It is gratifying to celebrate your birthday, when you can say with a clear conscience, analyzing another year you have lived, that you have not been wasting time. Today, September 25, on The Day of our 13th anniversary, we can say firmly: we have been working in good faith and have made a lot of gains in the past year. One of Den’s main events this year was the publication of Extract 150, a two-volume book of the key articles that have been published since the newspaper was founded in 1996.
All this is the result of daily painstaking work of a small but self-denying team. Yet we would have never done this had it not been for our contributors, readers, experts, and partners. So it is small wonder that we turning to them on Den’s birthday.
“KEEP IT UP!”
Leonid KRAVCHUK:
“When I come to my office every day, there is always an issue of Den on my desk. In my view, this is a newspaper for well-prepared people who know how to think and analyze. It is not easy for unprepared people, who do not know much about politics, economics, culture, history, and philosophy, to read Den, but still they should try to do so. The materials published on Den’s pages offer an extensive and in-depth coverage of things. If you read an article in your, in our, Den, you are sure to have an adequate idea of the problem.
“What is the advantage of Den in comparison with the other publications I read? Most newspapers only give a general picture. They inform us of what has happened today. But if asked why it happened precisely this way and what the root cause and the likely consequences are, most of the publications will not answer. This is called information package.
“Conversely, Den not only reports on an event but also provides commentaries (on what other options might have been, etc.), analyzes causes and effects—for the state, the authorities, and the people. In a word, Den is an analytical and professional publication that always offers concrete analyses of specific situations in a particular segment of societal life.
“All I can wish Den on its birthday is: Keep it up!”
“YOU ARE A TRUE UKRAINIAN WINDOW FOR ENTIRE EUROPE”
Marek SIWIEC, member of the European Parliament:
“On this anniversary of Den, I would like to wish you all the best. I think the editorial team is doing fantastic work, and I want to thank you for this. As I cannot regularly read the print version, I usually visit your website. It is a very nice idea to put out a newspaper in three languages: you are a true Ukrainian window for entire Europe. At the same time, you are — through my column — my personal window into Ukraine. Every time I meet Ukrainian politicians, they recall the articles I contribute to Den. They may be trying to be polite, as your diplomats advise them. But in any case it is very good and means that you have very good diplomats. After all, there is some good from my modest contribution, for every conversation, in spite of even a most serious subject, begins in a fine atmosphere.
“All the best again!
“Den manages to follow the same political line — it is, above all, Ukrainian patriotism.”
ON MY DAY AND PUBLICATIONS FOR INTELLECTUALS
Ihor PASICHNYK, Doctor of Sciences (Psychology); Rector, National University of Ostroh Academy:
“My personal day changed quite a lot after I got acquainted with the newspaper Den and, what is more, met its editor in chief Larysa Ivshyna. This individual can influence the formation of not only other persons but also of large teams.
“I can assert that Ostroh Academy largely owes its achievements, as I do my title of Hero of Ukraine, to Ms. Ivshyna personally — as member of Ostroh Academy’s Supervisory Board and an individual who managed to organize many interesting events at our university and bring here people who showed interest in the university and assisted it materially.
“Since I met Ms. Ivshyna, the entire staff of our university, not only I, have been reading Den every day. Naturally, we had read it before, but this became a kind of ritual after the acquaintance. So I can say for sure that Ostroh Academy is Den’s largest reader. This is convincing evidence of the newspaper’s popularity at our place. In comparison with other publications, Den is really a newspaper for intellectuals. My fellow professors, rectors, associate professors, and the students I know read this newspaper and say that Den always raises the topics that prompt one to think over political events as well as art and public life. And, after all, it is just an interesting newspaper.
“Furthermore, Den is perhaps the only newspaper in Ukraine that also comes out in English (The Day). I was so pleased during my visit to the US that at least one Ukrainian newspaper in the true sense of the word is really read by our diaspora and people of other nations. It is the only newspaper from which foreign nationals extract information on Ukraine. Naturally, I wish there were more newspapers of this kind, especially if you take into account the number of the English translations of Russian printed matter.
“However, with this in view, I must stress again that The Day is the only newspaper that is filling the information vacuum of Ukrainian media abroad.
“Let me tell you an episode connected with The Day. A Canadian millionaire, who had read my interview in this English-language publication, became a patron of Ostroh Academy. And this confirms that my day begins and is associated with the newspaper Den because Den is in fact my day.
