THE NATIONAL UNION OF
JOURNALISTS OF UKRAINE
During the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, the interaction of citizen journalists with the military gained particular importance. On the occasion of Journalist’s Day in Ukraine, and at the proposal of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU), journalists received awards from the Commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU)/Lieutenant General Serhii Nayev. The solemn event took place in the press center of the NUJU.
Citizen journalists from all-Ukrainian and local publications were awarded military awards – badges For Service And Valor and obtained Certificates of Appreciation from the Joint Forces Commander for fruitful cooperation, assistance, and support to the AFU during the confrontation with the Russian war. The awards were also handed over on the occasion of Journalist’s Day.
The NUJU introduced a number of Ukrainian journalists to Serhii Nayev for awarding. At the event at the Union’s office, the badge For Service And Valor was awarded to Andrii Nesterenko, a photojournalist at the Holos Ukrainy [Voice of Ukraine] newspaper; Pavlo Bahmut, a Ukrinform photojournalist; Mariya Kovaliova, a journalist from Bucha, Kyiv Region; Andrii Kovalenko, the executive director of the Academy of the Ukrainian Press; Sergiy Tomilenko, NUJU President; Lina Kushch, NUJU First Secretary; Serhii Braha, editor-in-chief of Uriadovyi Kuriyer; Svitlana Chornii, journalist of the Holos Ukrainy newspaper; Anatolii Horlov (posthumously), editor-in-chief of Holos Ukrainy newspaper; Pavlo Kushch, journalist of the Holos Ukrainy newspaper; Oleksandr Klymenko, photographer of the Holos Ukrainy newspaper; Oleksandr Pylypets, television manager; and Liliya Striletska, journalist of the ICTV TV channel.
Commander Serhii Nayev handed over Certificates of Appreciation to Yevhen Lopushynskyi (Vechirnii Kyiv), Inna Kosianchuk (Slovo, Vyshhorod), the staff of the Uriadovyi Kuriyer newspaper/journalists Oleksii Kustovskyi and Olha Vaulina.
On the instructions of General Serhii Nayev, the head of the press center of the North Command of the AFU/Major, Oleksandr Bielov, presented the awards to the Ukrainian media representatives. He thanked the journalists for their cooperation in such a difficult time and noted that the military believes that Ukrainian media outlets provide information correctly.
Oleksandr Bielov noted that he used to be a citizen journalist himself.
“I want to lament the fact that we sense from you a certain understanding of what can be done and what cannot be done. Because I clearly understand that everyone always wants to see, write and hear a lot,” said Bielov.
Oleksandr Bielov also presented the NUJU with the Viisko Ukrainy [Ukrainian Troops] newspaper.
The return gift from the NUJU was also a printed edition: the NUJU President, Sergiy Tomilenko, explained that with the support of the Union and international partners, 26 local print media have already resumed their work and presented Oleksandr Bielov with copies of the revived newspapers and drew attention to the importance of cooperation with the military.
“We are in constant dialogue regarding the delivery of civilian newspapers to military units. We are building a partnership with the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and the Department of Public Relations of the AFU, which is headed by Bohdan Sennyk; we greatly respect the entire network of press officers, and we are trying to support them, including with technical equipment, in particular, in partnership with the Academy of Ukrainian Press,” noted Sergiy Tomilenko.
The event participants discussed an important issue, in particular, how journalists can interact more effectively with the military for the common goal, our Victory, and covering military issues objectively and comprehensively. After all, as the journalists noted, military bureaucracy sometimes stands in the way of operational cooperation.
Therefore, the participants in the event supported the proposal of the military to create an up-to-date electronic directory of military units’ press officers’ contacts for citizen journalists to be able to contact to obtain the necessary information or advice.
Also, during the event, the military received another gift, a recently-published book by the journalist of Uriadovyi Kuriyer, Pavlo Kushch.
NUJU Information Service
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