V.Tarasyuk: Those, who know why they joined the Department of Journalism, will achieve good results

On May 25, 1994, the first President of Ukraine Leonid Kravchuk signed a decree № 251/94 to establish a new "professional holiday of media workers – the Journalist Day" on June 6.

The date for the celebration was chosen not randomly. It was on this memorable day when the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine was accepted to the ranks of the International Federation of Journalists – the world’s largest organization of professional media workers.

On the occasion, here are a few quotes from the person, who has direct relevance to practical work and, at the same time, is largely responsible for journalistic education. Associate Professor of the Department of Journalism of UzhNU, Candidate of Philology Volodymyr Tarasyuk talked with a correspondent of the Chas Zakarpattya.

– One can not have a positive opinion about the information "stuffing" which spoils the Ukrainian media "pie". But we must understand: no car is going to run long on a cheap, low quality fuel. The same applies to the domestic media: if we want them to be of a high quality, poor, socially unprotected journalist is not going to help. Freedom of speech, objective, impartial information are expensive. If the society wants to have them, it must be prepared to pay for it… Today, almost everyone, who has access to the Internet, practices writing in social networks. 

– The older generation of media people remembers the era of village worker’s reporters, how they differed from actual media workers. That’s how blogging and journalism are related. Both have the right to exist in social networks. In some aspects they are similar to each other, in others – radically different. But, by definition, blog entries have temporary significance. But journalism is something that lives longer. I in no way want to diminish the role of bloggers, because there are real masters of words among them. But, as for me, journalism is more visionary…

– The department has the necessary resources and specialists, including practitioners. But we must admit that no journalistic institution in the world is able to catch up with the development of modern media.      On the other hand, if Ukraine wants to produce quality professionals, we need to make appropriate investments in education, develop the science…

– Students are different: some are good, others are mediocre, some have the motivation to creative work, others have not, some came to practice in the first year, others – in the third… There are different cases. However, there are disturbing trends in general. First, the level of freshmen’s knowledge leaves much to be desired. And we often have to repeat the school curriculum in first years. Secondly, young journalists often become disillusioned by the profession because of high demands, low wages, lack of work, and therefore they often come for a diploma rather than knowledge (hoping it may be of use in the future). 

But, those, who understand why they entered the department of journalism, who work consistently, achieve good results.