Leif Salmén
Humanist of the day

Leif Salmén

Award-winning journalist and author Leif Salmén got tired of being in the limelight and left the Finnish Broadcasting Company (FBC) at the end of the 1980s. Afterwards he has focused on writing about European history, and especially the Mediterranean, which is a spiritual home to him.

Leif Salmén

Leif Henry Salmén
Born January 19, 1952, Helsinki

Studies in the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Social Sciences (Philosophy major) 1971–6, University of Helsinki

Political reporter at FBC TV1’s news desk 1984–1989
Political reporter at TV-Nytt 1978–1984
Reporter at FBC’s Swedish language current affairs programme 1976–1978
Reporter at Suomen Tietotoimisto news agency 1973–1975

Awards
Eino Leino Prize 2013
Tollander Prize 2009
Längmanska Cultural Foundation Prize 2006
Kivipää Award 2001
State three-year artist’s grant 1998
State scientific publication award 1985
Finnish-Swedish publishing prize 1984
Society for Swedish Literature in Finland’s Award 1979, 1984, 1987, 1991

Photo: Heini Lehväslaiho
Written by Heta Muurinen (Tero Juutilainen, ed.)
Translated by
Joe McVeigh

As a political reporter at FBC, Salmén is remembered particularly for his poignant style in campaign debates. He posed tough questions based on extensive background research, intimidating the political candidates.

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In 2014, the Economic Policy Council, which was made up of independent and academic researchers, was founded in Finland to assess the objectives and instruments of economic policy. In its February report the Council recommended avoiding fiscal tightening in 2015 and 2016.

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