We are writing this open letter because we recognize our responsibility before the public, value our reputation and don’t want to compromise our conscience.
We, the journalists of TSN, hereby declare: Censorship is being carried out at 1+1 television station!
We’ve been forbidden to air certain topics and bring certain events to light. The news items we prepare that contain criticism of the current government are being taken off the air for political reasons. The final decision whether something gets aired isn’t made by the producer of the day or even by TSN’s chief editor but by the general director of 1+1.
The last straw was a TSN news summary that aired on May 2 of this year. Coverage prepared about the political opposition in parliament turned into a classical case of informational thought control. We’d like to straight away note that we are not the defenders, sympathizers or supporters of the opposition. We as journalists leave our political preferences outside of our news items. However, we believe that every side of a story should be shown to viewers in a balanced way.
We’d like to mention how the brave attempt by our colleague, Myroslav Otkovych, to raise the issue of censorship was met with accusations of bias, dilettantism and unprofessionalism on the part of the deputy head of the presidential administration. But then we haven’t any reason to doubt our colleague’s proof of censorship, and moreover, his professionalism.
We wish not to be mere hirelings and propagandists. Freedom of speech for us aren’t hollow words, instead they are the foundation our profession. It is for this very reason why we’re categorically against any pressure on freedom of speech.
We demand that manual control over the television news service immediately cease.
We demand that the ignominious practice of issuing “directives” and “value instructions” stop and that the ban on certain news items be lifted.
We demand the return to TSN basic journalism principles: objectivity, balanced news coverage and equispaced news of political groups.
Should our demands be ignored, we will consider the possibility of carrying out a one-day precautionary strike. In addition, starting today we’ll make public all cases of censorship known to us.
At the same time, we ask that international organizations, in particular PACE and OSCE take notice to the dangerous transformations taking place in the mass media of Ukraine and help us Ukrainian journalists preserve the freedom of speech since it’s rather difficult to stand up alone to politicians who scorn the tenets of democratic values.
We appeal to all of our colleagues. We know that we’re not the only ones to have fallen victim to the pressures of censorship. We know how difficult it is right now to take this first step. In 2004 we found strength within ourselves. We overcame fear. Every one of us on their own. And we said “NO” to censorship.
Today places where we could simply “run and hide” are becoming ever smaller.
We risk losing our profession, the trust of our fellow compatriots, this country in which every one of us would like to live. A place where our children will live.
Fellow colleagues! We call upon you to unite with us to protect the honor of our profession!
We shall show that we are many who value freedom of speech and not its imitation. We are strong and united.
Signed,
Hryhoriy Zhyhalov, TSN correspondent
Serhiy Kudimov, TSN correspondent
Solomiya Vitvytska, TSN correspondent
Marharita Sytnyk, TSN correspondent
Svitlana Berezivska, TSN correspondent
Borys Ivanov, TSN correspondent
Tetyana Kovalenko, TSN correspondent
Zhan Hovoseltsev, TSN correspondent
Yulianna Saukh, TSN correspondent
Inna Bondar, TSN correspondent
Ihor Bondarenko, TSN correspondent
Oleksiy Likhman, TSN anchorman
Yulia Borysko, TSN anchorman
Ilona Dovhan, TSN anchorman
Vitaliy Haidukevych, TSN anchorman
This letter is open to signing.
Translated from the Ukrainian language by Mark Rachkevych
