Shared Narrative – Analysis on Finnish Socio-Educational Policy and National Broadcasting (YLE) Literacy during COVID-19 Variants 2021

Abstract

This case study analyzed the Finnish National Broadcasting Company (YLE) literacy on socio-educational policies during the alpha and delta variant strategic turns 2021. The data comprised YLE releases, interdisciplinary global research, pandemic literacies, and statements of politicians/officials. Limitations occurred mainly in the data plenitude. Alpha variant caused socio-political responses maneuvered by politicians and officials. YLE supported without socially participating, competence-enhancing or motivating civic information. NPIs were linked to the political promises of national pandemic end during the summer. International pandemic studies were excluded from nationalized narrative, in which YLE strategically emphasized mutual experience, shared story, and approaching happy end. In August 2021, previously promised “liberation” was too close to change the narrative. Instead of delta mitigation, officials and politicians fortified the narrative towards the end. YLE conducted a closing story. Releases replaced international studies and responses with a small circle of domestic experts, who repeated the narrative they previously had manifested. No NPIs occurred, but remaining ones were lifted despite the rising incidence numbers. Conclusively, the lacking research in the YLE contributions indicated the absence of research literacy among politicians and reporters. Consequently, occurring sidetracks used modern nationalism rhetoric, supporting the main narrative. Children’s ‘absolute’ right was on-site schooling, regardless of safety research or practices developed abroad. In further studies, the post-pandemic status and goals of Finnish education need comparative reassessments other than a “trust”.