June 5 marks the Journalists’ Day in Ukraine, as per presidential edict signed in May 1994 and timed to coincide with the date of the Ukrainian Journalists’ Union’s accession to the International Federation of Journalists in 1992. Every year this date causes a deeper professional self-analysis and the summing up of the previous period’s results. Even though the problem can be reduced to the possibilities of realizing one’s right to profession, every year has been revealing fresh nuances in these reflections. Among the key issues are the journalist corporate spirit, the level of public trust, relationships between journalists and authorities, ability to use the freedom of expression and assume the attendant responsibility. The topic of this freedom in relation to the national interests, as well as how well these interests are represented in the Ukrainian media, is getting increasingly important. Changes in public and political life are accompanied by new challenges.
The theme of “ordered” journalist coverages has become less topical in the past year and a half; instead the so-called Jeans (i.e., concealed advertising) has become actual in Ukrainian journalism. In order to outline the problems currently facing the Ukrainian media and journalists, The Day offered a team of experts (some on the media and others working on the reader’s side) to answer this question: “What can the Ukrainian journalists be proud of and what apoligies they have to make?”
Natalia KONDRATIUK, journalist (TRK Ukraine):
I think we can be proud of the diversity and quantity. I also think that discussing the need to make any apologies is improper. The mass media have always been and remain levers of public opinion influence. It is simply that these levers are different, there are many of them; the reader and the viewer has a right to make his own conclusions, so he should blame himself for the inferences. Of course, there are problems in our journalism, in terms of professionalism and superficial coverage. Without a doubt, there has never existed any corporate or other solidarity, yet the past year and a half are proof that journalists are to acknowledge their wrong political preferences rather than justify them; they are trying to practice an unbiased attitude to the powers that be, rather than act on the favored-unflavored principle. I think that one of the big problems, especially in regard to the television news programs, is the absence of good text editors. Often, after hearing a news release, you simply can’t figure out what it was all about. Such editors are supposed to help journalists present their materials on a professional rather than go-by-the-year principle. Well, this is another long story. Generally speaking, the number of problems facing Ukrainian journalism hasn’t decreased over the past year. It has increased, but this is a topic not be discussed on this festive occasion.
Pavlo FROLOV, Vice President, Association of Political Psychologists of Ukraine:
I believe that modern journalism isn’t likely to turn into the so-called mass profession [in the nearest future]. It remains “personified,” and this approach is hard to overcome. There are certain persons who should feel proud or have reasons to apologize. Now and then this should happen at the same time. One thing we should proud of is the creation of that domestic “information space” complete with our media texts. Apologies? We ought to offer them for taking so long trying to turn ourselves into freemen out of slaves.
