42^nd Annual Conference - 21^st and 22^nd May 2026 - Tampere
#CIRCOM2026

The most important annual forum of regional television media in Europe will be held on 21-22 May 2026 in Tampere, Finland, organised by the public service broadcaster Yle. Yle will be celebrating its 100^th anniversary in 2026, and the Annual Conference will be part of the celebration.

The Conference theme Shared moments reflects on the way regional public service media brings communities together, and communities are also a significant part of building safety. The theme simultaneously emphasizes everyone’s right to stay involved in a world where the pace of change seems to be accelerating.

Join us for an inspiring Conference bringing together regional media professionals from across Europe to share ideas, experiences, and inspiration.

Through engaging discussions, case studies, and practical examples, the conference will focus on three key themes:

• Ultra-local storytelling and community engagement
• Reinventing public service media
• Tools that support digital and editorial transformation

The Conference is designed for professionals working in regional and public service media who want to exchange ideas, gain practical insights, and return to their organisations inspired and better equipped for the challenges ahead as well as for everyone who follows and cares about regional media.
 

REGISTRATION FORM
(hotel booking options are listed in the registration form)

 

Conference Programme

Check the programme regularly for updates!

Wednesday May 20^th, 2026

Welcome Reception, Raatihuone, Old City Hall

Thursday May 21^st, 2026 Conference day 1

09:30 Opening ceremony

Day One Morning Session: Going Ultra Local

This session emphasizes the power of regional media, community engagement, and the significance of hyperlocal content. It includes presentations that focus on local partnerships, regional production, and grassroots journalism.

• Impactful Journalism Through a Partnership Model
  We will focus on the work and impact of the Local Democracy Reporting Service which, since launch, has now delivered more than 500,000 stories on the regular business and workings of local authorities in the UK for use by the partner network. The BBC Local News Partnerships were created as a result of an agreement between the BBC and the News Media Association, which represents the majority of the UK's regional press. More than 230 media organisations - representing more than 1,100 print, online or broadcast outlets across the UK - are now partners of the scheme, which provides access to stories created by 165 Local Democracy Reporters, data journalism packs created by a team of BBC journalists, and regional-news video initially created for BBC audiences.

  Speaker: Jason Gibbins, BBC, UK
  A multi-media editor and journalist, Jason was appointed Editor of the BBC Local News Partnerships in 2024 after initially joining the project as Assistant Editor ahead of its launch in 2017.
  Prior to joining the BBC, Jason worked in the regional press sector for more than 20 years. He started his career as a reporter on a daily news title, before progressing to become editor of a number of regional news titles across a 12-year period. He has also worked for a number of the UK's national newspapers on a freelance basis.
  Jason passionately believes that a thriving regional news sector is vital for a healthy democracy, and that the Local Democracy Reporting Service plays a critical role in holding those that make decisions in the public's name to account.
  
  

• Hyperlocal Network of Journalists on the Frontline of War
  War redraws borders not only on maps, but in media coverage. Entire communities can vanish from the news simply because they are too far, too hard, or too dangerous to reach. Suspilne’s hyperlocal network was created to challenge that reality — by empowering people who already live there to become the voice of their communities. This presentation explores how hyperlocal journalism works in wartime Ukraine — and why it matters more than ever.

  Speaker: Alla Skoryk, Suspilne, Ukraine
  Alla has 20 years of experience in journalism, including work as a reporter. She is responsible for content produced by Suspilne’s regional stations in Ukraine, including those operating along the front line and reporting on life in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
  
  

• Countering Disinformation: Public Broadcaster as a Defender of Trust
  Moldovan public broadcaster describes how influence operations have manifested as disinformation, fake news, and social media campaigns aimed at undermining trust in democratic institutions. Acting as a counterforce, the public broadcaster provides reliable journalism and promotes media literacy across various language communities.

  Speaker: Nicolae Mocanu, TVR, Moldova
  Nicolae is a lawyer specialising in foreign policy and the fight against disinformation, who serves as the General Manager of the Romanian public broadcaster operating in the Republic of Moldova. Previously, he worked as an adviser in the Romanian Prime Minister's Chancellery on relations with the Republic of Moldova, supporting Moldova's European integration and the fight against Russian disinformation. Over the years, he has participated in missions to educate the population of the Republic of Moldova about disinformation, has produced programmes dedicated to combating Russian propaganda and disinformation (Fake News Alert, Fakt or Fake), and has conducted in-depth research into the phenomenon.
  
  

• The Media's Role in Security of Supply and Societal Resilience
  We examine the media as a sector critical to society’s security of supply and reflect on the importance of reliable and verified information in crisis situations. The presentation introduces the Mediapooli’s network-based operating model for promoting preparedness within the media sector for cross-sectoral and long-term crises in Finland. Senni Jyrkiäinen also discusses the role of regional media in strengthening societal resilience and highlights concrete measures through which the media industry prepares for risks such as hybrid and information influence operations and cyber threats.

