Helsingin Sanomat

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Lore & Background

Helsingin Sanomat, abbreviated HS, is the largest subscription newspaper in Finland and the Nordic countries, owned by Sanoma. It is published daily in Finnish, except after certain holidays, and its name derives from the Finnish capital, Helsinki, where it is printed. The paper is considered a newspaper of record for Finland. Its history began in 1889 as Päivälehti, founded as the organ of the Young Finnish Party during the era of the Grand Duchy under the Tsar of Russia. Strong advocacy for greater Finnish freedoms and independence led to political censorship by Russian authorities, forcing Päivälehti to suspend publication repeatedly and ultimately close permanently in 1904. The proprietors reopened the paper under its current name later that same year. In December 1904, it adopted its distinctive Art Nouveau masthead logo, which has been revised several times but remains in use. The paper has been politically independent and non-aligned since 1932. During the Cold War, the Soviet Union accused it of being an instrument of US propaganda, and the Soviet Embassy frequently protested its editors. It has a long history as a family business, owned by the Erkko family, and is now part of the Sanoma media group. The paper strongly advocated for Finland joining the European Union in 1994 and has openly supported NATO membership. It is published in compact format, having switched from broadsheet in January 2013. Subscriptions make up 97% of its circulation, and the front page is usually devoted to advertisements. It includes a monthly supplement, *Kuukausiliite*, and a weekly TV guide and entertainment supplement, *Nyt*. Approximately 75% of households in the Helsinki metropolitan area subscribe to it, and its total daily circulation exceeds 400,000, reaching about 14% of all households in Finland. The paper is a significant factor in Finnish society and public opinion, once described by a Finnish journalist as a state authority with its own independent social and political will.

Reader's Guide

Its circulation has historically been the largest in Finland, reaching about 14% of all households in the country, and approximately 75% of households in the Helsinki metropolitan area subscribe to it. The newspaper was founded in 1889 under the name Päivälehti, during the period when Finland was a Grand Duchy of the Russian Empire. Its strong editorial stance advocating for greater Finnish autonomy and independence led to repeated censorship and temporary suspensions by Russian authorities, culminating in its permanent closure in 1904. The owners immediately relaunched the paper under its current name later that same year. Originally the organ of the Young Finnish Party, it has been politically independent and non-aligned since 1932. During the Cold War, the Soviet Union accused it of being a vehicle for American propaganda, and the Soviet Embassy in Helsinki frequently lodged protests against its editors. The paper has a long history as a family business, owned by the Erkko family, and is now part of the Sanoma media group. Its relationship with the Finnish government has at times been close; for example, during the lead-up to the Winter War, publisher Eljas Erkko simultaneously served as Finland’s foreign minister. The newspaper strongly advocated for Finland’s membership in the European Union in 1994 and has openly supported NATO membership. Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, it launched a Russian-language news website, which Russian authorities subsequently blocked. Published daily in Finnish in a compact format, the paper features a monthly supplement called Kuukausiliite and a weekly TV and entertainment guide named Nyt. Subscriptions account for 97% of its circulation, and its front page is typically devoted to advertisements.

Did You Know?

• Helsingin Sanomat is listed as a morning newspaper in the source.
• The source lists Helsingin Sanomat as published in Helsinki.
• Helsingin Sanomat appears in the list of most valuable newspaper brands in Finland as of 2009.
• The source includes Helsingin Sanomat among the Finnish-language morning newspapers.