Anna KHRYPUNKOVA, Den’s own correspondent in Donetsk:
“I came to Den when I was still a student. Even then I thought that had brought something very important into my life and that it would be a serious and long occupation, when you feel that you are doing something useful and exert yourself with all your heart. At the same time, it is very difficult, for you must meet this newspaper’s standards and study all the time. So Den also became my second ‘university’ and, concurrently, my team. It is a great honor and responsibility to work in it.
“Today’s Den is a newspaper that not only employs me but is also a source of boundless respect. I use this newspaper’s materials to teach my journalist students at Donetsk National University. My students are unanimous in the opinion that it is impossible to imagine Ukrainian journalism without Den because this newspaper is essentially a leading publication, the initiator of many traditions and processes. It teaches one to think and read. Den is inimitable in playing a crucial role in the life of not only an individual reader or writer but also of the entire country. The newspaper is unique in being able to combine these two trends on the highest possible level.
“Moreover, Den is also interesting from the viewpoint of a researcher as an auspicious event in the history of Ukrainian journalism that has broached a lot of subjects and problems, a showpiece of elite, deluxe, journalism. It is for this reason that my dissertation is also based on, above all, analyzing Den’s elaborate, versatile and penetrating publications.
“On the whole, Den makes each of my days much more interesting and inimitable. I think the same is true about other readers of this newspaper, who have in fact ceased to be mere readers but have become true participants in the making of Ukrainian history which Den ’s contributors are not just witnessing and analyzing but, first of all, putting their heart in.”
Volodymyr PRYTULA, chairman, Freedom of the Press Monitoring Committee, Crimea:
“In my view, Den is a remarkable phenomenon in Ukraine’s informational space. It is perhaps the only truly Ukrainian daily that attempts to give unbiased coverage of the whole range of events and ideas in Ukraine and to reflect the entire pluralism of public opinion. On the other hand, the newspaper does not forget that it comes out in nowhere else but Ukraine and thus differs from other publications by taking a Ukraine-centered attitude to the world, which in fact dots all i’s and crosses all t’s. I can find absolutely all I need on Den’s pages to be in the picture of sociopolitical life: up-to-date information, high-quality commentaries, on-the-spot reports, a deep analysis of social processes, as well as materials that can’t be found in other publications, for example, about the history of Ukraine and some aspects of social and cultural life. It is Den that lets me feel the pulse of Ukraine and its people.
“On the other hand, Den, which has raised so high the standards of the new, truly Ukrainian, media, is a nursery of professional Ukrainian journalists — the names that I first saw in Den can now be seen in other publications, where they also show quite a high mastery.”
Viktor PUSHKIN, Professor, head of the Department of History and Political Theory, director of the Institute of Humanitarian Problems, Dnipropetrovsk National Mining University:
“Every day I look forward to a fresh issue of Den. I value this newspaper for, above all, its high intellectual level, impartiality and well-wishing tone. One cannot confuse Den with any other newspaper because it has a style and a face of its own. What appeals to me is the newspaper’s soul-searching, ability to attract brilliant contributors, and respectful attitude to readers.
“The published materials provoke thoughts and, as a rule, do not force one to swallow ready-made answers. I stress ‘as a rule’ because, unfortunately, there are exceptions. For example, the newspaper often broaches historical problems, seeking the opinion of its regular contributors, well-known and authoritative scholars. Their viewpoints sometimes look too categorical and insufficiently grounded and, naturally, far from all share them. Why not organize a dialogue between the opponents who have different visions and interpretations of historical processes? I think it would be to the newspaper’s benefit if there were more tolerant polemics and debates on its pages. I wish the newspaper’s staff further successes and mutual love between them and the readership.”
Ihor SHKYRIA, People’s Deputy of Ukraine, Regions of Ukraine faction:
“Very often I begin my day with Den. I love this newspaper very much and highly value the staff that creates a masterpiece like this. I like it that Den is a thought-provoking and analytical publication on Ukraine’s newspaper market. One can draw very much useful information from its pages — the information that cannot be found in other publications. I wish Den to continue developing. The newspaper employs high-class journalists. I wish Den to increase its print run and its journalists to always raise their professional level. I wish Den to be as much popular twenty years later as it is now.”
Yuriy POKALCHUK, writer:
“I’ve been reading Den since its inception. What pleases me is that the newspaper has dropped a partisan approach. Den differs from other newspapers by taking a generally unbiased approach to various situations in this country. It is gratifying that Den is still following the line it chose before. So when I want to look into a certain situation, I always turn to Den and see again that the publication is based on a ‘sound ground.’ I have never seen Den carry, so to speak, libelous articles full of bad words and foul-mouthed gibes against anybody, which other newspapers often do. Nor have I ever seen any one-sided criticism. What I’ve seen is unbiased coverage of facts. So when I read some criticism in Den, I am sure this is a true description of the situation. I always like Den’s pages devoted to culture, including large professionally-written articles about artists and writers. There are no unproved facts, which is important for me as a writer. Of special interest are ‘Television’ columns which make the reader not only read the TV quide but also ponder over what he is watching on TV. My birthday greetings to Den! I wish the newspaper to continue following its course of European independence. For Den has already reached a level when one can say for sure: it is a European newspaper!”
