Five-star trip to Aito Media Oy

We visited Aito Media’s headquarters in Helsinki (the capital of Finland) on the 10th of February 2020. Our trip to Helsinki started from our school at 5 am. We drove there by bus. We arrived at the company at 10:30 am. Oona Mustonen, the Administrative Coordinator, welcomed us and took us to one of their conference rooms where the Founder/Producer/co-CEO of Aito Media Ilkka Hynninen gave us a presentation about the company. Ilkka Hynninen is a former student of Pieksämäen lukio and made his matriculation examinations there. Our teacher of Finnish and media Marianne Tyrväinen taught him during those years. She told us that Ilkka Hynninen was a very talented student, a very charming person and was already interested in media while in high school. Ilkka Hynninen told us that he had his first lessons and touches to media studies as Marianne’s student in Pieksämäen lukio. For example, he made multiple interviews. 

Next, we were divided into two groups. The other group went on a tour while we listened Ilkka Hynninen talking about composing ideas for TV-shows. On the tour they heard about post-production and saw TV-shows being edited and mastered. After about 45 minutes we switched groups. After this a few of us interviewed Ilkka Hynninen.

We were surprised how many popular TV-shows Aito Media has produced. A few of our childhood favorites are produced by Aito Media for example Hauskat kotivideot (Funny home videos). We still watch their shows such as Gladiaattorit (The Gladiators) and Napakymppi (The Dating game). Aito Media has rights to use the formats of those shows. One of their original series that we have followed is the Au pairit -series (The Au-pairs). Also, all of the Ville Haapasalo shows are produced by them for example Haapasalo ja kaverit (Haapasalo and friends). The Ville Haapasalo shows are their own concepts. Another name you might recognize is Sara la Fountain, a cook who had her own TV-show, also produced by Aito Media. We recognized all of their shows and counted that we have seen at least one episode of a third of their TV-shows. I think that tells a lot about how big the company is.  

They try to make fact-based TV-shows that have a real meaning, but they make them entertaining and interesting for people to watch. For example, one of their most popular TV-shows is Poliisit (The Night patrol), which has been running for over 10 years. The show follows police officers’ everyday life and work. We think that the idea behind all of their shows is amazing, and that is what media needs nowadays.

Overall, the day was interesting, and we learned a lot about the company. We are very proud that Ilkka Hynninen, who is form Pieksämäki, has made it so far in his career. We are thankful to Aito Media Oy and specially to co-CEO Ilkka Hynninen for having us and giving us a once-in-a-lifetime experience.  

Iina Lehikoinen & Nenna Voutilainen