Walk-out in protest against cost cuts silences YLE’s Swedish-language news

print this

The Swedish-language television and radio newscasts by the public service broadcaster, the Finnish Broadcasting Company YLE, were not seen or heard after 6 pm on Wednesday evening. The entire 30-strong staff on duty at YLE’s Swedish-language news department took part in the walk-out as a protest against the cost-cutting measures announced by the YLE Administrative Council on Tuesday.
      In addition, YLE’s Swedish-language radio station Radio Vega’s 20 workers walked out of their workplace in the western province of Ostrobothnia for the same reason earlier in the afternoon.
      A current affairs programme called Aktuellt was also cancelled, as was the updating of the Internet newscasts.
      While struggling with financial difficulties, YLE is hoping to improve its cost-effectiveness by merging the Finnish and Swedish-language news departments.
     
The Swedish-language news and current affairs team opposes the decision. According to their interpretation this would effectively mean the shutting-down of their activities.
      "There is a risk that the Swedish-language editorial office would be replaced by a mere translation service", says a representative of the office Kalle Silfverberg.
      The Administrative Council chairman Kimmo Sasi (Nat. Coalition) says that even after the merger the Finnish and Swedish-language offices would have their own editors and profiles, but the news items would be sourced jointly.
      According to Sasi the merger would improve the efficiency of the news operations, which, in turn, would enable staff reductions.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Radio Extrem spared, TV channel Extra to be axed in YLE cost-cutting operation (28.11.2007)

Helsingin Sanomat