Joutsen Media

Joutsen Media Oy was a Finnish media group that operated local newspapers, city papers, and magazines, primarily in the Northern Ostrobothnia region and also nationally. Its roots trace back to 1906, when the company was founded under the name Liitto. Over the decades it grew through acquisitions and mergers, becoming a significant publisher of regional and local news titles. The group's portfolio included newspapers such as Koillissanomat, Iijokiseutu, Pudasjärvi-lehti, Rantalakeus, Siikajokilaakso, and Oulu-lehti, as well as the magazine publisher Kolmiokirja, which produced around sixty periodicals. It also published Suomenmaa, the main organ of the Centre Party, through its subsidiary Suomenmaan Kustannus Oy. In October 2018, most of Joutsen Media's operations were acquired by Kaleva, a major Finnish media company. The local newspapers and Kolmiokirja's magazine business transferred to Kaleva's ownership. In early 2019, Joutsen Media sold its subsidiary Suomenmaan Kustannus Oy, publisher of Suomenmaa, to Apollo Group Oy. In April 2019, Joutsen Media announced its intention to enter voluntary liquidation to cease operations. The company was thus a notable regional media conglomerate that eventually wound down its activities after divesting its key assets. Throughout its history, Joutsen Media was known for its local news coverage and its connection to the Centre Party through Suomenmaa. Its ownership and board were occasionally subject to political controversies, notably in 2010 when the board was unexpectedly replaced, with allegations of involvement by Centre Party secretary Jarmo Korhonen. The company's legacy lives on in the newspapers that continue under Kaleva's ownership.

Joutsen Media Oy was a Finnish media group with a history dating back to 1906, when it was founded under the name Liitto. The newspaper Maakansa began publication in Viipurissa in 1908. The city paper Oulu-lehti started in 1958. The first own local newspaper, Rantalakeus, was established in 1976, and in the same year the local paper Kalajoki-lehti came into the company's ownership. In 1981, the group acquired Kirjapaino Oy Kanta, which operated under the business name Kolmiokirja. Distribution operations that began in the 1960s were incorporated in 1982 as Oulun Lehtijakelukeskus Oy, and Kolmiokirja Oy was also incorporated, continuing as a publisher of entertainment magazines. Printing operations were merged into the parent company in 1983. The group acquired Koillissanomat Oy (newspaper Koillissanomat) in 1986 and Iijokiseutu Oy (local paper Iijokiseutu) in 1988. In 1991, the group bought Oy Suomenmaa (Suomenmaa newspaper, formerly Maakansa). The following year, Liitto and Suomenmaa were merged under the name Suomenmaa. In 1995, the limited company Liitto changed its name to Suomenmaa-yhtiöt Oy. The group acquired Siikajokilaakson Kustannus Oy (local paper Siikajokilaakso) in 2004. In 2009, Suomenmaa-yhtiöt Oy changed its name to Joutsen Media Oy. In 2010, Koillissanomat Oy was merged into Joutsen Media Oy, Uutisoulu Oy was merged into Pohjois-Suomen Paikallisuutiset Oy, and Pohjois-Suomen Paikallisuutiset Oy was merged into Joutsen Media Oy. Also, Joutsen Media's printing business was transferred to a separate limited company. The business of Kalajoki-lehti was sold to the Kokkola-based Keski-Pohjanmaan Kirjapaino Oyj group in 2011. Joutsen Media's printing company Joutsen Median Painotalo Oy was sold in 2016 to the printing company Erweko Oy. Most of Joutsen Media's operations, including the city papers Oulu-lehti and Pudasjärvi-lehti, the newspaper Koillissanomat, and the local papers Iijokiseutu, Rantalakeus, and Siikajokilaakso, as well as Kolmiokirja, specializing in publishing magazines, transferred to Kaleva's ownership starting from 1 October 2018. The publishing operations of the Suomenmaa newspaper were separated into the subsidiary Suomenmaan Kustannus Oy. In January 2019, the share capital of Suomenmaan Kustannus Oy, which publishes the Centre Party's main organ Suomenmaa, was sold to Apollo Group Oy. In April 2019, Joutsen Media announced its intention to enter voluntary liquidation to cease operations. A notable event in the company's history was the unexpected complete change of its board in May 2010, when Sakari Hakola, a major shareholder, became chairman. Centre Party secretary Jarmo Korhonen was suspected of being the background influence behind the board change. In the Centre Party, Korhonen was seen as having replaced the board with his own people as revenge against editor-in-chief Timo Laaninen for standing as his opponent in the party secretary race. The board chairman became Aki Haaro, a Korhonen supporter and the Centre Party's administration manager. The Centre Party chairman and Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen resigned from the board in protest against Korhonen's actions. Korhonen initially claimed he had no involvement, but it was later revealed that he had signed proxies for the Maaseudun säätiö foundation against its rules, and with their support, the board was unexpectedly changed at the general meeting to a different composition than agreed at the shareholders' meeting. Joutsen Media elected a new board at an extraordinary general meeting on 13 August 2010. The board included Perttu Nousiainen, Markus Lohi, Raili Myllylä, Esko Järvenpää, Pertti Tarvainen, and Timo Laaninen. The meeting was attended by a record over 70,000 shares and 84 shareholders present either in person or by proxy.

• 2019

  Suomenmaan Kustannus Oy sold to Apollo Group Oy in January; in April, Joutsen Media announced voluntary liquidation.

• 2018

  Most operations, including newspapers and Kolmiokirja, transferred to Kaleva on 1 October.

• 2016

  Joutsen Median Painotalo Oy sold to Erweko Oy.

• 2011

  Kalajoki-lehti business sold to Keski-Pohjanmaan Kirjapaino Oyj.

• 2010

  Mergers: Koillissanomat Oy and Pohjois-Suomen Paikallisuutiset Oy merged into Joutsen Media Oy; printing business transferred to separate company.

• 2010

  Board unexpectedly replaced in May; new board elected on 13 August.

• 2009

  Suomenmaa-yhtiöt Oy renamed Joutsen Media Oy.

• 2004

  Acquired Siikajokilaakson Kustannus Oy.

• 1995

  Liitto renamed Suomenmaa-yhtiöt Oy.

• 1992

  Liitto and Suomenmaa merged under the name Suomenmaa.

• 1991

  Acquired Oy Suomenmaa (Suomenmaa newspaper).

• 1988

  Acquired Iijokiseutu Oy.

• 1986

  Acquired Koillissanomat Oy.

• 1983

  Printing operations merged into parent company.

• 1982

  Distribution operations incorporated as Oulun Lehtijakelukeskus Oy; Kolmiokirja Oy incorporated.

• 1981

  Acquired Kirjapaino Oy Kanta (Kolmiokirja).

• 1976

  First own local newspaper Rantalakeus established; Kalajoki-lehti acquired.

• 1958

  City paper Oulu-lehti begins publication.

• 1908

  Newspaper Maakansa begins publication in Viipuri.

• 1906

  Company founded under the name Liitto.

Regional and national media publisher with a focus on local news and periodicals.

• Koillissanomat

• Iijokiseutu

• Pudasjärvi-lehti

• Rantalakeus

• Siikajokilaakso

• Oulu-lehti

• Suomenmaa

• Kolmiokirja

1. 1Joutsen Media - Wikipedia (Finnish)fi.wikipedia.org
2. 2Joutsen Media - Wikidatawikidata.org