As a media group operating in three Baltic States, Ekspress Group plays a key role in promoting the society. In its home markets, the Group is one of the key companies to create the public information space and it is a major employer.
It means an obligation to manage companies in a responsible manner, and to create high-quality and reliable journalistic content in an independent and ethical manner.
Our accountability primarily stems from six aspects:
- Impact, role and responsibility of the daily functioning of media,
- Raising key topics of importance to the society,
- Ensuring customer experience and satisfaction,
- Being an employer to more than 1000 people,
- Additional contribution to the development of the society and industry,
- Conscious environmental management.
It is the third year that Ekspress Grupp publishes a separate ESG report as part of its annual report. The separate ESG report consolidates the financial report in the same volume as the annual report and covers the operations of the parent company and all its subsidiaries as part of its annual report. 2024 is the first year when Ekspress Grupp publishes its sustainability report in compliance with the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS).
As before, the Group’s sustainability activities and, in connection with it, the report is based on the ESG (environmental-social-governance) strategy created in 2022. The focus of the report is set on the important topics identified in the strategy creation and during double materiality assessment. We measure and analyse our development in these areas with the help of the benchmarks directly related to the strategy, as well as with the benchmarks required in the ESRS topical standards.
The ESG strategy of Ekspress Grupp is based on the international standards of a responsible enterprise, EU sustainability regulations and the sector’s best practices. When creating the ESG strategy back in 2022, we also mapped out preliminary important topics (materiality analysis) in cooperation with external experts. This was complimented by a more detailed double materiality analysis conducted in 2024, which is compliant with the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG) guidance on the use of the double materiality principle and the involvement of stakeholders necessary to comply with the Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS).
Our focus areas
• Employee wellbeing
• Diversity. Equality and Inclusion
• Responsible advertising platform
• Customer rights and interests
• Responsible governance
• Supply chain sustainability
Our value chain
UPSTREAM ACTIVITES
Content creation
Platform management
Translation and printing
Digital conversion
E-publishing
Ticket allocation and validation
Event planning
Concept development
Logistics management
OWN OPERATIONS
MEDIA
Online digital publications
Printed publications
E-books and audio-books
ADVERTISING
Digital screens
Printed outdoor material
ADVERTISING SALES PLATFORM
TICKET SALES PLATFORM
EVENTS
DOWNSTREAM ACTIVITIES
Audience engagement
Product distribution and sales
Campaign evaluation
Ad placement and installation
Ad performance monitoring
Ticket marketing and promotion
Post-event analysis
Event ad management
SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES
Strategic governance
Portfolio management
Stakeholder engagement
Office resource management
As a leading media group, Ekspress Grupp is well aware of its role in the economic and social development of all its home markets. Our companies have undeniably the biggest impact and possibility to contribute to the society and democracy through their core activities – by creating media content and offering modern digital solutions and services. To ensure that our positive contribution has as great an impact as possible, we conduct our activities in all media segments according to principles of corporate responsibility and sector standards.
Independent and influential media group
The role and responsibility of media is to bring relevant and challenging themes to the public. Coverage of social challenges turns attention to important processes that need to be changed so that they can be positively influenced thereafter.
With its ESG strategy, we have assumed a Group-wide role and accountability for creating real changes to support sustainable development, especially UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Our promise Ekspress Grupp’s goal is to be a leading supporter of the freedom of speech in the Baltics and to foster the society by providing access to fact-based and quality information. We wish to increase our contribution to the development of the media sector in order to preserve and promote the high level of press freedom in the Baltics. Our ambition is to be a leading reporter of sustainability issues in the Baltics.
Targets None of Ekspress Grupp’s publications do not publish unethical or irresponsible information.
None of the articles in Ekspress Grupp’s media publications contradicts Ekspress Grupp’s code of ethics.
Our approach to responsible journalism
Press ethics starts with independence
Journalism needs to be independent and free. The work of journalists and periodicals should not be influenced by business interests, political links, personal relations or gains, bribes or any other benefits. The principles of balanced journalism are followed in all Group companies. Various parties are allowed to express themselves equally and can present counterarguments and, if necessary, corrections. The sources of presented information are always verified. Each journalist is responsible for source and confidentiality protection. In case of sensitive topics, the line of ethics should be perceived.
Standing up for credibility and freedom of expression
The continued and increasingly sharp polarization of the public increases the pressure on media houses to create and present reliable and quality journalistic content in a timely manner.
Comment control by human moderation
Comments are an important part of online publications as they enable the readers to express their views on topics that are important to them. Ekspress Grupp's media publications promote comments by users who are registered and logged in. Inappropriate comments are removed by both human moderators and a machine-learning moderating system.
As a leading media group, we have assumed the role of the voice of the media sector with a view of contributing to the development of the sector. We actively support the development of media competence and fact-based knowledge.
Coverage of sustainable development
In 2020, Eesti Päevaleht was the first media outlet in Estonia to launch a climate section in 2020. In 2021, it was expanded into a more general Green Portal that follows trends and developments in sustainability topics.
Grynas, a news portal devoted to environmental issues, has been operating under Delfi Lithuania continuously more than ten years. In addition to this, environmental challenges covered within the special project Tvari Lietuva, based on the UN sustainable development goals where in addition to a continuous news stream, longer analytical articles on topics such as energy, consumer behaviour, education, gender equality, sustainable innovation and environmental protection are published once a month. In addition, video stories are made and brainstorming sessions are conducted to improve public environmental awareness. In 2023, Delfi Latvia launched its green portal Mēs darām, and the Lithuanian publication Lrytas started the sustainability project Tvarumo kodas, mapping the journey of businesses towards sustainability both in text and in video, and also hoping to inspire others. The Lithuanian news agency ELTA has also created a separate section dedicated to sustainability.
Our services and service development follow a consumer-centric approach, and our subsidiaries have designed their customer communication processes according to their line of business. Our Group companies have both private and business customers, and as a media group, we also serve the wider public.
Group companies manage large customer databases, and as an increasingly complex digital media group, recognise risks related to data protection. Based on our 2024 DMA assessment, the only material topic, which can pose a potential negative impact and is also a risk, is related to customer data security and privacy, which can further materialize if no preventive measures and actions are in place.
In addition to the green portal of Eesti Päevaleht, other media platforms of Delfi Meedia have developed more extensive social themes which have been in the focus of the largest brands for several years.
reduction of traffic deaths
reduction of home violence
mental health
appreciation of rural life