Here is the plot of a new TV series Suomineidot (Finnish Maidens):
- Meri is a far-right ethnonationalist who hangs out with neo-Nazis.
- Jasmin is an avid follower of Pentti Linkola, who promoted population decline.
- Liisa is a member of the Islamophobic Perussuomalaiset (PS)* party.
Apart from the radical political views of the three participants, YLE launched the television series during the UN week of the elimination of racial discrimination (March 21-27).
Great timing, Yle, I know it was intentional.
It’s not the first time that the state-owned national broadcaster, Yle, has fallen flat on its face due to its shoddy programs.

Below, are two recent examples of programs on racism and the far right that backfired:
- Marja Sannikka’s talk show on racism is the worst I have ever watched (21.11.2021)
- YLE: Venla ja Miska ovat nuoria äärioikeistolaisia ja rakastavaisia – he haluavat puhua avoimesti rodusta: “Olemme ydintä myöten suomalaisia” (19.102019)
So what gives?
If a program promotes or tries to understand what racist and far-right people think, there should be an opposite opinion.
With minorities having a pitifully illegible voice in the media, programs such as Suomineidot normalize and only strengthen institutional racism and thinking. A lot of historical whitewashing happens as well. We forget how our hatred and racism led us to terrible wars.
The TV series is another example of shoddy journalism driven by white Finnish privilege that don’t have a faint idea about racism and its harm.