Monday November 16th is a milestone in the history of Helsingin Sanomat, the largest newspaper by circulation in the Nordic region, and it is also a moment when the present staff turn a new page, writes HS in their international edition.  It was on this day 120 years ago that Helsingin Sanomat’s immediate predecessor Päivälehti first made its appearance in 1889, and today has also been chosen for the launch of a new look for the daily newspaper.

The most obvious changes for the readers of the print paper will come in the shape of a new font for headlines and body texts, as those behind the venture have sought above all to improve clarity and readability.

 

The familiar sections of the paper – Domestic News and Metro in A, Foreign News, Business, and Sport in B, Culture in C, and so on, including special sections on different days of the week – will remain, but there will be a few moments when a reader wonders where something is: the weather page, for instance, has moved from its former spot at the back of section A to a more prominent position on A4, immediately after the editorials and main headlines.

One thing remains steadfastly unchanged, however: the front cover of the newspaper is still given over to advertising, with the exception of the Christmas Eve issue.

It is almost certain, too, that one of the biggest talking-points will be the increased use of colour in the layout, with the masthead pages of the different sections given a band of colour to distinguish them.

 

Thanks to Petri Salmén and Heikki Hankimo for the images.

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