THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FORUM (05/26/02)

THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FORUM

Journalists from Ukraine visit UNA Corporate Headquarters

by Roma Hadzewycz

PARSIPPANY, N.J. - The Ukrainian Weekly played host on April 26 to a visiting group of eight journalists from various regions of Ukraine who were in the United States on a study tour under the auspices of the International Visitors' Program funded by the U.S. Department of State.

The group included print and broadcast media representatives from Kirovohrad, Kharkiv, Chernivtsi, Khmelnytskyi, Chernihiv, Odesa, Rivne and Kyiv - all of them from Ukraine Market Reform Press Clubs established with the help of U.S. funding.

Marta Kolomayets, the former director of the Ukraine Market Reform Education Program, explained that a network of press clubs from cities throughout Ukraine was established several years ago and now that program has turned into a Ukrainian non-governmental organization. She characterized this as a success story for the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Ms. Kolomayets, once a member of The Ukrainian Weekly's editorial staff and a former Kyiv correspondent for the newspaper, still serves as the press club network's adviser. There are 24 such regional press clubs - 12 of them full-time and 12 part-time - in Ukraine (the only oblast that does not have such a club is Luhansk). They have a coordinator in Kyiv and all conduct their activity in the Ukrainian language.

Meanwhile, the Ukraine Market Reform Education Program recently won a five-year grant to continue its public education projects; it is now called the Center for Ukrainian Reform Education (CURE). The journalists' tour was the fourth international visitors' trip in which team members of the Ukraine Market Reform Education Program took part in during the last three years; other trips were for business reporters, think-tank representatives and NGO management.

The Ukrainian journalists were in the United States on April 13-28, as part of a program whose theme was "The Role of Independent Media Associations in a Democratic Society." The aim was for press club leaders to see how they can make themselves sustainable in the regions and give them creative ideas in their work.

Their itinerary included: Washington, Denver, Kansas City, Mo., and the New York Metropolitan area. The group visited universities, especially schools of journalism, press clubs and advocacy organizations, media watchdog groups, as well as local officials, and local print and broadcast media.

At the UNA Corporate Headquarters, where The Ukrainian Weekly's editorial offices are located, the Ukrainian journalists learned about the Ukrainian National Association and its two newspapers, and visited with the editorial staff of Svoboda and officers of the Ukrainian National Association.

Young UNA'ers

Ivan and Mykhailo Lev Bachynsky, sons of Dr. Inna and Yarema A. Bachynsky, are new members of Branch 184 in New York. They were enrolled by their parents.
Joseph Nicholas Chromiak, son of Joseph and Anna B. Chromiak of Starkville, Miss., is a new member of UNA Branch 172 in Whippany, N.J. He was enrolled by his parents.
Christina Vera Deychakiwsky, daughter of Nicholas S. Deychakiwsky and Oksana Pronych, is a new member of UNA Branch 233 in Loraine, Ohio. She was enrolled by her parents.
Nicholas Roman Ratycz, son of Roman and Olesia Ratycz, is a new member of UNA Branch 172 in Whippany, N.J. He was enrolled by his grandparents Rostyslaw and Helen Ratycz.

Correction

The Soyuzivka administration notes that the correct dates for the UNA Seniors conference are June 9 through 14, not June 11-15 as noted in the news item submitted last week.

| Home Page |