Urpo Lahtinen

Urpo Lahtinen started his journalistic career in 1952 writing for the Social Democratic paper Eteenpäin in Kotka, continuing in Kansan Lehti of Tampere.

In 1957 he started a free tabloid Tamperelainen (delivered to every household in Tampere), which was published by Lahtinen's own company called Lehtimiehet.

In the 1960s and 1970s Hymy became a success with its sensationalist and scandal stories containing much celebrity sex and gossip, often verging on the invasion of privacy.

Lahtinen invested his huge profits in art, and in constructing his luxurious Villa Urpo in Siivikkala.

Lahtinen's company Lehtimiehet was finally sold to Yhtyneet Kuvalehdet for hundreds of millions of Finnish Marks.