 | |
 Hufvudstadsbladet front page, 10 June 2011 | |
| Type | Daily newspaper |
|---|---|
| Format | Compact |
| Owner(s) | Föreningen Konstsamfundet Association |
| Publisher | KSF Media |
| Editor | Kalle Silfverberg (since 2023)[1] |
| Founded | 1864; 161 years ago (1864) |
| Language | Swedish |
| Headquarters | Helsinki |
| Circulation | 36,719 (2014) |
| Website | www.hbl.fi |
Hufvudstadsbladet (abbr.HBL) is the highest-circulationSwedish-language newspaper inFinland. Its headquarters is located inHelsinki, the capital of Finland.[2] The name of the newspaper translates approximately into "Journal of the Capital",[3]hufvudstad (modern spellinghuvudstad) being the 19th-century Swedish spelling forcapital. The newspaper is informally also calledHusis orHöblan.
Hufvudstadsbladet was founded by in 1864,[4][5] and the first edition was published on 5 December the same year. The founder was August Schauman.[6] During the late 19th century, the paper was the highest-circulation newspaper in Finland.
In 1920 the companyHufvudstadsbladets Förlag och Tryckeri AB was founded to operate the newspaper. The company's principal owner and chief executive officer was Amos Anderson, who would also serve aseditor-in-chief of the newspaper between 1922 and 1936.Konstsamfundet (approx.The Art Foundation), founded by Andersson in 1940, took over ownership ofHufvudstadsbladet in 1945, and has wholly owned the newspaper since. Anna Kaila Snellman, a contributor of the paper, visited Italy in the late 1930s as a guest of theFascist government, and the paper was asked by the Italians to publish articles in favor of the Fascist rule.[7]
Hufvudstadsbladet has an independent andliberal stance.[8] It is owned by Foreningen Konstsamfundet Association[8] and is published by the KSF Media Group.[9][10] The group also publishesVästra Nyland,Östra Nyland,Hangötidningen,Borgåbladet andLoviisan Sanomat.[11]
One of the significant interviews published inHufvudstadsbladet was with theSwedish Prime MinisterOlof Palme in December 1984.[12] In response to a question Palme stated that Swedish people would choose theSocial Democratic Party in the next election because it represented the traditional policy ofneutrality unlike the other parties in Sweden.[12] His remarks caused tension in Sweden, and the Swedish paper,Svenska Dagbladet, republished the interview and argued that Olof Palme should resign due to his answer.[12]
In the Spring of 2004Hufvudstadsbladet changed its format frombroadsheet totabloid.[13][14] In the same year it became Finland's tenth highest circulating newspaper.
In 2006Hufvudstadsbladet was named Europe's Best Newspaper and awardedEuropean Newspaper Award in the category of local paper plus.[13]
A weekly supplement calledVision (television and radio programming information) was distributed with the newspaper on Thursdays. From August 2006 to May 2010HBL also published a full-colour weekly magazine calledVolt with focus on lifestyle, features and photography. During its existenceVolt was awarded more than 30 design prizes, much thanks to the visionary skills of AD Jesper Vuori.[citation needed]
In January 2014Hufvudstadsbladet started a digital evening edition,HBL Kväll, which is updated daily at 4 pm.[11]
The newspaper is a member of MIDAS (European Association of Daily Newspapers in Minority and Regional Languages).[15]
In 1900Hufvudstadsbladet had a circulation of 17,500 copies.[16] However, in the 1920s its circulation fell behindHelsingin Sanomat and the gap between them continued in favor of the latter.[16]
In 1996 the circulation ofHufvudstadsbladet was 59,206 copies.[17] The paper had a circulation of 36,719 copies in 2014.[18]
