its physical address for security reasons due to having received threats from Finnish anti-immigration groups.{{cite web|title=Our Second Letter to the Finnish Ambassador in Russia Hannu Himanen|url=http://www.finnbay.com/our-second-letter-to-the-finnish-ambassador-in-russia-hannu-himanen/|publisher=Finnbay|access-date=24 April 2014|date=10 April 2014}} Finnbay claimed to have an exclusive partnership with Italy's leading news agency ANSA and announced plans to start a print newspaper with the Russian-language Novosti Helsinki. But the news agency, when contacted, denied the existence of any exclusive partnership agreement apart from general content partnership with itself and Finnbay, and the editor-in-chief of Novosti Helsinki said that the extent of co-operation between Novosti Helsinki and Finnbay was limited to content exchange. The editor-in-chief of Novosti Helsinki characterised Finnbay's writers as "a group of enthusiastic hobbyists".

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• {{official website|http://www.finnbay.com/}}

Category:2013 establishments in Finland

Category:Mass media in Helsinki