Natalia Salmela’s comment on TV raised doubts – This is how Salmela and Yle respond to criticism – 2024-02-28 23:06:39

Natalia Salmela has collaborated with Samsung for years. Currently, Samsung is not his partner. Jussi Eskola

On Wednesday, February 14, entrepreneur and influencer Natalia Salmela visited Yle aamun’s Jälkidigi program, which deals with news from the digital world.

The program’s guests Jani Halme, Tuija Aalto and Salmela discussed things like Tiktok and artificial intelligence in the program.

Social media users paid attention to Salmela’s comment at the end of the program. Salmela compared Samsung’s new smartphone using artificial intelligence to the products of the competing Apple brand.

– Artificial intelligence is starting to creep into smartphones. Now a Samsung device that uses artificial intelligence is coming or has already come. It should be convenient, and not, for example, as inconvenient as Apple’s glasses, which have been discussed here in the past, Salmela compared Samsung’s and Apple’s products.

Salmela has collaborated with Samsung on its social media channels for over three years. Salmela has also reported on Samsung products in Iltalehti’s commercial cooperation publications in 2022.

In the X message service, people were surprised at Salmela’s way of talking in an advertising-like tone about Samsung phones and their development.

– It is somehow completely incomprehensible that Yle invites these walking billboards to its programs to market its client companies. This is particularly burdensome for Yle, but the Public Word Council should also take a stand on the use of advertisers disguised as interviewees in the media.

Natalia and Yle commented

Iltalehti contacted Natalia Salmela by e-mail to comment on the matter. He says that he spoke about it with Yle as a result of Iltalehti’s contact.

– Before the broadcast, Yle Jälkidigi panelists collect current topics for Yle’s editors, from which the host of the day’s broadcast selects the most interesting ones live. The starting point of the topics is that they have crossed the news threshold.

According to Salmela, the panelists send news links to Yle’s editors in advance so that Yle can check the sources and the issues being discussed in the digital world.

According to Salmela, in the February 14th broadcast, one of the topics was new technological innovations, which in addition to Samsung’s new phone’s artificial intelligence function, Apple’s VR glasses and a talking toilet bowl.

– Brands and brands are talked about in the broadcasts every week. For example, the brands mentioned in the broadcast on February 14 were X, TikTok, Samsung, Apple, etc. I have no ongoing cooperation or cooperation negotiations with any of the aforementioned companies or brands, Salmela confirms to Iltalehti.

Yle Jälkidig’s panelists have certain instructions when making the program. According to Salmela and Yle, there has been no conflict related to the instructions.

– The instructions include, for example, avoiding visible logos in broadcast clothing and not participating in broadcasts when running for politics. I haven’t received any comments about it from my social media followers. My own followers know that I mark all collaborations at the beginning of the contents in accordance with the instructions given by KKV, commented Salmela.

In the ethical guidelines for Yle’s programming and content, it says that advertising is not allowed in Yle’s programs.

– The contents published by Yle must not contain advertising or marketing communications. Yle may not send advertising in connection with its television or radio software or other content services that are part of the public service mission it offers on public communication networks. Yle does not produce sponsored programs. Product placement and hidden advertising are prohibited, the instructions state.

Iltalehti was contacted by email by the head of Aamu’s prime time editorial Tuomas Fermin commented case from Yle’s point of view.

What is Yle’s position on the fact that Salmela spoke openly about the “convenience” of the Samsung phone and in the same sentence mentioned that the products of the competing Apple brand are “inconvenient”. Do you think this goes for advertising?

– Salmela did not speak openly, so to speak, but answered a question about a new interesting technology. The question was also asked to two other panelists of the Jälkidigi section. Salmela’s comment was her opinion on the matter asked. The other panelists also shared their opinions on interesting new technologies. The purpose of Jälkidig is specifically to discuss the phenomena of the digital world and technology, in which case it is unfortunately impossible to avoid brands so that the audience understands what is being talked about.

Has Yle received feedback on this and has this situation been discussed with Salmela?

– There has been no direct feedback on this, but we have of course noticed a few messages about the matter online. I have not been in contact with Salmela regarding this matter. It is clear to all of our panelists participating in Yle’s morning Jälkiraats that Yle’s platforms are not used for advertising.

You can watch Ylen Aamu’s broadcast of the Jälkidigi section at 1:18:17.