“Time for quality thinking”

Last week at our Press Club we announced that, on occasion of Den’s 20th anniversary which our editorial office will mark next year, our readers propose to declare 2016 the Year of Den. The office, in its turn, would make 2016 the Year of Readers. Immediately a flash mob “Den’s Favorite” was launched and numerous actions were announced, which we will implement through all next year together with the Charitable Foundation in Support of the Newspaper Den’s Initiatives, our readers, and authors. It is heartwarming that this initiative found absolute and unconditioned support among students, teachers, artists, historians, renowned publicists, and media experts. How can Den’s intellectual tools transform 2016? You can find the answers in the first reactions, which our office began to receive last week.

“A PERIODICAL IN WHICH YOU SEE AND UNDERSTAND THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE”

Yurii BOBALO, Rector, Lviv Polytechnic National University:

“This is exactly how I see Den’s role in the Ukrainian media space and more generally, in the contemporary Ukrainian reality.

“Unfortunately, we have too few periodicals offering such large-scale and in-depth analysis of socio-political problems; periodicals that awaken national self-conscience and self-respect in Ukrainians; educational periodicals with high journalistic standards. Den is a pleasant exception in the current choice of domestic newspapers.

“This is why I totally support the idea of announcing next year, 2016, the Year of Den. The paper is going to celebrate its 20th anniversary, and for the majority of the patriotic academic community it has become a sort of handbook.

“It is common knowledge that there is no true publicist who would not be able to analyze the ever-changing phenomena of reality around him. Moreover, an individual devoid of the talent of passionate persuasion will never become a publicist.

“Den’s editor-in-chief Larysa Ivshyna, whom I have the honor to call my friend for quite a while, does have this rare talent. She says she cherishes special feelings for Lviv and the Lviv Polytechnic. She is convinced that here she will always find understanding.

“Year after year our university hosts numerous meeting and discussions between Den’s journalists and our students and teachers. I remember that during one of such stimulating conversations (with a maximally precise and topical theme, ‘How Can We Win?’) Larysa Ivshyna argued: ‘Our newspaper is, after all, a toolkit for learning the true history of Ukraine, for understanding the socio-political, social, and cultural processes of today, for the shaping of active civil standpoint in people. There belong the paper self, as well as its web project Ukraine Incognita, its library, its annual photo contests, the summer schools of journalism, intellectual debates at the Ostroh Academy, and so on, and so forth.’

“Despite my being predominantly a techie, I am convinced that the formation of domestic technical elite would be incomplete without a solid share of liberal arts. A few years ago at the Lviv Polytechnic we founded the department of journalism and mass information media. We are probably soon going to suggest that the chair of the department propose themes for course, bachelor, and graduation papers which would cover Den’s diverse activities.

“We are going through a difficult, dramatic period. Yet every time I open Den to read its spirited articles, I imbibe its invincible optimism and faith, and believe that we will overcome all difficulties and lead Ukraine to the broad and light path of prosperity and progress.”

“YOU HAVE A SPECIAL AUDIENCE: DEMANDING, CURIOUS, AND INTELLECTUAL”

Svitlana YEREMENKO, media expert, managing director, Pylyp Orlyk Institute for Democracy:

“In my experience as a reader and author, Den has long stopped being a mere information medium and turned into a whole serious institution, engaged in a variegated activity for awakening national self-consciousness, instilling patriotism, and teaching budding journalists the secrets of the profession. Den sets higher standards of general culture in society and urges to engage in self-development. This activity, voluntarily assumed by Den’s staff, is commensurate with the efforts of famous institutions like the British Council, Goethe-Institut, the Polish Institute, or the French Institute in Kyiv.

“The grateful audience could not fail to appreciate this colossal work. No wonder that they proposed to make 2016 the Year of Den, the more so that the newspaper will be marking its 20th anniversary. In their turn, out of respect for the readers (and Den’s readers are truly special: demanding, curious, and intellectual), the staff propose to make 2016 the Year of Den’s Readers and Authors.

“In my view, all Den’s efforts are valuable, necessary, and important in their own way, which is why they have to be developed further. Against the backdrop of deplorable degradation of journalists’ professional standards and the prestige of the trade, it is absolutely necessary to continue the work of the Summer School of Journalism. Besides the School, journalists from other regions might find it useful to make a closer acquaintance with Den and even work at the office as trainees. I believe that would really help upgrade their proficiency.

“It is also important to develop historical discourse, because without the knowledge of history and the interpretation of historic mistakes we cannot count on any decent future. That is why Den continues its valuable contribution by publishing articles and books, holding discussions on historical themes, debating topical issues at roundtables and at universities, for instance, at the Discussion Club at the Ostroh Academy. During the Year of Readers it will be useful for budding journalists to meet and speak with Den’s staff and profoundly study its publications – for instance, analytical articles which today are hard to find on the pages of other periodicals.

“I am convinced that in that year ever more regions must invite Den’s Photo Exhibit. It will be no exaggeration to say that it has already become the photographic chronicle of the country.

“As Den’s old-time and devoted reader, I personally am ready to join the events scheduled for 2016, in particular, roundtable discussions, the Summer School of Journalism, and so on.”

“THE FUTURE I WISH FOR MYSELF AND FOR UKRAINE”

Anna LEVCHUK, vice-rector for scholarly-pedagogical activities, European integration, and student affairs, Lesia Ukrainka Eastern European National University:

“Just look at Den’s Library, and you will see that a considerable part of the publications cover historical themes. I remember my colleagues saying that the best way to learn history is to read Den, and I cannot but agree. But for me, Den is first of all a newspaper of the future. A beautiful future, like the one I wish for myself and our country. This newspaper projects, warns, and counsels. There is an old maxim, sometimes attributed to Plato: beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The Ukrainian world as seen by Den is a place where a nation of cerebral citizens is being born on the basis of well-interpreted, rich history. In my opinion, Den’s team boast of great civil and publicist courage, which enables them to look into realms that the others find formidable, question the musty theories, and shed light on hitherto invisible terrains.

“The subjects are various, yet the high quality of information remains unchanged. Scholars are used to check their facts. I always check mine by looking for answers on Den’s website. Larysa Ivshyna, the acquaintance with whom I believe to be one of the game-changing events in my life, often mentions the immaturity of such a concept as ‘the institute of reputation’ in Ukraine. This is where Den and its staff of authors, photographers, and managers, will set the example to follow. Den’s 20 years are two decades of its reputation as the best highbrow periodical, available to philosophers, scholars, and beginners alike. Ignorance is not a vice, this is what you have Den for; but indifference is. Den’s audiences are actually the people who care, and who create their own life and that of their country.

“A few months ago at the Publishers’ Forum in Lviv Den’s new publications were presented: Return to Tsarhorod and a journalistic triptych. Today they are impossible to come by, they need to be reprinted. Fortunately, the audience itself demonstrates demand for a high-quality intellectual product.

“I want 2016, the year of Den and its readers, to see even more cooperation and encounters with the paper’s team. It is gratifying that more and more universities are becoming Den’s embassies as they host photo exhibits, hold intellectual competitions, discuss publications, write and translate, and create in this way an intellectual circuit of thoughts, which will result in the right civil stand, socially useful ideas, and bold prospects. So let us live by the light of Den!”