Den in the heart of the world’s media

The French city of Angers is hosting the jubilee 90th Congress of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), which has been attended by over 300 delegates from around the world. It was in this city the Federation was founded in 1926. “A good start of the IFJ congress’ first day has been… Den,” wrote on his Facebook page Hlib Holovchenko, secretary of Ukraine’s National Union of Journalists, Director of the Mykolaiv College for Press and TV. He also posted a photo in which he presents The Day to Jim Boumelha, IFJ president.

“Unfortunately, information on Ukraine reaches here only from non-Ukrainian sources! Therefore, any opportunity to present our position directly is very important! That is why I decided to present the English-language newspaper The Day at the Congress. I saw the great interest for it by the journalists from around the world,” says Holovchenko. “Our delegation has actually distributed the newspaper to many colleagues from other countries, and we have heard positive reviews and opinions that the publication in English should be especially supported.”

According to Holovchenko, the agenda of the Congress is the challenges that arise in the context of contemporary approaches to traditional journalism, the analysis of the “attack” on the principles and standards of journalism, which happens all across the globe with the onset of the digital revolution.

IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists and is the most influential voice of journalists in the world. The federation unites national journalism organizations from 140 countries. The main issues of the congress are protection of journalists’ rights, strengthening freedoms of speech and expression, and combating violence against journalists. Ukraine is represented at the current Congress by six delegates.