Volyn journalists want a master class

At the presentation of The Day’s Photo Exhibition Volyn audience always expects an interesting discussion and interaction with the editor-in-chief and the journalists of the newspaper. This year the meeting was held in a new format in a somewhat concise version. That’s why the local journalists surrounded Larysa Ivshyna even before the official opening of the photo exhibition in order to ask her questions that concern not only the journalists. They shared their experiences and reminded that they still expect the promised master class.

Tamara PRYIMAK, journalist with Slovo Volyni newspaper:

“I first met Ivshyna when she came to the Lesia Ukrainka Volyn National University to present the books from The Day’s Library to her fellow countrymen. Since that time I got an idol in journalism – Larysa Ivshyna. She is a confident, well-educated woman, editor, who is so in love with Ukraine and is on guard of its unique history. Next year will mark professional anniversary for Ivshyna – 30 years in journalism. Perhaps it is not just me but there are also many others, who had an opportunity to listen to her speaking about Ukraine as a state, its political system, its position in the world, the level of journalism, the need for national self-identifications of Ukrainians, creation of our own system of coordinates can say with confidence that this woman has not only created a social phenomenon of The Day newspaper, but also became a phenomenon in journalism herself. According to her definition, career in journalism means being a person and have the right to say something. Ivshyna achieved this and presently she is trying to form the new journalistic elite in Ukraine. Perhaps, this was the reason for opening the Summer School of Journalism and that is why Ivshyna regularly meets with journalism students, encourages them to read ‘books a Ukrainian head needs.’ In my opinion, Ivshyna devotes so much of her time to young people because she wants to see Ukrainian journalism grow from a ‘bearded man who got stuck in the first grade’ into a powerful outpost in promoting Ukraine as a respectful European country with rich history.

“Ivshyna also inspires the older generation of Ukrainian journalists with her own example. At least, I can confidently say this about myself. My conversation with her during the opening of the photo exhibition in Lutsk was for me both like a breath of fresh air and like a cold shower. Although in her speech Ivshyna blamed Ukrainian and Volyn journalists for slow ‘building up of their potential,’ she also stressed that ‘a new generation of good journalists is growing in Ukraine’ and that she ‘can already hear how grass grows from under the asphalt.’”

Iryna KACHAN, journalist with the online media VolynPost:

“It is always a great joy for journalists to be able to share their thoughts on today’s journalism and listen to the opinion of the respected colleague. It is true for both young and inexperienced journalists and for those old and with great experience. At least, that’s my impression. Journalists in the province are somewhat deprived, maybe, even suffer from complexes and are being underestimated. Potential and talent can often be lost in the situation when you are forced to simply write about the news and not think and analyze materials. It was extremely interesting to hear about what a journalist with great life and professional experience thinks about the role of journalism in this country. Every time some big journalist comes to Lutsk from the capital, communication with them gives a new impetus. The meeting with The Day’s editor-in-chief Larysa Ivshyna was that kind of experience. I assume that many journalists are interested not only in projects of the newspaper, but also in the figure of Larysa Ivshyna, who came from Volyn. Ivshyna makes a very strong impression already the first time you meet her. She is a leader with authority, a person, who knows well what she wants, she knows what needs to be done and how it should be done. She is also a strong woman after all. Intellectual communication with her makes you think again about civic position of a journalist, the high mission of journalism as a profession, about the things to which you’ve developed a skeptical attitude over the years of professional activity. Meetings like this inspire.”