Colleagues remember Helena Petäistö: 'One of Finland's best correspondents'
Translated from Finnish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
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- Helena Petäistö, a long-serving MTV Uutiset correspondent and journalist, has died at the age of 75.
- Colleagues remember her as a highly skilled reporter with extensive European contacts and a deep understanding of the EU and France.
- Petäistö was recognized for her sharp, precise writing and her ability to secure interviews with prominent political figures across Europe.
Helena Petäistö, a distinguished journalist and correspondent for MTV Uutiset, has passed away at the age of 75. For decades, she was a prominent voice reporting from Paris, Brussels, and across Europe, earning accolades for her work.
Former colleagues remember Petäistö with deep affection and admiration. Päivi Anttikoski, a long-time journalist at MTV Uutiset, described Petäistö as unparalleled in her career achievements, extensive networks, and friendships. "We certainly don't have anyone else who would have done such a life's work and had such networks and such friends and acquaintances. One could listen to her stories endlessly," Anttikoski said.
We certainly don't have anyone else who would have done such a life's work and had such networks and such friends and acquaintances. One could listen to her stories endlessly.
Anttikoski recalled the immense privilege of working alongside the renowned Petäistö, noting that despite her close ties to high-ranking EU and French officials, she remained grounded and approachable. "She was truly down-to-earth and just Helena from near Kalajoki. Nothing ever went to her head." Petäistö's significant contributions were also marked by her broad worldview and her talent for expressing complex issues with precision and sharpness in her writings, which Anttikoski described as "absolutely amazing, as if from a master's pen."
She was truly down-to-earth and just Helena from near Kalajoki. Nothing ever went to her head.
Kari Partio, a long-time friend and colleague, often interacted with Petäistö weekly. He described her as a "rock-solid professional" with exceptionally good contacts for a Finnish journalist, not only with Finnish officials but also with high-level European decision-makers. Partio also shared a regret from Petäistö's time in France: her absence from Paris during the August 1997 events surrounding Princess Diana's fatal car accident, a missed opportunity she often lamented.
Heikki Piuhola, another long-time correspondent and news editor at MTV, hailed Petäistö as one of Finland's most significant forces in European reporting. "She was one of Finland's best correspondents and extremely well-versed in Europe. When I worked as a Europe correspondent myself, I received a lot of help, tips, praise, and feedback from Helena. She was a very constructive and important colleague," Piuhola stated. He added that Petäistö was a crucial "opener of European understanding" for Finns, possessing an incredible ability to secure interviews with major politicians, including figures like Mikhail Gorbachev, Helmut Kohl, Jacques Delors, and several French presidents.
She was one of Finland's best correspondents and extremely well-versed in Europe. When I worked as a Europe correspondent myself, I received a lot of help, tips, praise, and feedback from Helena. She was a very constructive and important colleague.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Helsingin Sanomat in Finnish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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