“Now about emotions. When I read Den, I feel, above all, intellectual emotions. It is this newspaper that stirs up the strongest intellect-related human emotions.”
“FOLLOWING ONE POLITICAL LINE IS UKRAINIAN PATRIOTISM”
Yurii SHCHERBAK, ex-ambassador of Ukraine to the US:
“I think Den is the only newspaper that fully complies with the format of the Ukrainian press that is supposed to exist in this country. Den does a serious review of political and economic events in Ukraine and attaches utmost importance to international issues. This especially applies to Project Syndicate, for it invites well-known political figures.
“At the same time, Den is a teacher of our youth because it focuses so much on historical issues. Besides, it is a daily publication: this means it has an advantage over weeklies and responds to all kinds of events in no time. For example, I know that an event has occurred, which is unknown to the general public. I then look up Den and see the reaction to it. This pleases me very much.
“Another important feature of the newspaper, in my view, is that it turns to non-journalist contributors and the public at large, maintaining a dialogue, a debate, a polemic with them.
“It is also noteworthy that this periodical actively invites students, for they are Ukraine’s future, the intellectuals who can apply their skills and express their views on the newspaper’s pages. It sometimes seems to me hard to understand how the newspaper manages to mirror our multifaceted and contradictory reality and, at the same time, to follow one political line — it is, above all, Ukrainian patriotism.
“What clearly indicates my interest in the newspaper is the fact that I cut out the most interesting articles. I have an ever-growing list of my favorite materials. I give these articles to my acquaintances, because they are of a very high quality and full of new information. Among the latest publications, I would like to single out Serhii Hrabovsky’s profound study of historical issues, as well as articles by Yurii Raikhel and Yurii Shapoval. These are very serious publications that make a noticeable imprint. Den’s materials account for 50 percent of all my newspaper clippings.
“I remember coming back from abroad, where I had spent 10 years. I found it very difficult to adapt to our new life. Anyone who has been away for a long time will understand me.
When I returned to Ukraine, I saw that many people had departed this life, Ukrainians had changed their world outlook, and other persons had begun to appear on the political skyline. But the newspaper evinced interest in me — I felt I was required and went on to contribute to Den. It is now the number one newspaper for me.”
“DEN IS MY REFLECTIVE HOURS”
Khrystyna STEBELSKA, editor in chief, 1st National TV Channel:
“Den is the most favorite shelf in my library, and I spend all my free time reading it. I have probably collected the entire Den library — from Ukraine Incognita and James Mace’s books to Den photo exhibit albums. I always browse your website — in the morning, at lunchtime, and in the evening. I can fully trust your newspaper, for it teaches me to take a serious look at everything.
“I keep following and analyzing Den’s printed word, for it teaches me tolerance and instills in me the wisdom of being able to properly understand the various landmarks of our history. It makes me focus on true things rather than false pseudo-news. It gives answers, offers solutions to difficult problems, and arouses the feeling of self-respect. When you know the truth, you become stronger — so if you want to be successful in Ukraine, you must read Den.
“Den is changing the mindset of modern-day Ukrainians and issuing a very important challenge. It makes it clear that Ukraine is a fully-fledged creator of European history. This is why I have no days without a Den.
“Your publication proves that Ukrainians are proud, not conceited. Your newspaper is for me a journalistic acid test of a true reality and a stimulus for communication. I am sincerely grateful to your entire team, especially the editor in chief Larysa Ivshyna, for she must be one of the few, if not the only one, who know the true value of a moment of eternity captured in a photo. I adore your photo exhibits and even dream of opening a Den photo gallery in my office some day. Every photo seems to be about me, my family, and my life.
“I thank you for beautiful travels over Ukraine — to the provinces, where the impoverished intelligentsia has long been waiting for an appropriate interlocutor. My favorite authors are Larysa Ivshyna, Klara Gudzyk, and Serhii Krymsky. Thanks to these authors, Den readers are not lonely. Every day I love you, reach out to you, and enjoy being with you. Den is my reflective hours. It is the pages of a living truth. Den is the European face of Ukraine.”
