Anna-Liisa Haavikko
Humanist of the day

Anna-Liisa Haavikko

Anna-Liisa Haavikko is a journalist whose curiosity about the past and interest in the present coexist in complete harmony in her work. The inquisitive Ms Haavikko believes in the power of coincidence when hunting for a story. As a journalist she is equally at home in her role as host of the Yle radio programme Julkinen sana and as editor of the diaries of the Finnish poet Aila Meriluoto.

Anna-Liisa Haavikko

Born February 23, 1960, Toivakka

Master of Arts (Folkloristics), University of Helsinki

Freelance journalist
Began as a journalist at a local newspaper. Currently hosts radio and television programmes and writes. Regularly hosts the radio current affairs programme Julkinen sana, broadcast on Yle (the Finnish Broadcasting Company) Radio 1, and produces pieces on science and culture.

Positions of responsibility:
Board of Kopiosto (Copyright Society) 2015–
Chairman of the copyright committee of the Union of Journalists 2015–
Board of the Union of Journalists 2011–2014
Committee for Public Information in Finland 2009–
Board of the Union of Finnish Radio and TV Journalists
Board of the Freelance Branch of the Union of Finnish Radio and TV Journalists 2002–07

Publications:
Naisten marssi (‘The march of women’) 1994
Ja sodan vuosiin sattui nuoruus (‘Youth in the war years’) 1994
Nuoruuden kolmas näytös (‘The third act of youth’) 1995
Lyhyet vuodet (‘Short Years’) 1996
Täysiä vuosia – Vuoden 1949 muotokuva (‘Full years – a portrait of 1949’) 1999
Täysiä vuosia – Vuoden 1950 muotokuva (‘Full years – a portrait of 1950’) 1999
Mummokirja (‘The book of grannies’) 2004
Tältä kohtaa (‘Here we go’)
2010

Photo: Mika Federley
Written by Anna-Liisa Haavikko (Riitta-Ilona Hurmerinta, ed.)
Translated by Matthew Billington

“Folkloristics, cultural anthropology, and religious studies,” sighed the managing editor and wondered what possible use I thought I might get out of them in real life. I did my best to smile at the insult. I did get the reporter’s job though: my work experience counted, rather than my studies.

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When I started as a journalist at a local newspaper, we banged out our articles on mechanical typewriters. Technology belonged in the printing room and computers in science fiction. When computer monitors invaded our desks, we journalists were given a separate bonus for using them. Now my working environment is an endless stream of ever newer machines and operating systems. But luckily this flood of technology hasn't drowned the fascination of journalistic work. I can still be eager for new things and curious about people’s stories.

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As a schoolgirl I resolved not to waste my life on activism. This decision was influenced by Teiniliitto (a grammar school student organisation) and my mother. In the 1970s I witnessed class struggle within the grammar school. One of the crowning achievements of school democracy was a smoking room for the students. My mother's involvement in political organisations showed me how much working for shared dreams eats into your family time.

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My best memories at the University involve three libraries. When I wanted to be by myself, I sat and read in the Rotunda of the National Library. When I felt like being sociable, I went to the library on the third floor of the Main Building; you could always find somebody there to go for a cup of coffee with. One sound from there has stayed in my mind: the clop of the worn-out clogs of the amanuensis going around restocking the shelves.

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