The year 2016 of the newspaper Den and our readers started with a nice event: on the Old New Year’s Eve and Malanka, marked 19 years since Larysa Ivshyna became the head of the newspaper. The symbolical celebration of this anniversary became for the editorial office and our readers a reason to talk about the newspaper’s educational projects that are important and significant for the country and to thank everyone who joined them for cooperation. And there are many things to mention: Route No.1, the Den’s Library, the Photo Contest, the Ukraine Incognita Project, and the Summer School of Journalism. Today we can say that the newspaper’s efforts meet a response in the society. The most recent example is the naming of one street in Brovary after James Mace, a researcher of Holodomor and many-year contributor to the newspaper.
Den continues to receive letters in which our readers, contributors, and experts share their impressions about the 20-year-long interaction of the newspaper with the society and offer their initiative of joint celebration of the Year of Den.
“THE HIGH STANDARD KEPT BY THE JOURNALIST OF OUR PUBLICATION GIVES AN OPPORTUNITY TO STUDENTS TO LEARN FROM THE BEST EXAMPLES”
Svitlana BONDAR, senior lecturer at the journalism, advertisement, and publishing department, the Illia Mechnikov Odesa National University:
“Recently more and more Ukrainians have started to go to the gyms several times a week. They train their muscles, but, unfortunately, the trend for regular training of your brain hasn’t appeared yet. We don’t have any daily morning newspapers with which intellectuals in other countries start their morning. But daily newspaper Den for already 19 years have been successfully and tirelessly keeping the defense, preventing its readers from getting ‘rusted,’ regularly increasing the load and number of approaches with its new intellectual projects. The price for a month of sessions in a gym of an average level is enough to subscribe for the publication which will add fuel to your intellectual fire and will keep you in good shape. Visual learners will be incredibly satisfied with the illustrations and photo reports in every issue and in every monthly issue of Route No. 1, and annually – at the photo contest (which has a long time ago become a favorite event for many connoisseurs of the art of photography), and the conceptual calendar, which has already become a good tradition too. It is interesting to view present-day reality through the prism of the editorial policy of the publication, but even more – to look at the past, thanks to incredible researchers and books which you anxiously anticipate, in order to fill in the gaps in the vision of historical process.
Photo by Ruslan KANIUKA, The Day
“The most amazing thing is that all this enables us to peep into the future and where we are going, and the picture at the horizon becomes clearer. The high standard that is constantly kept by the journalists enables the students to learn from high-quality examples, study and examine the fresh actual texts, and the chosen ones are lucky to get a colossal experience during their practice at the Summer School. The many aspects of the activity of the publication are simply impressive!”
“I WILL BE WAITING TILL DEN’S PHOTO EXHIBIT COMES TO DNIPROPETROVSK, AND I WILL HELP IN EVERY POSSIBLE WAY”
Valentyna ORLOVA, journalist, director of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Radio:
“I think that for the journalists in the regions of Ukraine the newspaper Den is an indisputable example. It enables us to deeply ponder our life, past, and future of our country. The most important thing is that it shows everything with the help of ordinary people. Unfortunately, journalism in our country has become inhumane over the past few years. I am working in an online mass medium, where even intonations matter, therefore I can feel it very well. Unlike the rest of the nationwide newspapers which do the analytics, Den does not instruct, neither does it oppose its viewpoint, but it is trying to convince. For real journalism is an unbiased informing of a reader, something that invites him to contemplation. I am always fond of Ihor Losiev’s articles and his ability to find time to watch television channels impresses me a lot. But, if we speak about regional journalists, I can note that there are many interesting and talented people among them, too. Currently the not simple process of denationalization of local mass media is underway. It sometimes reminds me of eradication of working teams, which have been shaped for decades, have traditions of their own, and consist of wonderful people. I know my colleagues from Kharkiv, Poltava, Zaporizhia, and other cities very well. In Dnipropetrovsk I witnessed how the local broadcasting was created and technical possibilities expanded with every year. Now everything is under question, although the local broadcasting is needed badly. I have just received a letter from picturesque Petrykivka, where people thank for our programs, because the network radio, according to an apt expression of one of our colleagues, has become a part of Ukrainian mentality. It turns out that people listen to our program ‘My home village’ even in Cherkasy oblast. They learn many interesting and enlightening things in our programs, about our history, culture, and language. This is why I like the projects of the newspaper Den. I think the project ‘Ukrainians, read!’ is a very good one. Nothing can replace a printed book. Of course, I especially like the publication and distribution of the books in the series of Den’s Library. I know that other newspapers practice similar things – like publishing books for the ATO servicemen. I have met with World War II veterans who carried Kobzar, prayer books, or other books with them. Therefore I applaud to the newspaper Den for its publishing activity – every year it presents new books, takes them to the Lviv Publishers Forum. I also want to mention the column about artists. In our circumstances it is very important – to tell people about art. I always read your articles about Ukrainian families with interest. This is a nationwide family album, because the family is the base of our society. Orthodox Christianity and unification of churches is a very important topic highlighted in the newspaper Den, the column was created and for many years written by Klara Gudzyk. I want to mention Den’s photos and sketches. I always say: sketches are a sign of a healthy publication. I like that the newspaper regularly holds its photo exhibits in different regions of Ukraine, brings there modern art and printed word. I will be waiting till such photo exhibit comes to Dnipropetrovsk too, and I will help in every possible way.”
“THE NEWSPAPER INFLUENCES THE STUDYING PROCESS IN A DIRECT WAY”
Hryhorii DEMYDENKO, professor of Yaroslav the Wise Law Academy, Doctor of History, author of a course of the history of studies about state and law:
“When past year the newspaper Den offered to announce the previous year as the year of Yaroslav the Wise, we readily supported this initiative, held a students’ conference, which was attended by several hundreds of students. Later the materials of the conference were published in the herald of the Academy of Law Sciences. I can say that the newspaper influences the studying process in a direct way, playing an educational and enlightenment role. I would say that the publication keeps up a good academic level, and serious experts share their opinion on its pages.
“I have used the publications of the newspaper Den in my book about Yaroslav the Wise. I prefer the printed version of the newspaper, because I am a bit patriarchal. I try to buy the newspaper at newsstands, but not always have such an opportunity. I find the Ukraine Incognita Project especially important, because the topic of Ukraine’s history remains a burning issue and it should be highlighted on a regular basis. We also should remember about the topic of historical relations of Ukraine and Russia, as well as culture workers. Since current Putin’s regime has broken all the contacts – academic, public – this is detrimental for both cultures. I think it would be interesting to have a regular column which will feature the opinion of authoritative, respected people – scholars, historians, political, and public workers – on all the existing problems in the country, which will be followed by regular discussion.”
