Juho Mikkonen interviewed his spouse Kerttu Niska on Viaplay broadcasts.
Juho Mikkonen (left) is Kerttu Niskanen’s husband and coach. Jussi Saarinen
The sight is a bit embarrassing when Viaplay’s skiing expert Juho Mikkonen interviews Kerttu from Niska At the Tour de Ski. The situation was seen on Tuesday after the 20-kilometer intermediate start race and after Wednesday’s pursuit battle had stopped.
What made the situation awkward and journalistically questionable was that Mikkonen is not only Niskanen’s coach but also his spouse.
The interview situations were carried out in such a way that the main responsibility for them was handled by a conkar reporter Ville Klinga. The role of Mikkonen, who was next to Klinga, was to ask one question.
It was not the first time that a similar situation has been seen in Finnish skiing. Once at Yle Laura Arffman interviewed his spouse Anssi from Pents. Naturally, there was an uproar about it, after which Arffman was no longer seen with the microphone in front of Pentsisen.
Viaplay: Not interviewed
Iltalehti asked Viaplay’s sports manager Jussi from Rantawhy the special arrangement has been decided on in the channel’s skiing broadcasts.
Why has Mikkonen interviewed his spouse Kerttu Niska during the Tour de Ski, even though a reporter has also been present during the interview?
– Juho Mikkonen has never acted as an interviewer, but Ville Klinga and Pauliina Pitkänen. During the entire Tour, Juho has only asked a couple of spontaneous questions during Ville Klinga’s interview with Kerttu Niska, when Niskanen has been a live studio guest after the award ceremony.
Do you see a conflict with good journalistic manners in this way of working?
– I could see the point if Juho really worked for us as an interviewer, but that’s not the case. He forms our tough team of experts in skiing together Virpi Sarasvuo and Sami Jauhojärvi with.
Has there been any feedback on Mikkonen’s interview parts? And if so, what kind?
– There has been a lot of good feedback on our broadcasts, but there has been no feedback on Mikkonen’s couple of spontaneous questions.
Will Mikkonen continue interviewing Niskanen in future broadcasts as well?
– He won’t continue, because he hasn’t acted as an interviewer until now either.