This is what news anchor Matti Röngä’s retired life is like – 2024-10-01 12:20:47

Retired Yle news anchor Matti Rönkä65, gets a little nervous Onnen Kaukoranta -publication of his book, even though it is already his 13th work. Röngä’s novel takes the boy from Savoia, Rami, from the hayfield to the star of the dance stages. The book takes place in a time familiar to Röngä: the 1970s–80s.

– For years that were sensitive for me. Then it was the phase of growing up, when I was confused about what I would do and learned about getting to know the opposite sex and other things. In it, you grow up physically and mentally, Rönkä tells Iltalehte at the book’s launch event.

Matti Rönkä reflects that he lived in a “more hopeful time” in his youth. ATTE KAJOVA

Rönkä says that he follows with concern the pressures and symptoms of young people growing up. He can’t imagine how scary or worrying growing up is for today’s youth.

– I am by no means making fun of them, as many do like uncles by saying that “it’s easy for them”. It wasn’t better before, but perhaps I have been lucky enough to live in a more hopeful phase of my life, says the ex-news anchor.

– Back then it was said: “go to school, and you will have a better life”. And it came true. I entered working life at a stage when there was space and safe working relationships, he reflects.

The ex-news anchor’s own three children have been on the path to adulthood for years. Today, his son Otto37, works as a producer at Yle, and Retta-daughter, 35, makes a news podcast. According to Röngä, children have not been forced into the industry, but still they have ended up on that path.

– Maybe we are [perheessä] talked a lot about journalism. They may have also sensed that it is a field that is in some way an intellectually free profession, the man analyzed.

– I have followed their steps in terms of studying and job hunting. Someone might have been interested in them and noticed their last name, in which case the threshold might have been higher. They have been very lucky, and I have not participated in it [työnhakuun] no way, he continues.

In Röngä’s opinion, a significant difference in the labor market is that previously permanent employment was always offered. Nowadays, fixed-term or part-time employment contracts are preferred.

– Hourly contracts or short work pieces are offered, but at the same time great loyalty and doing things in front of the house are required and demanded, he states.

Retirement dates

Rönkä retired in February. He says that he spent his retirement days finishing his book process and going on hosting gigs. In addition, he has done forest work and tried to do sports 3-5 times a week.

– Nothing weirder than that. For example, I haven’t been to Australia. But it is a positively exotic place that would be interesting to visit, he states.

Röngä also became a grandfather about six months ago, when his daughter Reetta got an addition to the family. The former news anchor has been able to participate in the baby’s everyday life, for example by taking care of the little ones. He describes his grandson as a “happy boy”. And what kind of grandfather is Matti Rönkä?

– Probably kind of classic: there’s a drill ready to help when you need to make a dressing table. I’m very happy if I can be somewhere to cart when it’s a dentist’s appointment, for example, the man describes.

– You don’t remember how much a toddler learns and grows if I haven’t seen him for even a week, he continues.

Rönkä still actively follows the news, but by no means calls the editor. However, he does not long to return to news work.

– It’s still true that I miss the editorial discussions. The kind of open-minded discussion where you don’t have to fear that I would be labeled as a supporter of a party, for example. That’s great, the man says.

The former news anchor admits that he no longer needs publicity in his life. However, he recognizes that publicity is needed in certain situations.

– The author also does, as it were, public work and somehow needs publicity in order for those books to exist. So I probably won’t back down from it. If there are some TV jobs, appearances and speaking gigs that are suitable, I’d be happy to do them, he states.

Rönkä only hopes for the future to be able to continue living a physically active life and continue writing.

– I’m currently blaming myself for what I’ll write about next. I also strive to remain mentally curious and flexible. There’s enough of a challenge in it that it’s not a grumpy uncle, he says at the end.