Every year in June, Ukraine celebrates Journalist’s Day. Representatives of the «fifth power», the sphere responsible and important, are not easy to know themselves and the world, but also to produce the original style, create your own brand. Have you thought about it why people choose journalism as a professional field, what is expected of it in the future? We asked journalists about the most important thing for them in the profession
Independence
Tamila Butko, producer of the branch of PJSC «NSTU» Zhytomyr Regional Directorate
«Journalism in my life probably arose not accidentally. I studied at the Faculty of History V. Stefanyk Precarpathian University. After graduating, I came to Zhytomyr exactly in the year when the first century was founded region state FM radio station «Zhytomyr wave». Then just recruited people who could act as both editors and announcers. I thought, «Why not to try?» Journalism for me it is a high level of quality, truthful, balanced, impartial, versatile information that people trust. Journalism is independence from any people, structures or systems …. I would very much like to see Ukraine together with democratic society developed a democratic journalism. We already have it today professional journalists and media structres, whose works are not scandals and sensations, but editorial and analytical materials. I want here would be more such journalism in the future.»
Honesty
Iryna Stepanenko, editor and host of the evening news on SK-1 TV channel
«Since childhood, I have a heightened sense of justice. I came to the profession on the second day after graduating from University – I am a philologist by profession, graduated from ZhSU named after Ivan Franko. Soyuz-TV was looking for journalists. Overcoming fear and insecurity, came to try his hand. At that moment I had little knew and understood about an interesting channel, but they believed me and gave me the opportunity to learn. Thanks to Oleh Viktorovych Babkin and my demanding editor and teacher Anatoliy Fedorovich Godovanyj. I worked in the program for a long time «News» and sometimes «dived» into my favorite format of live communication in live broadcasts. Then I was invited to a young and ambitious team TV channel «SK-1», where live broadcasts became the main work … Journalism has long been integral part of my life – keeps in shape and demands constant work on yourself. I love working for opportunity to communicate with a huge number of different people for the opportunity to receive information from primary sources, share it, cover the truth … What I want most is journalism to be honest, with observance of all journalistic standards. Unfortunately, this is not enough today. Now is the time of neglect of standards, time of non-professionals,show time very often when show replaces the main content—information. Journalism is a mirror that reflects reality, not distort it. It is first of all people.It is important to be not only professionals, but also people, both in the profession and outside it. Professional luck, honesty, I sincerely wish happiness and harmony to all colleagues!»
Responsibility
Valentina Tychyna, editor and presenter of Public broadcasting of Zhytomyr regional Directorate
«In June 1981, the republican children’s newspaper «Zirka» announced the contest «Name of your village». The editors appealed to their young readers who responded briskly and sent many letters. Among the winners of this first in my life creative competition I also was. In 1983 the students were invited to attend classes at the school «Junkor» at Illinetsky district newspaper «Labor Glory» and at the same time to the school of public correspondents at Vinnytsia regional youth newspaper, I with several classmates immediately agreed. Why not to try? A lot has been written stories, sketches, reports, correspondence, and when under newspaper publications I saw the signature «Junkor», it meant trust … There were also awards for creative work – trips to the camps: «Young Guard», «Forest Song». And after winning first place in 1985 on All-Ukrainian Ukrainian Television Olympiad in languages and literature and winning the competition «Passing ball», announced by the newspaper «Youth Of Ukraine» and the Faculty of Journalism of the then KSU, the final choice was made. In 1990 I graduated from a very prestigious metropolitan Faculty of Journalism of Kyiv State University named after Taras Shevchenko University, and then an invitation to the new newspaper «Echo» arrived to work as a young specialist in Zhytomyr. Since 1996 I work in the team of Zhytomyr state television and radio companies …Journalism is a great responsibility for what is said on the air, for information,which you bring to the audience. For its many years experience has seen what a strong energy impact has a living word for the audience. People are sincerely divided memories, stories about their achievements …The profession of a radio journalist, though restless, sometimes happen very nervous and acute situations, but interesting, therefore that you work for the benefit of people, you are constantly in search, in motion, in the rhythm that dictates life itself. After all, the radio that can now be listened to,even using the phone and then watching programs on pages in social networks, remains one of the main and modern sources of information. Working on the radio – a real production process,because we spread information … Life flies, rapidly changing. And the journalist must answer modern requirements of the troubled present, respond to society’s challenges, keep up with time. Serve people, tell the truth. I believe in independent journalism in a free Ukraine!»
Human
Lesya Hudz, journalist of «Lesyn Krai»
«There was no such idea to go into journalism. I wrote poems, they were published in newspapers, and then wanted to write about compatriots – so there were some notes-essays in «Lesyn Krai». Involved – this became a necessity for the soul. Well, then everything is simple: offered a job, agreed … That’s the point of my life, because Man is behind journalism. If,of course, this is real journalism, not a marathon for sensations and scandals. Just for the opportunity to write for people and about people and love your work … I’m waiting for a profession, although it’s probably naive,but … Justice, objectivity, depth,population; return to journalism, which really follows the needs of the reader, not the other way around. And a strict observance of the moral Code of Ukrainian journalist»
Journalism has many dimensions. This is the state of the soul, inseparable, capacious part of life, self-realization, independence. Adding huge volumes information every day, we still feel dedication and sincerity. And that’s why we want inspiration in such a catchy and important matter!
