Ira Hammermann says that he understands Marjo Rein’s criticism of contemporary journalism.
Ira Hammermann expresses his concern about the direction of journalism today. Salla Hekkala
Television reporter Ira Hammermann is satisfied Marjo Reinin from the public journalistic debate. Rein, who has worked as Yle’s news anchor for a long time, announced on Tuesday, January 14, that he is quitting Yle. Rein also published an article on his private Facebook account in which he criticized operating models in Yle’s news delivery.
Hammermann had commented on Rein’s update that he thought Rein’s thoughts were wise. Iltalehti caught up with Hammermann to comment on the matter more broadly.
Hammermann emphasizes that although he has hosted talk shows seen on Yle, he has never worked in Yle’s news department. He also doesn’t know Rein personally, although the two greet each other when they meet.
– I understand very well what he is talking about. It is very good that this kind of discussion is taking place. Constructive discussion and self-reflection will probably always move things forward. Let’s stop sometimes to think if the processes are as desired and if things could be done in a different way. Open dialogue between superiors and subordinates is absolutely important, says Hammermann.
Sound heard
Hammermann feels that quality journalism is in transition. In today’s world of the Internet, information is fragmented and uncertain, and it is difficult for the average citizen to filter out relevant content. Hammermann says that the demand for uncompromising quality applies to all media in Finland, not only to the state-funded Yleisradio.
– Of course, Yle is an institution and an inseparable part of Finnish information transmission, but also of the media world and culture. The fact that Yle is a public service house places a lot of demands on it. Yle is like the bedrock of Finnish society, says Hammermann.
In his career, Ira Hammermann has worked at, among others, Yle and MTV. PDO
Hammermann is also concerned that the pressure of time is pushing to publish insufficient and unverified news. On the other hand, important topics may remain completely unreported if the publisher does not find them interesting for the general public.
– While reading Marjo’s update, I understood between the lines that she has similar ideas about the direction in which journalism should develop. Uncompromising quality, as I understand it, is what he calls for, Hammermann reflects.
Hammermann believes that every journalist takes their work seriously and strives to produce news content of the highest possible quality. It is important that the employee’s voice is heard even at the top of the management ladder.
“Gone too far”
Hammermann, who calls himself a “news freak”, says that he has also noticed a certain change in Yle’s news broadcasts. In an interview with Iltalehti, he talks about Finnish television news on a general level.
– I have been following the news for about 40 years. Sometimes it feels like the grip has loosened a bit now. That this was the kind of topic that is worthy of lifting the main newscast. Or when everything is happening in the world all the time, sometimes you get the feeling that this news is now prioritized.
Hammermann criticizes trends and fads that create pressure for change.
– It has sometimes gone too far. Stable permanence is also a good value, journalism does not have to change all the time just for the sake of change. In Finnish journalism, we are now perhaps a little lost as to what our basic function of information transmission is, says Hammermann.
Hammermann has presented on TV, among other things, what was seen on Yle Wish– talk show and MTV3 Good morning Finland. Today, he works as a speaker and presenter at various events.
Marjo Rein announced on Tuesday that she had resigned from Yle. Yle Kuvapalvelu
“embarrassing”
Marjo Rein, who announced her resignation on Tuesday, said in her Facebook update that her attitude towards journalism has changed over the years.
– I understand that the web and phone applications are an important part of news these days, but if the same fragmented material and selfie journalism is forced into TV news as well, I don’t think it’s appropriate. “Everything that works online, I don’t think works on TV,” he said.
– Broadcasting has not been of interest to front-line employees for years. There is no focus on visuals, 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 still no desirable and essential changes have been made.
– Journalism is indeed changing, but I feel embarrassed if TV news viewers are told to look on our website, for example, to see which Hogwarts room “familiar” from Harry Potter belongs to, or which donut you would be, he said.
Rein worked at Yle in various positions for more than 30 years.