  Speaker: Senni Jyrkiäinen, Mediapooli, Finland
  Senni works as a Preparedness Manager at the Mediapooli, where she is responsible for developing security of supply within the media sector and supporting the industry in preparing for various large-scale crises. Senni holds a doctoral degree, specializing in media anthropology, and has fieldwork experience in crisis and emergency conditions. She has worked as a researcher, trainer, and expert both in Finland and internationally, and is interested in topics related to information security of supply and societal resilience.
  
  

Lunch break

Day One Afternoon Session: Public Service Reinvented

This session focuses on the transformation of public service media (PSM), innovations, strategies, and new ways of working for the future, as well as the role of PSM in the evolving media landscape.

• Scary and Scarier, Top 10 Threats to PSM…and How to Beat Them All
  Threats (the artists euphemisticly known as challenges) to PSM are everywhere – there are both traditional greatest hits, and new, head-spinning entries to the TOP 10 list. Here's trying to wrap 'em up and make sense of them all. You gotta know your enemies to win the fights!

  Speaker: Mika Rahkonen, Yle, Finland
  Mika is a long time PSM veteran from Yle. He's a slowly recovering journalist having worked for 20 years in the news dept. in several roles. Mika is a co-founder of former Yle News Lab, groundbreaking youth operation Yle Kioski and EBU Digital Committee.
  For the past years he's been the Head of Strategy in Yle trying to formulate punchy, short and sweet strategies and whatever guidelines might be involved to keep PSM alive, well and maybe kicking, too.
  
  

• How Can Solutions Journalism Deepen Connections With Audiences and Support Local Communities?
  Polarization, mistrust and news avoidance are rising among viewers. Solutions journalism can be a key to help regional public media reconnect with their audience. We are always focused on the bad news of the day but how can we include any mention of what people are doing to resolve the problems we’re covering? Sophie Roland will share tips and good practices to make balanced and rigorous solutions in local news. Roland will give insights from the newsrooms who have already implemented solutions journalism and show how impactful those stories are for their audience and the journalists team.

  Speaker: Sophie Roland, Chief Editor Investigation & Solutions at VERT Media and certified trainer at Europe for Solutions Journalism Network (SJN)
  Sophie is a French TV journalist,  Chief Editor Investigation & Solutions at VERT Media and a certified trainer in Europe for Solutions Journalism Network (SJN). Sophie trains in solutions journalism, national and local channels in France, European organizations, national and local newspapers and journalism school students. She is also a mentor in many Fellowship programs led by SJN and European Journalism Center to help newsrooms embrace solutions journalism. For more than 20 years, she worked for French Public TV, France Televisions, including local TV and popular investigative programs.
  
  

• Redefining local news
  SVT’s new experimental project‑newsroom focused on reaching audiences aged 20–29 with local public service journalism. We tested approaches in both storytelling angles and format development, aiming to understand what resonates with younger viewers. In Lisa Åberg’s presentation, she will share some key learnings and practical takeaways for public service organizations trying to engage this hard‑to‑reach audience.

  Speaker: Lisa Åberg, SVT, Sweden
  Lisa is an editor at SVT, based in Stockholm. She combines hands‑on experience from daily news production with long‑term editorial development. Most recently, she has focused on developing local storytelling and strengthening audience‑focused journalism, with a particular emphasis on reaching younger audiences.
  
  

• From newscasts to a multiplatform news universe
  We will look at 3CatInfo’s shift from traditional newscasts to a multiplatform news model, explaining how editorial strategy and workflows have evolved to serve audiences across platforms while upholding public service values and trust. Changing the culture of a long-established newsroom takes time, and the process has included challenges and lessons learned. The key shift has been putting content and citizens’ needs at the center of editorial and product decisions.

  Speaker: Medir Plandolit, 3Cat, Catalonia, Spain
  Medir is a journalist and Head of Digital News at 3Cat, leading the organisation’s digital‑first, cross‑platform strategy. He specialises in connecting editorial judgment, technology, and audience needs, with experience in new digital formats, social platforms, newsletters, and data‑driven decision‑making. He has played a key role in newsroom transformation, and his interests include public service media challenges, product optimisation, journalism sustainability, and evolving news formats.

 

Presentation of CIRCOM Regional Annual Conference 2027

Day One Evening: Prix CIRCOM Regional Awards Ceremony

 

Friday May 22^nd, 2026 Conference day 2

Day Two Session 1: Meet the Prix CIRCOM Regional Winners

An opportunity to meet the Prix CIRCOM Regional 2026 Winners and hear directly from the creators behind Europe’s most outstanding regional programmes.

Day Two Session 2: Tools for Transformation

This session brings practical, showcasing technological solutions and applications that enhance editorial work and digital product development.

• What Happens When the Newsroom Goes Dark? Leadership Dilemmas Under a Ransomware Attack
  Gerda Bosman reconstructs a real-world ransomware attack on a regional public broadcaster, from the first technical indicators to the final strategic decisions. The talk combines a chronological narrative of the incident with hands-on insights from the incident response team and the dilemmas faced by leadership under pressure. Beyond the technical details, it focuses on what actually helped: decision-making under uncertainty, coordination between security experts and non-technical stakeholders, and the hard lessons that only emerge during a live crisis.

