“Journalism has always been around”
Commemorative plaque unveiled in Kyiv in memory of journalist Oleh Sytnyk
A commemorative plaque was unveiled in Kyiv on May at 19a Suvorov St., where Oleh Sytnyk, a prominent Ukrainian journalist, lived. Sytnyk was widely known as editor of many publications in the Soviet era as well as during perestroika and the first years of independence, among which were Moloda gvardiya, Molod’ Ukrainy, and Vechirniy Kyiv. The Sytnyk-edited Prapor komunizmu, a Communist Party publication as it was, still heralded a transition from Soviet to Ukrainian journalism. Many of his disciples have become true mass media professionals, including editors of some present-day Ukrainian publications. Among those who learned journalist skills under the guidance of Oleh Sytnyk are Larysa Ivshyna, Oleksandr Ilchenko, Volodymyr and Yulia Mostovy, Yurii Khlystun, Iryna Dubska, and others.
Recalling her work at the newspaper Prapor komunizmu under the guidance of Oleh Sytnyk, The Day’s editor in chief Larysa IVSHYNA says:
“One can often hear it said that there was no journalism in the Soviet Union. But, to tell the truth, journalism has always been around, if by this we understand defending people. Although correspondents no longer travel to follow up on a reader’s letter, this does not mean that this has become unnecessary.
“Naturally, there was more than enough propaganda at the time, but whoever had a human heart was always ready to perform noble deeds. I often recall that when I began to work for Prapor komunizmu, I was pleasantly stunned by quite an instructive fact that there was an ex-convict on the staff. He did time for throwing a shoe that accidentally hit the portrait of Lazar Kaganovich. And a nephew of Kaganovich’s worked at the newspaper’s sports section at the time.
“I must say it was next to impossible for ex-political prisoners to work at a Party-controlled publication, but Oleh Sytnyk gave that man an opportunity to work. He liked interesting personalities and tended to give such people a chance. He would often take steps that were deemed unconventional at the time. Sytnyk was not an angel at all, which he could confirm by himself, but he was so humane that this outweighed all his drawbacks.”
Ivanna CHEREDNYCHENKO, a TV journalist and the legendary editor’s daughter, reminisces:
“He was a charismatic personality, to use a modern phrase, an individual full of energy. Apart from being a very skilled professional, he was a born leader. The profession of an editor in chief was his vocation. At the same time, he had a wonderful sense oh humor: he would crack a joke in virtually every sentence he spoke. He loved people and was very communicative and kindhearted with those who surrounded him.
“At his funeral I was stunned to see so many people who came to pay their last respects to him. Father helped many and was very considerate towards people — not because he wanted to carve out a career. He never played up to the bosses.
“He was a strong personality as well as a good psychologist, who could see through people, and a fine expert: he knew how to choose and work with people. I think this is the reason why so many of his probationers grew to be chief editors. Journalists used to nickname him ‘dad.’ So this commemorative plaque and public concern about him reflects not only his professional skills but also the fact that he was a decent and extraordinary personality.”
The commemorative sign was put up on the initiative of the Ukrainian National League of Journalists (UNLJ). Ihor LUBCHENKO, the UNLJ chairman, said that it took about three years to receive permission to put up the memorial plaque on a Kyiv street, although there were no special obstacles.
“We, the league, sent a letter to the Kyiv authorities. There is a special commission in the city, which deals with this kind of matters. This commission had a meeting and resolved to allow putting up the plaque. Only then was there a fund-raising campaign, but it was Sytnyk’s family that did it.”
According to Lubchenko, similar plaques have been put up in Kyiv in honor of other well-known journalists and academics, such as Dmytro Pryliuk and Anatolii Moskalenko, who used to head the Institute of Journalism at Taras Shevchenko Kyiv National University. “I am grateful for the memory,” he said.
