Den’ Celebrates

On that anniversary the photo exhibit, already traditional, held at Ukraine House, did not disappoint those expecting to see something interesting.

Another encouraging sign was that Den’s fifth anniversary festivities were attended not only by the capital’s beau monde, but also students, artists, and many people interested in art photography. All came dressed in a way showing that they were not just exploring photos but wanted to be part of a special occasion.

Naturally, we wanted to know what our celebrated guests thought of the newspaper in the first place. Lest we receive ambiguously flattering comments on the spur of the festive moment, we ventured posing rather sharp questions. Celebration or not, a journalist remains his or her true self.

VITALY KONONOV, LEADER OF THE GREEN PARTY: “I WISH DEN’ 365 BRIGHT DAYS A YEAR!”

The Day: What do you think makes people hate some of the media nowadays?

V. K.: I can’t say I bear any special grudges against some or others of them, but it’s true that modern journalism shows a very low level at times. Sometimes you have to push a journalist awake to hear something intelligible. Some of seem to be sleepwalking thorough their work. Well, your newspaper is certainly a happy exception. Your publications make it clear that the creative staff is a carefully selected one, and the resultant product is professionally made. Today, the electronic media are a formidable rival of the press and television. The Internet has brought about a technological revolution and the reader has a rich choice, but I think that Den’ keeps its audiences invariably interested. You have serious analysts and you have your stand in various matters. Even if some of the views are sharply critical, you always observe the rules of propriety. Being partners with Den’ is like working with a sparring partner, knowing that you won’t be knocked out. Your edition is a serious contender that always plays by the rules. On the other hand, one can never really relax dealing with Den’; one has to keep oneself in shape.

Days can be gray and bright, so I wish Den’ 365 bright days a year!

MYKOLA KNIAZHYTSKY, MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL TELEVISION AND RADIO COUNCIL: “DEN’ IS ON THE RIGHT PATH AWAY FROM TOTALITARIANISM”

I don’t like the media for their superficiality and lack of strategic vision and thinking, for their insincerity and speculation. Survival in the Ukrainian environment is fundamentally different from that elsewhere in the civilized Christian community. Consider how people spoke after the terrorist acts in the US. Any member of Western civilization gets used to imposing restriction on himself; he constantly keeps himself under control.

In a society in transition from a totalitarian regime, one does not control himself. He has greater freedom in a democratic society, because he does not want to think about himself, but he cares about what others will think of him. He thus has more liberty in terms of self-expression. Yet this is the sacrifice, the price he pays for the imperfection of modern social institutions. Our notion of faces is different from that in the West. Our faces tend to be like certain other parts of the body.

The way out of totalitarianism is precisely as long as the time we spent there, something very relevant for us. We well get out in the end. Den’ is on the right path leading out of totalitarianism. Stanislaw Jerzy Lec [twentieth century Polish satirical poet] said, “The road to happiness is not happiness.” I think that Den’ will get there ahead of the others.

SERHIY KRYMSKY, PH.D. IN PHILOSOPHY: “DEN’S MERIT IS IN RAISING THE READER’S STANDARDS”

The Day: Don’t you think that Den’ overdoes it by raising heavyweight intellectual or spiritual topics beyond the average reader?

S. K.: No, I don’t. Newspaper practice shows that problems relating to spirituality, intellect, and science are extremely popular. Readers at large are getting increasingly interested in paradoxes, comical situations or controversial phenomena. Den’ shows them how to understand a lot of the most complicated contemporary issues.

I never expected philosophical problems to become so popular, but the letters I receive through your newspaper prove that they are. And Den’ is not the only evidence of rising readers’ standards. I was happy to discover that people are buying highly intellectual literature, and the costs bite! Even our homebred businessmen have shown an interest. Needless to say, your periodical deserves much of the credit.

OLHA HERASYMYUK, 1+1 TELEVISION: “THE READER IS THE REAL BOSS FOR JOURNALISTS AND DEN’ UNDERSTANDS THIS”

O. H.: What I dislike about the media in the first place is lack of professionalism. Thank God, there are exceptions like your newspaper. I appreciate finely worded, clever, and grammatically correct articles. I like journalists who know where to put a comma. I think I’m a text person, and I do enjoy reading a good text. A classy journalist can convey a message using just five words, but these words will be such that everyone understands everything, even place one’s own accents. Most our media are primitive, doing their owners and bosses more harm than good.

The reader should be the real boss for journalists and Den’ understands it. I worked when we were just learning to launch newspapers. The kind of articles and features we carried at the time were not bad, but none would have the effect of a bomb explosion. None was sensationalistic. There are dangerous aspects to this approach.

Nowadays, stories about charity often turn out to be bogus. They not only distort the truth, but also turn the knife in the wound of someone they are supposed to help. That’s what makes me hate the media. Den’ understands such nuances.

Like me, you want to find people to write stories about life in the provinces. You try to help them as best you can, and not a bit of that ain’t-I-a-great-journalist understatement. It is very important not to harm the one you write about by supplying too much information. Here one must know when to stop, even at the expense of one’s own ambition.

Our paths often cross in the good sense. For example, you were the first to write about the House of Light (children’s home) in Odesa. We picked the topic and made a film that won a lot of prizes. And all the while local authorities wanted the place closed. It is every journalist’s duty not to let those he writes about be thrown to the wolves.

