Yleisradio has appointed two new correspondents. A foreign reporter starts as an Asian correspondent Mika Hentunen and as European correspondent, financial reporter Anna Karismo. Their litters are two years old.
Karismo says that he has always followed European developments and is fluent in several European languages. Among other things, he has followed the creation of the common currency as Helsingin Sanomat’s EU correspondent between 1997 and 2002.
– There are so many important things happening in Germany right now, from a European point of view. In the next few years, the tokens can be divided into new ones. Partly because the German government is fragmented and France has clearly been the political leader in Europe, says Karismo.
Karismo has worked in ‘s financial department since 2016. He worked as ‘s short-term EU correspondent in Brussels for a few months in 2019. Since then, Karismo has also worked in foreign delivery as an EU special reporter.
Hentunen, on the other hand, has previously worked as Yleisradio’s correspondent in Washington. Currently, he is ‘s NATO special reporter.
– I am curious to see what the world’s third power center in Beijing is really like, says Hentunen.
Hentunen worked last year during his leave of absence as a lecturer in Tsinghua University and Bloomberg’s economic journalism program, which, according to him, broadened thinking enormously and aroused interest in China.
Hentunen has worked as a young freelance journalist in South Korea, and has been following events in East Asia ever since.
The war in Ukraine can be seen on both continents
Over the next few years, major energy changes, resolving the situation in Ukraine and reconstruction will become themes in Europe. Another interesting thing about Karismo is how European countries organize themselves.
Karismo highlights Poland, which has shown its support to Ukraine in a spectacular way.
– Poland’s influence will possibly increase, because Germany has been quite weak, even an underdog in EU politics compared to France.
According to him, Germany has yet to go through what has been done in relation to Russia.
China has presented its own peace plan for Ukraine.
– China seems to be taking a bigger role in the matter. With Ukraine, there has been growing concern about whether the crisis in Taiwan could also escalate into an armed conflict. Then we would already be talking about the threat of a world war, Hentunen estimates.
Immigration is a big topic in Germany
The European correspondent’s station city is Berlin.
– Immigration is a big issue in the next few years, one million new Ukrainians have just arrived in Germany. Integration in Germany has been more successful than in Finland, says Karismo.
According to him, the cooperation of the German traffic light board is interesting, because the far-right party AFD has increased its support.
– The German extreme right has already risen in popularity past the Greens. The Greens’ support is being eaten up by the obligation to renovate homes and the rising costs have angered people, Karismo estimates.
China is trying to show its power
The Asian correspondent is based in Beijing, the capital of China.
In the coming years, China aims to increase its global role in all areas: politics, economy and culture. According to Hentunen, the power struggle between China and the United States is expected to escalate further in the coming years.
– First of all, China’s role in Ukraine and the Taiwan issue, but also more broadly the escalating power struggle between China and the United States for world domination. I believe that the rest of Asia will also emerge more prominently after the corona subsides, says Hentunen.
According to him, Japan is also recreating its skin by equipping itself militarily. India and Pakistan are also in transition in many ways.
In addition, the situation in North Korea may escalate again.
Reporting relevant to the Finnish audience
Doing journalism in China is very different from Finland. In China, the media is restricted. According to Hentunen, the situation can only be seen on the spot.
– Basically, of course, I try to follow our journalistic principles, according to which even difficult topics are not kept silent.
He says that he strives to make all kinds of things, including sticks.
– I would like to show our readers and viewers China and the rest of Asia. I hope to travel a lot!
Karismo, on the other hand, plans to report to Finns closely about the economic situation in Germany. Germany is Finland’s biggest export country.
– In the coming years, one of the main topics is what kind of changes will take place in the German economy, which are essential for Finns.
Correspondents’ families do not travel with them. Karismo’s family stays in Finland.
– I hope that Germany’s poor network connections will not cause problems in Facetime calls with family, says Karismo.
Hentunen’s wife, on the other hand, stays in Washington and their daughter studies in London.
– The family agreement is preserved when the time difference is 13 hours, thinks Hentunen.
Hentunen starts his work in Beijing in mid-June, Karismo in Berlin in early August.