Aatos Erkko facts for kids
Aatos Juho Michel Erkko (born 1932, died 2012) was a very important person in Finnish media. He was a Finnish newspaper editor and newspaper publisher. He was also the main owner of a big media company called Sanoma Corporation and a famous newspaper, Helsingin Sanomat. For many years, he was also the main editor of Helsingin Sanomat.
For a long time, Aatos Erkko was one of the wealthiest people in Finland. He owned a large part of the Sanoma Corporation, which was a very valuable company.
A Family of Journalists
Aatos Erkko was born in Helsinki, the capital of Finland. He married Jane Airola in 1959. They did not have any children.
His family had a strong connection to journalism and politics. His father, Eljas Erkko, was also a journalist and politician. He was the editor-in-chief of Helsingin Sanomat before Aatos. Aatos's mother was Eugenia Violet Sutcliffe, who was from England.
Aatos Erkko's grandfather, Eero Erkko, was also a journalist and politician. He is best known for starting Helsingin Sanomat, the newspaper that became so important to the Erkko family.
His Education
Aatos Erkko studied journalism at a well-known university in the United States. He earned a Master of Science degree in Journalism from Columbia University.
Leading Sanoma Corporation
Sanoma Corporation is a major media company. When Aatos Erkko was the chairman of its board, Sanoma offered its shares to the public for the first time in 1999. This meant that people could buy parts of the company.
Aatos Erkko believed it was very important to report news from all over the world. To make sure Sanoma had the best journalists, he started Sanoma's own school for journalists in 1967. Sanoma also had reporters in many different countries to gather news.
Helping Others
Aatos Erkko was also known for his generous donations. He once gave €2.9 million to the University of Helsinki. This money helped to create a new professorship, which is a high-level teaching position at a university.
He also donated expensive equipment to the Helsinki University Central Hospital. This helped the hospital provide better care. Aatos Erkko also gave a lot of money to support the Nuuksio National Park, helping to protect nature.
In 2011, the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation, which he started with his wife, donated €415,000. This money was used to help diagnose diseases in children.
