The Council for Mass Media in Finland has issued an official reprimand to YLE over comments made by a participant in a regular discussion segment on YLE Morning Television on January 11th. Retired prosecutor Ritva Santavuori, a regular guest on a weekly informal discussion segment on the programme had made what the council considered racist comments about the appearance of the Kenyan grandmother of US Presidential hopeful Barack Obama.
According to Santavuori, the pictures of Obama's grandmother, which had been circulated in the world media, showed "typical negroid features" and a nose like gorillas have.
The council found that Santavuori's comments were in violation of human dignity.
In the following week, Santavuori expressed regret at the offence that her comments may have caused.
Leena Pakkanen, executive producer at YLE Morning TV, denounced Santavuori's comments when interviewed by a newspaper the next day.
On Friday, Pakkanen expressed regret over the decision of the Council for Mass Media, saying that it poses questions for the production of live television programmes.
As for Santavuori's future as a regular guest in light of the council's decision, Pakkanen said that Santavuori can draw her own conclusions.