The Media Innovation Studio (MIS) at the University of Central Lancashire is excited to announce the addition of Dr. Marja Heinonen and Truus Huisman as Senior Associates, strengthening our ongoing commitment to sustainability, leadership, and innovation in media. Both will be contributing to the Sustainable Innovation and Leadership Accelerator (SILA), a transformative initiative aimed at equipping media executives with the skills to lead on sustainability in their organisations and beyond.
The Media Innovation Studio is already well known for its pioneering Journalism Innovation and Leadership Programme (JILeaders), which empowers newsroom leaders worldwide to drive innovation and tackle the complex challenges facing modern journalism. The Sustainable Innovation and Leadership Accelerator will complement this ongoing work, bringing an even stronger emphasis on how newsroom leaders can champion sustainability and address climate-related challenges, both in their operations and through the journalism they produce.
Dr. François Nel, Director of both the Sustainable Innovation and Leadership Accelerator and the Journalism Innovation and Leadership Programme, expressed his enthusiasm about the new appointments:
“Having Truus and Marja join our team is a huge honour. Their expertise and leadership in media and sustainability are invaluable as we continue to develop both our pioneering Journalism Innovation and Leadership Programme and the new Sustainable Innovation and Leadership Accelerator. Together, these initiatives will equip media leaders with the competencies to not only innovate but also to lead on the most pressing challenge of our time—climate change.”
A Powerful Team of Changemakers
Dr. Marja Heinonen brings over 30 years of experience in journalism, media leadership, and digital transformation. Her background as a development leader in the Finnish Broadcasting Company’s News and Current Affairs combined with her passion for sustainability, makes her an essential voice in the SILA project. A respected researcher and author, Marja is a co-editor of the sustainable development media initiative, Ykspilkkuviis, and leads discussions on creating a sustainable future through the Morning Coffee for a Bright Future series.
Speaking about her new role, Marja commented:
“I am thrilled to join the Media Innovation Studio and contribute to the Sustainable Innovation & Leadership Accelerator. The media industry is at a turning point. It has a significant role in the profound changes in the world around us. Climate change and biodiversity loss are humanity’s biggest existential threats. Sustainability means tackling these issues but also thinking more broadly about our sustainable future. Therefore sustainability must be at the heart of media’s future. I look forward to working with colleagues to inspire and support media leaders in driving change from within.”
Truus Huisman brings a wealth of experience from her leadership roles at the IKEA Foundation and Unilever, where she shaped sustainability strategies and managed external relations at the highest levels. With over 30 years in sustainability communications and external engagement, Truus has a proven track record of enabling businesses to embed sustainability into their core operations.
Truus shared her excitement about joining Media Innovation Studio:
“The media plays such a crucial role in how we understand and tackle sustainability issues. By working with the Sustainable Innovation and Leadership Accelerator, I hope to help media managers become sustainability champions within their organisations, driving positive impact not only in their operations but also in the stories they tell. I’m convinced that this will benefit both society and news organisations.”
Driving Sustainable Leadership in Media
The Sustainable Innovation and Leadership Accelerator (SILA) is designed to address the growing need for sustainability in media. As global awareness of environmental, social, and economic sustainability increases, media organisations are under pressure to lead by example—both in their internal practices and in their public reporting. SILA will build on the successes of the Journalism Innovation and Leadership Programme (JILeaders), with an even stronger focus on how newsroom leaders can drive climate-related innovation and sustainability.
Truus and Marja, as Senior Associates, will play pivotal roles in shaping the programme’s curriculum and approach, ensuring it is relevant and impactful. In addition, they will contribute to the underpinning research that informs the programme and support public engagement and policy initiatives that drive media transformation on a broader scale. Their leadership will guide media executives on the journey toward sustainable transformation—both within their organisations and through the media’s broader impact on society and climate action.
Invitation to the JILeaders FORUM
To see Dr. Marja Heinonen and Truus Huisman in action, join us at the JILeaders Forum on 29th October 2024, titled Reimagining News for a Climate-Conscious World. This hybrid event will bring together media leaders to discuss climate-conscious journalism, greenwashing, and the environmental impact of AI technologies.
For more information and to register for the forum, visit the link or contact us at JILeaders@uclan.ac.uk.
Follow us on LinkedIn for updates as we continue to develop the Sustainable Innovation & Leadership Accelerator alongside the Journalism Innovation and Leadership Programme, bringing cutting-edge insights to media leaders across the globe.
