If the Finnish media were a family gathering, the cake and coffee would have been consumed in rather strange circumstances over the past few days.
There has certainly been plenty to talk about. The latest revelations in Prime Minister Orpo’s Garden mess. And, just today, the almost tragicomic case of the body of Iran’s former leader Ali Khamenei being transported to a funeral in a truck bearing the logos of the Finnish retail company Kesko. Both are the kind of cases that give the internet’s resident wisecrackers plenty to enjoy.
The strangest atmosphere, however, has been created by the non-discussion swirling around one particular artist. Uncle Uuno has already blurted out what the upright members of the family cannot say aloud, however much they might want to. Then again, Uncle Uuno is not even officially a member of the family association. And he only had one source, when the usual practice is that a matter this serious should be confirmed by at least two independent sources.
The background is this: Helsingin Sanomat’s Kuukausiliite published a long article in which author Saana Airtola said she had exchanged messages with a well-known male musician when she was already 12 years old. At the start of the correspondence, the musician was over 30. No crime appears to have taken place, but the details of the case cast the musician in a highly questionable light.
The musician was not named in the article, but speculation about his identity began immediately on social media. Other media outlets quoted Helsingin Sanomat while referring to a “well-known” or “famous” musician. Then one online media outlet blurted out the name that had already been circulating on social media.
> The upright relatives now have a hippopotamus in the living room. Uncle Uuno cannot be quoted, but the clicks are welcome.
The upright relatives now have a hippopotamus in the living room. Uncle Uuno cannot be quoted, but the clicks are welcome. This particular artist’s name has been hot property for the media, even though no one says out loud why an unusually large number of stories have been published about him in recent days.
It therefore seems that so-called traditional media, tempted by the attention economy, is acting against its own ethical framework. If the reason for omitting the name is that the people involved must be protected, no crime has been established, the allegations are serious and legal safeguards matter, the same logic does not sit very well with the constant stream of side stories that keep feeding the controversy around the person in question.
It is clear that the media are currently holding their breath, waiting for new evidence or a confession — and for who will get the scoop. Until then, we get to watch the rather uncomfortable coverage orbiting around the artist, saying both a great deal and nothing at all.