The Koriukivka newspaper Mayak is already 91 years old. During this time, the editorial office of the newspaper, as well as its team, had to experience many crisis moments. Iryna Hayova has been the editor-in-chief of the publication since 2000. The editor is sure that people want to have their own, regional newspaper. She says that the project, when after the liberation of the territories three newspapers namely Mayak, Nashe Slovo, and Novyny Horodnianshchyny, merged into a joint issue in order to reduce costs, clearly showed that people want to read local content. An article about the publication and its head has been prepared by colleagues from Novyny Horodnianshchyny within the framework of the Journalists are Important! initiative of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU).
After denationalization, Mayak successfully became an independent publication, keeping its entire team – creative, hardworking, ready to create a new newspaper in new conditions. The editorial office had its own car, which made it possible to visit the most remote settlements of the district and receive latest news. We also introduced the position of advertising manager – to more effectively attract advertising, and with it, funds. It did not give extra income and high salaries, but it allowed to feel stability.
Reforming the post office’s work added to the problems, but even with them the team managed to go through decently. They started issuing direct subscriptions right at the editorial office, organized a subscriber’s day, developed retail trade, etc.
“The full-scale Russian aggression ruined the circulation and shut down the advertising market. Today, the former district newspapers are not just forced to survive – some of them are already closing or are talking about closing in the near future. Today, each community will decide whether there will be a local newspaper or not. Only readers with a decent subscription can save the publication. If people understand that they need a local newspaper and want it to survive, they will find UAH 200 each to subscribe to it for six months,” says Iryna Hayova.
At the same time, the editor is sure that people want to have their own regional newspaper. In Koriukivka, people want to read about puddles on one of the streets of their city, about quarrels at the local market, about their people, but not about, global events in Horodnia or Mena districts. Similarly, in other communities, the reader is not interested in other people’s events.
“We are writing the history of our community, our people. If we don’t do it, no one will do it,” adds Iryna. “But we need a step forward from the people. We look forward to their support. If a newspaper dies, it will never be revived… That’s why it’s time for communities to take responsibility for the fate of local newspapers. Whether a community will have its own edition depends on whether its people understand how much they need a newspaper.”
Apparently, it would be wrong to transfer the responsibility for the fate of the newspaper only to potential readers. The local government can and should play its role in this. It’s no secret that in some communities, due to some personal misunderstanding or objectionable criticism in the power circles, they “don’t like” the newspaper. And you don’t have to “love” or “dislike” it. There should be healthy partnership relations in the newspaper-government chain. Only this way will local newspapers get the right to life, the government will be a powerful tool for covering its activities, and the reader will get the information they need about the life of own community.
As earlier reported, the initiative Journalists are Important!” is aimed at telling a wide audience about the value of the work of media workers, the risks and challenges faced by media workers, highlighting the truth and together with the entire Ukrainian people fighting for the freedom and independence of our country.