  Speaker: Gerda Bosman, RTV Noord, The Netherlands
  Gerda is an editor-in-chief with a long-standing focus on science journalism, technology, and media innovation. She currently leads RTV Noord, a regional public broadcaster in the north of the Netherlands, where she experienced a large-scale ransomware attack from the inside. During the incident, she worked closely with an external incident response firm while continuing to run a newsroom under severe technical constraints. The experience felt less like crisis management theory and more like stepping into a real-world episode of Darknet Diaries.
  
  

• How ORF’s AIditor Harmonizes AI Efficiency With Journalistic Integrity
  ORF’s award-winning AIditor platform is a benchmark for successfully integrating artificial intelligence into the daily workflows of a modern public broadcaster. AIditor does not merely streamline multi-channel content production by automating routine tasks. It demonstrates how AI serves as a powerful co-pilot while ensuring that final editorial judgment and responsibility remain firmly with the journalist. ORF will share insights into how this tool was democratized for hundreds of staff members and how it has fundamentally reshaped newsroom dynamics. Finally, we will discuss how solutions like AIditor enable media organizations to maintain their relevance and public trust in the era of generative AI.

  Speaker: Stefan Kollinger, ORF, Austria
  Stefan Kollinger is an experienced professional in the field of media technology and digitalization, currently serving as the Chief Innovation Officer at ORF. In this role Stefan focuses on leading strategic initiatives from AI to Smart Producing to promote technological innovations and integrate digital solutions into the company's existing operational processes. His work involves close collaboration with various departments to ensure that ORF remains at the forefront of digital transformation and efficiently uses the latest technologies to enhance program quality and reach.
  
  

• AI and Trust: RTÉ's Model for Digital Age Skills Development
  How does a 100-year-old public service broadcaster train its nearly 2,000 employees in the age of AI? RTÉ's Learning & Development (L&D) and Technology departments present their unique collaboration. Hear how they ensure the safe, ethical, and audience-trusting utilization of AI. The presentation features groundbreaking initiatives – from AI awareness and battling disinformation to even developing their own Irish-language LLM (Large Language Model).

  Speakers: Kevin Burns and Aidan Bell, RTÉ, Ireland
  Kevin Burns
  Kevin is over learning and development in RTÉ, meeting the training needs of a very diverse broadcaster. A leader of the RTÉ Internship Programme. Previously Head of Access Services and manager/producer/reporter across a broad range of Irish radio and television programmes. Fellow of Irish Institute of Training and Development. Executive Coach and Masters Degree in Learning and Technology from Open University.
  Aidan Bell
  Aidan has over a decade of experience working with a cross section of the business to deliver transformation projects throughout the organisation, challenge existing workflows and ways of working and implementing new technology-driven solutions. Recent initiatives have focused on innovations in metadata generation, workflow enhancements and AI adoption and strategy.
  
  

• Principles of a Successful Regional Audiovisual Ecosystem
  The film and television industry has been in sustained turbulence in recent years. Those aiming to stay relevant — or to lead the way — need a stronger strategic approach than ever, combining flexibility with a vision that challenges conventional thinking. The media ecosystem is in constant flux, making a clear understanding of one’s role critical. Fanny distils key principles from the work of the successful regional film commission Film Tampere, highlighting how the ability to reinvent has been enabled at the intersection of the public and private sectors.

  Speaker: Fanny Heinonen, Business Tampere, Finland
  Fanny is a visionary millennial leader and Program Director of Film Tampere at Business Tampere, a dynamic regional film commission behind 160+ supported Film & TV productions and a pioneering new gaming division. As Project Manager of the international audiovisual AV Growth accelerator program, she drives the future of more business-driven audiovisual industry in the Nordics. With roots as a makeup designer featured in Vogue Italia and Helsinki Fashion Week, she is also the founder of FJH Casting & Makeup and a certified NLP Master Practitioner, mentoring countless creatives on their path to success. A passion for bringing business and creativity together has guided her career choices and become central to her expertise.

 

Closing of the conference

Lunch

Excursion

REGISTRATION FORM
(hotel booking options are listed in the registration form)

 

100 Years Old Yle Welcomes 42^nd CIRCOM Regional Conference to Tampere Finland!

Yle - the Finnish Broadcasting Company is Finland's national public service media company. We produce content and services for audiences regardless of their residence status, wealth, age or gender. We are proud to have 31 regional news offices in Finland: 25 Finnish speaking, 8 Swedish speaking and two Sami regional offices.

Tampere and the Conference Venue

Tampere is a highly regarded city of excellence, culture, events and students, home to more than 260 000 people. It is proven to be the most attractive city in Finland! Moving around Tampere is easy by foot, on city bikes or on excellent public transport. Tampere is also the Sauna Capital of the world.

Our conference venue is Tampere-talo. Both Conference and the Prix Gala will be located there. The Welcome Reception will be hosted by the City of Tampere at the Old City Hall. These locations are less than two kilometers apart and if you walk, you can enjoy the beautiful view of Tammerkoski Rapids in the heart of the city.

Tampere-talo, conference venue  
image: Jousia Lappi, Visit Tampere