Reeta Pöyhtäri

Työskentelen yliopistotutkijana tutkimuskeskus Tarussa. Tutkimukseni käsittelee julkisen keskustelun, uutismedian ja journalismin haasteita digitaalisessa media- ja informaatioympäristössä. Kiinnostukseni kohteena ovat keskustelun sananvapautta, monimuotoisuutta ja dialogia sekä ihmisoikeuksia koskevat kysymykset. Erityisesti olen perehtynyt vihapuheeseen ja verkkovihaan.

Research projects

I currently work in research project:

• The democratic epistemic capacities in the age of algorithms (DECA), 2022-2025, TAU, HY, UIF, Aalto & Nuorisotutkimusseura, Research Council of Finland/STN Shield

I am also affiliated with the following projects:

• A toolkit for tackling hate speech – managing the production, experiencing, and witnessing of hate speech in the digital age (TACKLEHATE), Research Council of Finland PoC, 2026-2028
• Polarisaation hiljentämät - Silenced by Polarization: From Confrontation Challenges to Media Potentials, 2025-, TAU, Media Industry Research Foundation of Finland, https://projects.tuni.fi/pola/in-english/
• Journalistien häirintä ja sen vaikutukset - Harassment of journalists and its effects, 2022-2024, TAU, Jokes Foundation
• Worlds of Journalism Study Finland, 2021-2024, JYU, Helsingin Sanomat Foundation, https://worldsofjournalism.org/

• Public discourse in digital media and information environment
• Freedom of expression and communication rights
• Hate speech, online hate and harassment
• Self-regulation and policies in journalism and on digital platforms
• Migration in the media
• Safety of journalists
• Ethics and practices of journalism

Previously starting from 2021 I have worked as senior research fellow at TAU. In 2018-21 I worked as a post-doctoral researcher at University of Jyväskylä (JYU). In 2006-2014 and 2016-2018, I worked as a post-doctoral researcher and doctoral researcher at COMET, University of Tampere (UTA). In 2014-2016, I worked as a research fellow and expert at the Freedom of Expression Section at UNESCO, Paris. I have been an expert member of national ministry-lead working groups concerning hate speech and possible solutions.

My previous projects:

• Everyday Affective Practices Online: Producing, Experiencing and Managing Hate Speech in the Digital Era (HAFFECT), 2021-25, TAU & JYU, Academy of Finland/Research Council of Finland
• Communication rights in the age of digital disruption (CorDi), 2019-2022, TAU & HY, Academy of Finland, MediaSoc Programme, https://cordi.blog/
• Counterspeech, 2021-2024, JYU, Kone Foundation
• Vihan verkot / Networks of hate, 2021-2022, JYU/TAU/Police Academy, Government-funded research activities,
  https://www.jyu.fi/hytk/fi/tutkimus/tutkimusverkostot/vihan-verkot; https://julkaisut.valtioneuvosto.fi/handle/10024/164244; https://tietokayttoon.fi/ajankohtaista/blogi/-/blogs/verkkovihaa-tuotetaan-organisoidusti-mutta-levitetaan-myos-huomaamatta
• Post-doctoral research project: Challenges and solutions for free, plural and non-violent public discourse, 2018-2021, JYU
• Viha vallassa: Päätöksentekoon vaikuttamaan pyrkivä vihapuhe - Hate in power: Hate speech targeting political decision making, 2019, University of Jyväskylä and Open Knowledge Finland, Government-funded research activities, https://www.jyu.fi/hytk/fi/tutkimus/tutkimusverkostot/vihavallassa
• Racisms and public communications in the hybrid media environment HYBRA, 2016-2018, UTA, Academy of Finland, https://research.tuni.fi/comet/rasismit-ja-julkinen-keskustelu-hybridissa-mediamaisemassa/
• Tieto ja tunteet pakolaiskeskustelussa: Tutkimus vuonna 2015 käynnistyneen pakolaiskriisin mediajulkisuudesta - Facts and affect in refugee debate, 2016-2018, UTA, Helsingin Sanomat Foundation, https://research.tuni.fi/comet/tieto-ja-tunteet-pakolaiskeskustelussa/
• Academic Research Fellow, UNESCO, Paris, Journalism Safety Indicators Projects, 2014-2016, Helsingin Sanomat Foundation, https://en.unesco.org/themes/fostering-freedom-expression; https://en.unesco.org/themes/safety-journalists
• Worlds of Journalism Study – Finland, 2013-2014, UTA, Helsingin Sanomat Foundation; https://worldsofjournalism.org/; https://research.tuni.fi/comet/worlds-of-journalism-study/
• Aggressiivinen keskustelu sananvapautta kaventamassa - Aggressive discussion limiting freedom of speech, 2012-2013, UTA, Helsingin Sanomat Foundation, https://research.tuni.fi/comet/aggressiivinen-keskustelukulttuuri-sananvapautta-kaventamassa/; Vihapuhe sananvapautta kaventamassa - Trepo
• Väitöskirjahanke / Dissertation project: Immigration and ethnic diversity in Finnish and Dutch magazines, 2006-2014, University of Tampere, Academy of Finland, Kone Foundation; Immigration and ethnic diversity in Finnish and Dutch magazines. Articulations of subject positions and symbolic communities - Trepo
• Migration and media; Racism and ethnic discrimination in media; Monimos, 2006-2011, University of Tampere, funders Ministy of Education; Sanoma Foundation; Academy of Finland. 

I am a board member of the board of The Finnish Foundation for Media and Development, Vikes since 2017. I was the vice-president of the board in 2020-2022 and the president in 2023.

Please see for recent publications and research activities:
https://researchportal.tuni.fi/en/persons/reeta-p%C3%B6yht%C3%A4ri