Journalist Marleena Pelli has been named Young European of the Year 2025. The recognition is awarded by JEF Finland, which since 2005 has highlighted young European influencers who actively promote European values, democracy and international cooperation.
Marleena Pelli works as a journalist for Yleisradio and is known in particular for her work at Yle Kioski, where she has developed new ways of covering politics in media aimed at young adults. She has produced political content for TikTok and brought parliamentary proceedings and presidential candidates directly to young people’s phones — for example through 15-second clips from election debates.
Pelli’s work is defined by innovation, courage and accessibility. She combines traditional journalism with social media formats in a way that makes politics understandable, engaging and, above all, close to young people’s everyday lives. Her contribution has helped increase young people’s interest in societal decision-making and lowered the threshold for taking part in public debate. Marleena Pelli makes politics more accessible for young people. Her work brings political discussion to life and supports European togetherness at a time when young people’s participation is crucial for the future of democracy.
“Recognising Marleena Pelli is an important reminder that open, accessible journalism that engages young people is one of the best ways to defend democracy and freedom of expression — especially at a time when these values are under threat in many European countries. Her work shows that even small messages can have a big impact when they reach a new generation in the right way,” says JEF Finland’s President Nea-Bettina Baarman.
Pelli has brought European phenomena and values to the fore in an easily approachable form, promoting international discussion on topics such as climate policy, human rights and the European Union’s role in our everyday lives. In addition, her empathetic and multi-perspective communication supports tolerance, pluralism and a constructive culture of debate. JEF Finland sees in Marleena Pelli an exemplary young influencer who acts boldly and responsibly for a shared European future.
For more information:
Nea-Bettina Baarman, President of JEF Finland
[email protected]
+358 44 330 6224
YLE: Yle journalist Marleena Pelli named Young European of the Year