Media workers receive new cameras from NUJU

On the occasion of Journalist’s Day, Channel 5 cameraperson Anna Kudriavtseva and SOPA Images photographer Oleksandr Gusev received new cameras from the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU). Anna Kudriavtseva was also given a sleeping bag to help her during business trips to the front. The awarding ceremony took place at the Kyiv Journalists’ Solidarity Center of the NUJU.

According to Sergiy Tomilenko, the President of the NUJU, they were able to support journalists with the new equipment thanks to the close cooperation of the Union and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany in partnership with the Academy of the Ukrainian Press. Talking about the work of the Journalists’ Solidarity Centers, Sergiy Tomilenko drew attention to the fact that the Union, thanks to the support of its international partners, has the opportunity to provide help to those who urgently need it. Among them are media workers who often work in hot spots and prepare materials about military operations. In particular, journalists can use body protective equipment: bulletproof vests and helmets.

“The Journalists’ Solidarity Centers of the NUJU have bulletproof vests and helmets, as well as tactical first-aid kits, which can be used free of charge by every journalist, both military and civilian when traveling to a hot spot. For example, the Kyiv Journalists’ Solidarity Center has protective equipment of two colors. Our German partners gave the black one, and the blue one is help from UNESCO. They can be used by journalists,” Serhii Tomilenko noted.

Drawing attention to the fact that during the war, the safety of journalists working in hot spots is paramount, Lina Kushch, the first secretary of the NUJU, told how the Union helps media workers in this regard. In addition to providing protective equipment, the NUJU organizes a variety of consultations, practical seminars, and security training sessions in response to journalists’ requests.

“In addition, we are currently seeing a great demand for professional equipment among journalists because it is no secret that it often breaks down when working in hot spots. Such cameras, which Anna and Oleksandr received today, are not the first time we have given them to the media, and we know that this equipment is of high quality and has proven itself very well in hot spots,” Lina Kushch noted.

Anna Kudriavtseva, who has already visited the front line three times, in particular, Chasovoy Yar and on the Horlivka axis, said that in the combat zone, filming must be quick, and her old camera was already not up to the desired level.

“First of all, I sincerely thank you for your help. I have an old camera, but it gives five frames per second. It is extremely difficult to shoot artillery with it. It should be faster. And now, I think I will have better shots,” shares Anna Kudriavtseva.

Oleksandr Husev‘s camera has been in service for almost ten years, so its resource is almost exhausted. He is satisfied with the equipment he received from the NUJU, which will make it possible to improve the quality of images.

Also, while presenting the cameras, the media representatives spoke about the topics that, in their opinion, are crucial now. Thus, Oleksandr Husev noted that he was most affected by the tragedy of civilians who found themselves in the war zone.

Call the Kyiv JSC by dialing 050 680 5204 (Illia Suzdaliev, the Kyiv JSC coordinator). The Center’s address is 27A Khreshchatyk Street.

As earlier reported, the Journalists’ Solidarity Centers is an initiative of the NUJU implemented with the support of the International and European Federations of Journalists and UNESCO. The initiative is designated to help media representatives working in Ukraine during the war. The Centers operate in Kyiv, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernivtsi, Zaporizhzhia, and Dnipro and provide journalists with organizational, technical, legal, psychological, and other types of assistance.

UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. It contributes to peace and security by promoting international cooperation in education, sciences, culture, communication, and information. UNESCO promotes knowledge sharing and the free flow of ideas to accelerate mutual understanding. It is the coordinator of the UN Action Plan on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, which aims to create a free and safe environment for journalists and media workers, thus strengthening peace, democracy, and sustainable development worldwide. UNESCO is working closely with its partner organizations in Ukraine to provide support to journalists on the ground.

The designations employed and the presentation of material throughout this digest do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNESCO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city, or area or its authorities or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

The authors are responsible for the choice and the presentation of the facts contained in this digest and for the opinions expressed therein, which are not necessarily those of UNESCO and do not commit to the organization.

NUJU Information Service