Panu Pokkinen, Yle’s editor-in-chief, dies at 49

Panu Pokkinen, editor-in-chief of Yle News and Sport, died on Wednesday at the age of 49, the Finnish public broadcaster Yle reported.

Pokkinen suffered a sudden cardiac arrest while on holiday in Lisbon in early June. He was hospitalised in Portugal for three weeks before being transferred to Finland for further treatment. He had been recovering well from the initial incident but suffered another sudden cardiac arrest in a Helsinki hospital last week.

Yle’s director-general Marit af Björkesten said staff were shocked and deeply saddened by the news. “Our thoughts are first and foremost with Panu’s family and loved ones. We extend our warmest condolences in this great loss. We will do everything we can to support them. We have lost a wonderful person—a warm, caring, bright, and important colleague. As a leader, he renewed both journalism and Yle as a whole with skill, courage, and great ambition.”

Pokkinen took over as editor-in-chief of Yle News in autumn 2024, amid significant budget cuts and planned changes to staff routines. Before his appointment, he said he enjoyed helping people embrace inspiring change. He led ambitious negotiations and succeeded in achieving the targeted savings.

Known for his warm demeanour and firm resolve, Pokkinen made time for personal conversations despite his demanding role. His decisions were often unwavering. His military background—he served as an officer in the Finnish Defence Forces and later as editor-in-chief of the Ruotuväki magazine—shaped his approach to leadership.

Before joining Yle in 2013, Pokkinen worked as news editor at Ilta-Sanomat and Iltalehti. He held a master’s degree in military science and social sciences. As editor-in-chief, he emphasised the importance of local presence and responded more clearly to criticism of Yle. He believed Yle had to adapt in a changing world and had strong views on the future of journalism.

A team player from Tampere, Pokkinen played basketball from a young age and worked as a referee. He drew on team sports for his leadership style. Before becoming editor-in-chief, he led Yle Sport and later the Sports and Events unit, earning praise for resolving conflicts in a way that satisfied all parties. He was a strong advocate for gender equality in sports, particularly for women’s advancement and greater visibility for different disciplines.

Pokkinen had a wide network of contacts across media, sports, and culture. He was a familiar face in the stands of various sports and enjoyed attending events. Beyond sports, he was passionate about rap music and had planned to attend a 25th-anniversary concert by the Finnish rap group Avain with friends at the end of the summer.

In his free time, Pokkinen unwound by watching light-hearted television but stayed active through sports, including trail marathons, ultramarathons, and cross-country skiing. He had a sense of humour and did not take himself too seriously, often sharing photos of sausages or unusual desserts on social media. He was a regular at St. Urho’s Pub in Helsinki and a pub on Salhojankatu in Tampere.

Family was central to Pokkinen’s life. He frequently discussed screen time with his teenage daughter and stressed the importance of media literacy. He also helped coach his daughter’s basketball team. His wife, Paula Pokkinen, works as a senior editor at Yle’s investigative unit. He followed in the footsteps of his father, Jorma Pokkinen, who also worked in media.