The head of Yle’s news desk tells Iltalehte his own view on Marjo Rein’s dismissal from Yle.
Pictured by news anchor Marjo Rein in 2010. Seppo Sarkkinen/Yle Image Service
Yle news anchor Marjo Rein58, made his last broadcast on Tuesday night at 8:30 p.m. Iltalehti reached the head of Yle’s news desk Katariina Luoman to comment on Rein’s dismissal.
– Marjo has communicated her decision in good time and the necessary parties have been informed about it, Luoma says.
– We appreciate Marjo’s skills and the work she has done for Yle over the years. Rein has been a very liked colleague and we wish him the best possible continuation in his new life path, he describes Rein as an employee.
Luoma answers the burning question, who will be seen in Rein’s place on the broadcasts.
– The broadcasts are made by the TV news regular team, and the necessary patches are handled by substitute arrangements for the time being.
Luoma does not comment on the reasons for Rein’s decision.
– Everyone has the opportunity to comment on the background of their own decisions.
Katariina Luoma, head of Yle’s news desk, tells Iltalehte that Marjo Rein told her about her decision well in advance. Tomi Natri / All Over Press
Rein made a harsh criticism of Yle in his private Facebook update. Rein said that he feels that Yle’s investment in the TV side is weak, with the exception of foreign delivery. In addition, he said, among other things, that he feels that the broadcasts have not been of interest to the predecessors for years.
– There is no focus on visuality, the editors’ use of voice does not matter, and we authors do not receive feedback from anywhere but outside the house. The news studios were also renovated, but we, the creators and users of the studio, did not want to be consulted sufficiently in advance. And there still haven’t been any desirable changes that are essential to working, the ex-news anchor said.
– Journalism is indeed changing, but I feel embarrassed if viewers of TV news are told to look on our website, for example, which Hogwarts room “known” from Harry Potter belongs to, or which donut you would be, he added.
Iltalehti asked Luoma by e-mail for comments on Reini’s claims, but he has not commented on them so far.
Rein has worked at Yle for more than 30 years, first in sign language news, later in morning TV and in the last decade in the evening news.