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Where there is no law, but every man does what is right in his own eyes, there is the least of real liberty
Henry M. Robert

Golden Era Advances on Ukrainian Television

27 April, 1999 - 00:00

For Ukrainian television the "Golden Era" obviously came at the wrong time
this year. There is growing Parliament-Cabinet confrontation in the mass
media. The President is still to shape his part of the National Television
and Radio Council (NTRC). The findings of the National Television Company's
Auditing Committee, pointing to substantial abuses, still hang in midair
as no one has heard of any further steps. As before, the opposition has
no access to television programs, and Parliament is again planning to return
to the NTRC leadership issue, primarily with regard to Zynovy Kulyk. The
government channel UT-1 is still witch-hunting in Verkhovna Rada. Last
week its "7 Days" again gave an example of its blatant contempt for Ukraine's
supreme legislative body. And in the photo we can see Mykola Kanyshevsky
rejoicing at the victory of his "Visti Tyzhnia" (News of the Week) in the
Golden Era contest (in the best news show category). He is happy, yet he
is barred from the air for obvious political and commercial reasons. Is
it joy through tears? How many other TV producers will receive the same
"consolation prize" in the course of the presidential race?

True, there is no denying the fact that the best professionals, who
do their job diligently and play fair should be singled out and awarded,
in any field of endeavor, at all times. Just as it is true that in this
particular case fair play causes no doubts.

One can agree with Oles Buzyna who said in the Golden Era (in full
the Second Annual Zolota Era Professional Television Contest) lobby
that nothing is a greater asset for any television channel than decency
and a sense of proportion. Oleksandr Rodniansky, as President of the Television
Academy of Ukraine and 1+1 Studio General Producer, together with colleagues,
this time met their national counterparts halfway. First, they withdrew
1+1 with academy members Yuri Makarov ("Telemania") and Mykola Veresen
("Taboo"), followed by others like Inter's Oleksandr Tkachenko and his
"Face of the World," and film director Oleh Biyma). Second, they refused
to vie in the nominations that brought them the Golden Era trophy last
year.

What can be better than a good joke in good company? Oleksandr Martynenko,
Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration, before reading out Mr.
Kuchma's message of greetings, apologized for his boss's absence, saying
that the President "promised he would definitely attend next year." Mr.
Martynenko did not specify in what capacity, though. Who knows? Maybe as
an honorary member of the Television Academy after being the number one
viewer for the past four years.

What about the contest? More on this in coming issues.

 

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