In the case of Salama Hirvonen, journalism ran in the family. Her father, Vihtori Simonen (1882–1951), forged a significant career at the beginning of the 20th century as a journalist, author and influential social figure, among others as editor-in-chief of the newspapers Mikkelin Sanomat and Kouvolan Sanomat. Salama Hirvonen’s brother Seppo Simonen (1912–81) was a journalist at such papers as Maaseudun Tulevaisuus, Uusi Suomi and Yhteishyvä. In addition, he was a historian who published works on agricultural, local and entrepreneurial history. Seppo Simonen’s daughters Katri and Elina also became journalists. Elina Simonen (born 1944) is well-known particularly as the long-term editor-in-chief of the women’s magazine Kotiliesi.

Salama Hirvonen’s life’s work was played out at Uusi Suomi, whose managing editor, Uuno Hirvonen (also known by the nom de plume Simo Penttilä), became her husband in 1954. Salama Hirvonen had already worked as a summer intern at Uusi Suomi during her student days, but it was not until 1938 that she secured a permanent position as a journalist at the newspaper. Before that she had worked as a reporter for the newspaper Aamulehti in the two years following her graduation.

As a news reporter, Hirvonen was only the second female journalist at the newspaper, Anni Voipio being the first. Nevertheless, the 1930s saw a boom in the number of women journalists, and Hirvonen was joined by many female colleagues. Over the years, Hirvonen established a central position at the newspaper.

Salama Hirvonen was above all a news reporter. Her most significant work was thus during the war years, when the few women remaining in journalism were able to fill the positions left by their male colleagues. During the war, she wrote, under the pseudonym Jaana, what was to become a famous description of the first day of the Winter War, November 30, 1939, the piece being immediately published the following day. In addition to news and reportage, she also wrote film reviews under the nom de plume S.S. Here, she was clearly ahead of her time, as in the 1940s film was yet to be considered ‘proper’ art. Hirvonen nevertheless appreciated the importance of the genre, and her reviews were above all addressed to her readers.

Salama Hirvonen was well-travelled even as a youth and was internationally oriented. At the beginning of the War of Continuance, she edited the periodical Signal in Berlin, which spearheaded German propaganda efforts in Finland during it publication in the country from 1942 to 1945. Signal was published between 1940 and 1945, appearing in up to 25 languages.

Hirvonen’s role at Uusi Suomi changed after the war. She withdrew from daily news reporting and was given responsibility for “UN and Nordic questions.” She reported on such things as President J. K. Paasikivi’s visit to Moscow in 1955, where the return of the Soviet occupied Porkkala peninsula was negotiated.

Nevertheless, in 1967 Hirvonen was recalled to the journalistic frontline, when trouble erupted at the culture desk of Uusi Suomi.

After the newspaper’s culture editor, Annamari Sarajas, had taken up a professorship at the University of Helsinki, radical societal influences took hold within the young editorial team. The newspaper’s younger readership appreciated the change of direction, but the more radical the articles became, the more appalled were older readers. Moreover, some of the journalists, including Katarina Eskola and Pekka Tarkka also disliked the new tack and left the editorial team. As a moderate conservative, but above all as an adroit judge of character, Salama Hirvonen was the right person to resolve the editorial tensions. Her moderate approach indeed allowed her to settle the crisis and attract figures appropriate to the newspaper’s stance, such as Lassi Nummi, to the editorial team, although she participated less and less in actual writing work. Salama Hirvonen retired from Uusi Suomi in 1975. She was able to enjoy a long retirement, as she lived to the age of 96.

• Salama Hirvonen’s obituary in the newspaper Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish)

Sources:
Vesikansa, Jyrki. Simonen (1800). National Biography online publication. Accessed November 19, 2015
Vesikansa, Jyrki. Sinivalkoiseen Suomeen. Uuden Suomen ja sen edeltäjien historia I 1847–1939 (‘Blue and white Finland. The history of Uusi Suomi and its forerunners I 1847–1939’). Otava. Keuruu 1997
Zöller, Alexander. Signal. Accessed November 19, 2015