THOUGHTS

Yevhen MARCHUK, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council:

One can only congratulate the editorial staff on the photo exhibit. The Editors’ policy of expanding contacts with the readers speaks for itself. Today’s Ukrainian media market is abundant, yet in all that ocean of information one is hard put to find deep analysis along with expert comments and forecasts. In this sense, Den’ is the best source, I’m sure. I also think that it is very important for a newspaper never to turn yellow, become a mouthpiece in the war of compromising information, or lower itself to carrying trashy materials. Here the greatest credit is due the editorial staff, of course. I’m your regular reader and I know that a lot of politicians and diplomats — in a word, people who need top quality intellectual products — read your newspaper also. The fact that your anniversary festivities were attended by ambassadors from a number of leading countries (the US, China, Russia, Germany, Israel, etc.) and that they agreed to be interviewed and met with journalists is a sign of real appreciation, a very important sign. Diplomatic protocol forbids an ambassador to visit a yellow newspaper.

As for the photo exhibit, I like subject-bearing artistic pictures very much. I know what I’m talking about, because I consider myself a professional photographer. And your genre photos are especially interesting; they make one think or smile. Such exhibits and contests, especially those for children, are very touching. Although they mean a great deal of trouble for the journalists and organizers, every such project deserves all possible praise. It is very important to establish contacts between various age groups.

Oleksandr RODNIANSKY, 1+1 general producer:

My impressions of the photo display are as good as of the newspaper. Without doubt, Den’ keeps a finger on the pulse of political and social developments in Ukraine. The exhibit features very interesting art photographs. They all make up a group portrait of the present day. That’s why I always prefer to read Den’ and the weekly Dzerkalo tyzhnia; I have done just that for the past five years. It is my conscious reader’s choice. The level of dialogues and discussions I find in Den’ tallies with my interests, I feel personally involved in the context being of interest to the Editors, readers, and journalists. I believe that this newspaper always interprets events in an interesting way and it offers a variety of political opinions. Of course, some of them do not always coincide with my own views, but that’s what real dialogue is all about. Most importantly, what you publish is never boring; you present it in sufficient depth. And it is very difficult for me to select the best photo on display; they are all very interesting in their own way.

Yury BOHUTSKY, Minister of Culture:

I hold Editor-in-Chief Larysa Ivshyna in great respect. I like her very much as a person. First, she helped me reveal myself spiritually once. Second, I like the newspaper. Let me just say that Den’ is truly intellectual and cultured. It is respected by those contributing their observations and studies, and by the man in the street, because it always keeps pace with the political and cultural process. You are confidently following your course, meaning that you will always have an interested audience.

Dmytro OSTAPENKO, director, National Philharmonic Society:

Your photo exhibit reflects current philosophy: love for life and the struggle of ideologies. These photos take you back in time, give you a glimpse of the future, and, of course, they show current realities, because that’s when they were made. Den’ is a newspaper of the future. I wish you all a happy future, I hope Den’ will continue to develop our culture, not just keep us up to date on politics; I hope this excellent and popular newspaper to allocate enough space for the arts and culture.

Oleksiy KUZHELNY, People’s Artiste of Ukraine:

One day is never exactly like the next, but Den’ becomes better with each passing day, and I think the same is true of your photo exhibits. This newspaper reminds me of a marksman striving to not only hit the bull’s eye, but also place all the hits as close together as possible. And you do just that with a firm grip, calmly, never letting a single bullet fly astray. All your shots are accurate, and that’s what makes Den’ the best in the field.

The Editors wish to express special thanks to their partners — Kodak Ukraine and its CEO Robert Stubbline as well as the Arteks Travel Company (Oleh Pikersky) for assistance in organizing the photo exhibit; to the Finance and Credits Bank, Bank Ukraine, Zakarpatturyst (Carpathian Tourist), and Truskavetskurort (Truskavets Resort) for providing resort accommodations for the photo contest winners, and to the Roschen trademark for their sweets.

GREETINGS

Warmest greetings with the fifth anniversary of Den’! Your newspaper is one of the most popular in Ukraine, and it is well known abroad. Its deep analytical pieces, reflecting current economic and political processes, are helping the Ukrainian people defend their state. I wish the editorial staff the best of health, inspiration, talented writing, fresh creative discoveries, well-being, optimism, and excellent prospects.

Allow me to congratulate, from the bottom of my heart, the creative staff of Den’ on the fifth anniversary of this newspaper which is respected by all!

I can state without the least exaggeration that Den’ has made a tremendous contribution to the process of restructuring the Ukrainian state, bringing this society closer together, and enhancing the principles of democracy. I wish you all creative inspiration, further accomplishment, and an even greater number of supporters and readers... May your reaching the summits of journalistic glory serve to strengthen your very foundation and help you convey words of lasting truth, faith, and good to the Ukrainian citizenry.

Sincere greetings with the anniversary!

Den’ has deservedly taken the lead in the motley field of domestic media. May your newspaper remain as vigorous, constantly up to date, analytical, and even more open to people representing various political positions and views. I wish all of you, dear friends, the best of health, creative inspiration, and every success, professional as well as personal.