Anna Del Freo: “Ukrainian journalists are people who never give up”

The famous Italian journalist Anna Del Freo – vice-president of the Lombardy Union of Journalists and member of the steering committee of the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), expresses undeniable solidarity with her Ukrainian colleagues and admiration for the work of the Ukrainian journalistic community and the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU) during the Russian-Ukrainian war.

She emphasized this while visiting our country at the invitation of the NUJU.

“I want to express to you, colleagues, words of support both on my own behalf and on behalf of the President of the European Federation of Journalists, Maja Sever,” said Anna Del Freo, meeting with Ukrainian media workers.

She noted that global journalism is not going through the best of times because it has serious competition with social networks, where public opinion leaders and bloggers express their position, bypassing the media. But these difficulties are in no way comparable to the problems faced by Ukrainian journalism.

“In times of war, journalists become the first witnesses of important events, and it is crucial that they can convey this information not only to the domestic audience in your country but also to the world community. This is the special value of the work of journalists in Ukraine,” said Anna Del Freo. “Talking with journalists in Ivano-Frankivsk Region, Chernihiv Region, and in Kyiv, I realized that these are people who never give up. I am amazed at the conditions under which you work!”

Anna Del Freo praised the activities of the NUJU, in particular, the creation (with the support of the EFJ and other international organizations) of a network of Journalists’ Solidarity Centers (JSC), which today operate in Kyiv, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernivtsi, Dnipro, and Zaporizhzhia.

“In the European Federation of Journalists, we often discuss the safety of media workers,” noted the Italian colleague. “But, only after coming to Ukraine did I actually realize what this term really stands for. Together with the NUJU President, Sergiy Tomilenko, I visited the Museum of the Second World War, where the NUJU‘s exhibition titled Executed Free Speech is currently underway. I got to know the stories of many Ukrainian journalists. They are impressive. To understand why journalistic safety is important, you have to see it with your own eyes….”

She said that while in Ivano-Frankivsk, she experienced an air raid alert for the first time in her life. Of course, a journalist from a peaceful country felt fear – the fear that Ukrainians and foreigners who come to Ukraine to support Ukrainians experience every day.

At the same time, she remembered the stories that her grandparents had told her about their experiences during World War Two. She thought that she had no idea she would encounter a new large-scale war in her lifetime.

“Therefore, I want to express words of support and solidarity to all my colleagues working in Ukraine for their difficult and dangerous daily work. And for the opportunity to get to know you,” said Anna Del Freo.

On behalf of the Lombardy Union of Journalists, she promised to continue cooperation with the NUJU. In addition, she spoke about the meeting with the president of the EFJ, Maja Sever, who also promised to continue and deepen cooperation with the NUJU.

Anna Del Freo will describe her impressions of her trip to Ukraine in an article in her newspaper “Il Sole 24 ORE” – the largest in Milan.

NUJU Information Service