What Is Imporant In Independence?

Tabloids made independence day extras.

The highlight of independence day celebrations is a party held by the president. An invitation is sent to people who have achieved something special during the year, people in important positions in the society, foreign diplomats etc.

In the years most popular tv program Finns watch as the president and her spouse shake hands with a few thousand guests. You can read from their lips that they also say “Happy Independence Day.” TV presenters try to identify the guests and – most importantly – comment the dresses of the women. For many years even the Finnish Broadcasting Company has used a fashion expert so that the general public will know who has made the dresses and what is special about them.

How can you get a big photo of yourself to the front page? You have to be prime minister’s recently new girlfriend or a member of a parliament with a history as an MTV video jockey. or a beauty queen.

The Red Thread

Maarit Tastula (right) chatting with an Afghan woman earlier this year in Village Festival.

Maarit Tastula’s popular Punainen lanka (red thread) tv interviews ended last spring after many many years.

Punainen lanka is the essence of something. The tv program gave a rare chance to really discuss about things on tv and to see the big picture as there was only one person to be interviewed and Tastula and her team had done their homework well. Tastula’s personality probably made people say more than they would have said to an average interviewer. She interviewed both celebrities and people who were not known by the general public.

Finnish Broadcasting Company Dishes

Keeping in touch with the world.

If you watched the Beijing olympic games opening or closing ceremonies or athletics, you have seen the Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE, Yleisradio) in action. They had the main telecast responsibility over the ceremonies and they produced the majority of athletics feeds. And this wasn’t their first olympics.