“IT IS THE DEPTH OF HISTORY”
Ihor YUKHNOVSKY, head, Ukrainian Institute of National Memory:
“The Ukrainian Institute of National Memory regularly subscribes to the newspaper Den. Besides, I have been reading it for many years. Den is becoming increasingly authoritative among Ukraine’s intellectuals and the general public. It carries very profound articles on the history of Ukraine, especially on the tragic pages in our country’s past. It is difficult to understand which of the political circles the newspaper supports, but I think this only contributes to impartial coverage of events and facts. It is for this reason that people pay so much respect to Den. I wish you not to lose your character and style, and may your journalists live in happiness.”
“DEN’S MISSION IS MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING IN SOCIETY”
Refat CHUBAROV, president, World Congress of Crimean Tatars; Deputy Chairman, Majlis of the Crimean Tatar People:
“I read a lot of newspapers and can see that many of them are a place for accusations, conflicts, and mudslinging. I am pleased that Den is a different newspaper. It stands out against the background of other newspapers because of its restraint, judiciousness, high intellectual level of its materials, and the emphasis it puts on the crucial matters that are of everybody’s concern in this country — the problems of history, the economy, politics, culture, — as well as the analysis of the global politico-economic thought.
“Whenever I need true information on a certain burning problem of this country’s life, I turn to Den’s pages and find unbiased answers there. This is why, extending my wishes to Den’s journalists whom I hold in high esteem, I want to stress that the most urgent problem in our country’s humanitarian and political sphere is the absence of a generally accepted clear-cut opinion in various strata of society on the cardinal directions of political development. It is of little wonder because this results from our complicated history. It is difficult to fathom it. So the mission of a newspaper is to work for mutual understanding, harmony, and unity of ‘thoughts, deeds and intentions,’ to quote Ismail Hasprynsky, a great thinker of the Crimean Tatar people, among all the strata of society.
“I can assert that Den is accomplishing this mission much more successfully than other publications, but there still is much room here for further work. Den is on the right path, but all of us still have very much work to do. Let inspiration never leave you.
“Of great importance in this case are the books in the Den Library series. It is clear to me now that none of this country’s historical or sociopolitical libraries would be complete without these books. This especially applies to such a difficult region as the Crimea.
“So I wish your journalists and publishers new strength and fresh ideas. I am sure that practically all liberal arts institutions consider Den and its books a household material for their own understanding of the current socioeconomic processes in this country as well as for their scholarly pursuit, teaching, and development of long-term socioeconomic and political plans.”
“IT PROVIDES BALANCED INFORMATION”
Oleksandr PASKHAVER, president, Center of Economic Development:
“Den belongs to the intellectual press. This is why I read it. I obtain unbiased information from this publication, whereas ordinary newspapers openly tilt in someone’s favor. What I read in Den prompts me to reflect on things. And I do not think there may be any more positive characteristic for a publication. I wish you to always have enough resources to preserve your unique genre and style.”
“SUPERB NEWSPAPER”
Bohdan STUPKA, artistic director, Ivan Franko National Ukrainian Drama Theater:
“Den is a superb newspaper. My wife and I have been subscribing to and reading it for many years. The publication has been changing all the time — for the better, in my view. It is interesting to read philosophical and historical articles, and I read the culture page very closely.
“Thirteen years means being adolescent, so everything is ahead. I wish the newspaper to prosper and be better with every passing year, for beauty has no bounds.”
“CULTURE IS A NOBLE TOPIC FOR DEN”
Mykhailo RIEZNYKOVYCH, artistic director, general manager, National Lesia Ukrainka Russian Drama Theater:
“It is wonderful that Ukraine has such a newspaper as Den, which pays so much attention to the problems of culture. It is a very rare thing today — taking into account other publications, including those in Kyiv, — so this inspires profound respect on my part. For if we do not promote culture and art, we may soon lose our younger generation.
“I want to wish Den to continue developing this important and noble topic. Besides, your newspaper has a face of its own, and the photos made by your masters of photography show today’s life in various regions of Ukraine.”
“POSITIVE PRESS”
Petro HONCHAR, director, Ukrainian Center of National Culture “Ivan Honchar Museum:”
“For me, Den is the positive press periodical. I divide the informational space — the press, television, and radio — into two camps. One camp is ruining or littering Ukraine’s cultural space, whereas the other is building and developing it. I put Den into the latter camp, for it is an influential newspaper in the Ukrainian informational space, which carries an intellectual load and compels readers to think.”
