High-quality content fulfils our social mission 

High-quality content fulfils our social mission by creating and providing our audience with information, insights and experiences. It’s important for all kinds of learners to see themselves represented in our learning materials, and for our content to reflect the diversity of Finnish society.

Otava’s publishing houses promote literature, reading and the vitality of the Finnish language

Otava’s publishing houses have a diverse and multi-voiced publishing programme. We publish books and literature that represent a variety of opinions and values, broaden horizons, and revitalise the Finnish language.

The year 2024 was great for Otava publishers in all genres, as evidenced by their numerous nominations and awards. Otava books won the Finlandia Prize for fiction, Eino Leino Prize, Kalevi Jäntti Foundation’s prize, Nature Book of the Year, UKK Award, and P. E. Svinhufvud Memorial Foundation Literary Award.

Although we are developing our publishing programme with a customer-driven approach, we will continue to make value-based publishing decisions. We ensure that people are still able to write, publish and distribute literature in Finland in our rapidly changing and digitising market. Authors are the heart of our business, and we help them to succeed.

Learning materials are an important part of the school experience, and the wording and illustrations used in these materials communicate our values: every student, regardless of their background, is an equally important part of the class.

Diversity, equity and inclusion with regard to learning materials

Otava Learning aims to provide all learners with equal opportunities to learn. We want everyone to see themselves represented in our learning materials in some way or another.

When designing our learning materials, we consider the different ways in which children and young people learn and absorb information in order to ensure an equal and equitable experience for all.  

Learning materials are an important part of the school experience, and the wording and illustrations used in these materials communicate our values: every student, regardless of their background, is an equally important part of the class. We can make sure that every student feels seen in the content of our learning materials.

In 2024, we created a set of principles for how diversity, equity and inclusion will be taken into account in our learning materials. These principles are based not only on Otava’s own values, but also on international human rights conventions, curricula and Finnish legislation.

In 2024, our textbook authors were rewarded for their efforts with two awards from the Association of Finnish Non-Fiction Writers: the Warelius Award and the Textbook Writers’ Award.

Star Owl competition encourages reading

Our Star Owl competition, which encourages primary schoolchildren to read, was organised for the second time. During autumn and winter 2024, children participating in this nationwide competition read almost twice as many pages as those who took part in the first year: 35 million pages.

365 classes entered the competition, which was jointly organised by Otava Publishing Company and Otava Learning. According to feedback from schools, the competition has also encouraged weaker readers to pick up a book.

Responsible journalism

We comply with legislation, adhere to good journalistic practice, and follow the guidelines issued by the Council for Mass Media in Finland. Although we may utilise AI in our work, the decision to publish is always made or supervised by a journalist.

We constantly survey public opinion on our content. We fulfil our social mission by creating and providing our audience with information, insights and experiences.

Otavamedia’s journalists did well in the 2024 Edit competition. Riikka Lehtovaara of Naistenmedia won Magazine Journalist of the Year, while freelancer photographer Aapo Huhta won Magazine Photographer of the Year. Kotiliesi Toukola won Video or Audio Magazine Media of the Year. The Toukola team consisted of video producer Anni Reenpää, food manager Sanna Mansikkamäki, content strategist Karoliina Närvänen, DOP/editor Miika Kainu, executive producer Ulla Lehtinen, producer Outi Hakkarainen, journalist/producer Johanna Keponen, journalist Sinimaria Halonen, journalist Alina Koskela, layout manager Sari Kaitila, editorial manager Uura Hagberg and editor-in-chief Saija Hakoniemi.

Aurora Rämö, a journalist for Suomen Kuvalehti, received the Ilkka Malmberg Prize in November 2024. The criteria for this award were the journalist’s skilful and imaginative use of the Finnish language, the ability to avoid hackneyed expressions, and the capacity to produce a readable and understandable text that serves the reader.   

Although we may utilise AI in our work, the decision to publish is always made or supervised by a journalist.