Fashion for ideas

Recently, journalism department students at the Ivan Franko Lviv National University attended a master class by The Day’s web editor, editor of the “Ukraine Incognita” website Artem Zhukov. The master class in Lviv was a kind of continuation of the Kyiv conference “New Media – New Opportunities,” that was held last week. During it, Zhukov talked about a civic journalism platform and about series of master classes for the Ostroh Academy students majoring in journalism about creation of intellectual product in Ukrainian Internet space.

During the master class in Lviv, The Day’s web editor drew attention to producing civic journalism in the platform of “Ukraine Incognita” website through such initiatives as “Family Photo Album of Ukraine,” “Intellectual Map of Ukraine,” and “Route No.1.” It is important that this idea is also present in the “Museums Online” rubric, where every Ukrainian can witness the living history without leaving their computer. Zhukov thinks that modern Ukrainian journalism expands its boundaries, and that is why anyone can create content. However, it is important for this content to be of high quality and encourage thinking. “Journalists are trendsetters in a sense. If editorial policy of Ukrainian media was consolidated in the production of healthy thoughts instead of commercial profit, a trend for ideas would have been popular in our society,” Zhukov said.

Such matters as the importance of a journalist’s civic stand during creation of information and analytical product, giving preference to quality over quantity in the information word were discussed during the master class. Since social network tools become increasingly popular in the modern journalistic world, Zhukov focused the audience’s attention on the importance of any media’s presence on Facebook, Twitter, and Vkontakte. Firstly, this is the best opportunity to expand its circle of adherents and propagate smart ideas. Secondly, it is a great source of new information. And thirdly, it is a nice workshop for practicing writing skills. Regarding the last one, the web editor gave the students a practical advice to use the social network Twitter, since the articles that can take up to thousands of symbols in newspaper format, have to be squeezed into no more than 140 on Twitter.

During the Lviv master class, Zhukov quoted opinions of his Ostroh colleagues and practicing journalists from the Kyiv conference on the importance of functioning of such platforms, since they revive the national memory and history. “In my opinion, in order for demand for ideas to be present in the modern Ukrainian media space, we should pay attention to bringing up a new generation of journalists, people who will popularize genuine values,” Zhukov emphasized.

IMPRESSIONS

Anastasia VOLCHUK, 3rd-year student, National University of Ostroh Academy:

“We received the maximum amount of necessary information, especially about the functioning of the ‘Ukraine Incognita’ website. It is important for history not to collect dust in archives and on shelves. Reanimation of the national consciousness is more than important, especially in the modern Ukrainian society.”

Oksana MUZYCHYSHYN, 3rd-year student, National University of Ostroh Academy:

“The master class with Artem Zhukov did not meet my expectations – it surpassed them greatly. The students talked with The Day’s web editor as equals. Everyone could ask Artem about the specific features of his professional activity, about his career and becoming an editor at such young age. But the most important thesis, which was provoked by the thoughts after the master class, is that there should be no fear of propagating real things. Artem Zhukov presented the Internet platform ‘Ukraine Incognita.’ By using real examples of rubrics creation and functioning, he showed us that this model works, even if at first glance, it is not so popularized today.”

Maria PASELSKA, 3rd-year student, Journalism Department, Ivan Franko Lviv National University:

“It is nice to see that The Day presents itself not only as an educator and teacher, but it also wants to have a dialog with the society, it is open to new things and does not shun learning from people. This is evidenced by a number of projects, aimed at the reaction and participation of the public. Artem Zhukov often stressed the role of journalists and responsibility. ‘To awaken the Ukrainian in Ukrainians.’ When I heard this phrase from our guest, I was afraid that appeals to revive Ukraine and hate our enemies would follow. But it was not only about our identification, it went deeper, about our history and our attitude towards it. In order to feel like intelligent Ukrainians, we need to not only perceive history as something static and written down in books long time ago, but also restore forgotten facts, create the history together. There is something more than gaining profit, there is a goal and desire to bring the intellectual level of the society up. Journalism is often accused of being cynical and indifferent. And tell me, after all this, is it just?”

Iryna MALIUK, 3rd-year student, Journalism Department, Ivan Franko Lviv National University:

“The topic of Artem Zhukov’s lecture was interesting starting from its very name: ‘Civic journalism as an approach towards filling the online media.’ And in my opinion, special attention should be paid here to the word combination ‘civic journalism.’ Media often forget who they write about and who they write for. Civic journalism is, first of all, the story from a person’s, community’s, society’s life. When reading the ‘Ukraine Incognita’ website, one enters the time frame described by the author, each story is unique and special. There, journalism never tries to get on the bandwagon, there is no plagiarism, copy-pasting, criticizing. Is it interesting to people? That is another question, although, the web editor assures that it is in demand, so it’s good. But even if somebody does not like it, their absence of interest is still powerless and cannot erase historical memory, time space, where the history of at least one person was created.”

Dmytro PALCHYKOV, 1st-year student, Journalism Department, Ivan Franko Lviv National University:

“In his lecture, Artem Zhukov quoted Petro Kraliuk: ‘Increased attention to one’s own history is a sign of belated nation-building.’ It has been a while since we escaped the closed Soviet space, and now we have more opportunities to consolidate the planes and direct them down the proper but forgotten path with the help of the work for the idea. We really can join the creation of our own history now, and The Day draws attention to this. In my opinion, ‘Ukraine Incognita’ project is a good platform for the intellectual and ideological boom. In particular, ‘Family Photo Album of Ukraine,’ ‘Intellectual Calendar,’ ‘Intellectual Map of Ukraine,’ ‘Museums Online’ will help with this. I think this is one of the good ways to destroy the mancurtism in souls and set a trend towards everything Ukrainian. During the master class, Artem Zhukov showed the variety of ways of solving the problem by using this one platform.”