Ukrainian journalists in North America establish association (12/17/00)

Ukrainian journalists in North America establish association

by Ihor Dlaboha

TORONTO - Ukrainian journalists from the United States and Canada revived a venerable Ukrainian journalistic institution during their daylong meeting here Saturday, November 18.

Some 40 editors, journalists and publicists, who work for or contribute to Ukrainian and non-Ukrainian media, formalized the establishment of the Association of Ukrainian Journalists of Canada and the United States. Such an organization was first proposed at a worldwide meeting of Ukrainian journalists that was held in conjunction with the First World Congress of Free Ukrainians in 1967.

The two primary associations of Ukrainian journalists in the United States and Canada served as organizers of the initiative 33 years ago. However, both groups have been dormant since the early 1980s. With Ukrainian journalism as well as Ukrainian media evolving to embrace all forms of communications, including print, radio, television and the Internet, the North American association will solicit members from all media segments, Ukrainian and non-Ukrainian, as well as Ukrainian- and English-language media.

Jurij Klufas, president of Ukrainian Television Entertainment, Toronto, which produces the weekly program "Kontakt," was elected president of the association.

Other members of the executive board include: Ihor Dlaboha, The National Tribune, New York City, vice-president; Mykahilo Liachowych, Novyi Shliakh, Toronto, secretary; Oleksander Charczenko, Radio Canada International, Toronto, treasurer; Oleh Romanyshyn, Homin Ukrayiny, Toronto; Tania Dakhno, Rodyna, Toronto; Mykola Duplak, Nadrodne Slovo, Scranton, Pa.; and Zoryana Onyshchuk, members; and George Karmanin, chairman of the auditing board.

In discussing the by-laws and goals of the association, the participants concluded that the group should not only be a forum for communications and networking among journalists, but should also serve to help fine-tune professional skills. The association should function as a source of placement information for its membership, especially those coming from Ukraine.

Finally, it was decided that its role should be to defend the good image of Ukraine as well as to defend freedom of the press in Ukraine and the right of Ukrainian journalists, wherever they live and work, to express their points of view without fear of recrimination.

The plan of action adopted by the group includes interceding on behalf of arrested journalists in Ukraine; preparing briefs about Walter Duranty's Ukrainian Famine of 1932-1933; and creating a Ukrainian journalism website and chatroom.

The inaugural session's participants heard several papers about journalism and the Ukrainian newspaper industry here and in Ukraine that were delivered by Nadia Baziv, Lviv, Ukraine; Andrew Gregorovich, Forum, Scranton; Mr. Dlaboha, New York City; Mr. Liakhovych, Toronto; and Mr. Romanyshyn, Toronto.

In the evening the journalists heard a keynote speech delivered by Victor Malarek, investigative reporter for CBC-TV, who encouraged the group to devote its energies to uprooting corruption and defending the downtrodden in North America and Ukraine.

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