Seminar “How to Communicate with Media?”

When? 19 November 2025, 13:00 – 16:15

Where? University of Turku, Publicum 5, Assistentinkatu 7

For whom? Researchers and students with an interest in religion and/or theology

Organizer: The Turku Hub for Research on Religion

Registration deadline: 12.11.2025 (Register here)

We are pleased to invite you to our first open seminar. This seminar will focus on how we as researchers communicate with media. The seminar is also an excellent opportunity to meet up with colleagues and share experiences and insights.

Programme

13:00 Introduction to the Turku Hub for the Study of Religion – Sofia Sjö (Research Manager, The Donner Institute)

13:15 It matters whose voice is heard in the media– Presentation by Riitta Monto (Media specialist, Professor of Practice, University of Turku)

13:30 Panel discussion: Researchers’ experience of communicating with media

Moderator: Mika Vähäkangas (Head of Research, The Polin Institute, Åbo Akademi University)

• Mercédesz Czimbalmos (Project Researcher, Polin Institute, Åbo Akademi University)
• Måns Broo (University Lecturer, Åbo Akademi University)
• Jyri Komulainen (Adjunct Professor in Christian Dogmatics; Chief Specialist, Church Institute for Research and Advanced Training, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland)

14:30 –15:00 Coffee break

15:00 – 16:15 Workshop: Speak Scholarship: Mastering Media Interviews for Researchers, Riitta Monto

• Mock interviews with voluntary participants. In preparation everyone sends in a short description of their research or area of interest (3–5 sentences). Please note that the research topics and their descriptions will be discussed in the workshop. Do not share research ideas that you will not want to be discussed publicly. Please also indicate if you are willing to participate in a mock interview.

16.30 Pizza night: Arcanum coffee room (2^nd floor), Arcanuminkuja 1

The Turku Hub for Research on Religion

The Turku Hub for Research on Religion is a collaborative initiative to strengthen interdisciplinary cooperation and visibility among institutions and researchers focused on the study of religion and/or theology in the Turku region.

Objectives

• Foster collaboration between key research institutions.
• Improve communication around ongoing and planned research.
• Support scholars through shared resources, regular meetings, and joint initiatives.

Participating institutions

• The Donner Institute (DI)
• The Polin Institute
• Institutum Judaicum Aboense
• The Migration Institute of Finland
• Centre for the Study of Christian Cultures (CSCC)
• The subjects Theology and Study of Religions at Åbo Akademi University
• The Department of Study of Religion at the University of Turku