Aarno Olavi Laitinen was a Finnish journalist and columnist. Laitinen was in charge of the political editorial department of the biggest Finnish newspaper, Helsingin Sanomat from 1972 to 1982. He was dismissed when it was revealed that he was one the authors of the book 'The Spoils of Tamminiemi', that caused a political scandal. Since then he has written books and columns as a freelance journalist.