«How to write clearly about decentralization» – this is the topic of workshop for journalists that was held in Zaporizhzhya in March, 2-3, 2017. The event was organized by the Academy of Ukrainian Press with the support of Friedrich Naumann Foundation in Ukraine, funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany.
The workshop in Zaporizhzhya gathered practical journalists who consider the administrative reform not as a piece of news but as a part of everyday life. They introduced a number of specific events which had happened, and got the expert assessment of activities carried out by local bodies. Possible solutions were suggested by Vitalii Zahaynyi, expert in self-governance and self-organization problems.
‘Currently, about the third of local territory communities are formed, - mentioned Vitalii Zahaynyi. – During the process of their formation, while learning the mistakes and successful actions, we should assist in the further forming of all local communities in the country, understand the local self-governance competence and processes which enable a community to influence the authorities.
Analyzing the cases introduced by journalists, Vitalii Zahaynyi emphasized on the rights and responsibilities of local bodies towards the communities which they represent. The right of communities to choose and develop the future action policy was also focused on. The most questions were about cooperation, and most frequent, about confrontations between communities, authorities and political parties. It is so, because the last are forming the majority in communities and, actually, make the decisions depending on their interests.
‘Regional press has an important role in democratic European countries, being a platform for information exchange and expressing the opinions, - told Valeriy Ivanov, Prresident of AUP. – Local expert, official or activist is always more important for a community as he is directly engaged in the process of its existence and decision making’.
Practical advice on what is worth attention, how to search for the topics and where to find experts for taking commentaries, were given by Andrii Yurychko, a journalist and media expert.
‘A journalist should pay attention not to what is said by local authorities, but what they are silent about. – pointed out Andrii Yurychko. – Looking for the gaps or absence of information there, where it must be is a signal for journalists that it is worth attention and should be reported to readers who are interested’.
A huge three-year joint project of the Academy of Ukrainian Press and Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (with the supported of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany), is aimed at increasing of qualification level among Ukrainian journalists.
The event is organized by the Academy of Ukrainian Press in cooperation with Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom with the supported of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany.
