U.S. Ambassador attends a UREP Press Club event in Lviv

Ambassador Herbst (on the right) listens to a journalist's comments on the media situation in Lviv oblast Lviv - On February 13, 2004, U.S.  Ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst participated in a round table discussion organized by UREP’s Lviv Press Club on issues facing local journalists and media in Ukraine. Speaking to some 30 journalists, the Ambassador said that Radio Dovira’s recent decision to stop transmitting Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty was regrettable.  He also noted that while the media in Ukraine does reflect diverse opinions, ownership is concentrated in the hands of politically connected business interests. Journalists, who represented Lviv’s major papers, radio and television stations, expressed their views on freedom of expression, the issue of self-censorship, and the lack of quality education for journalists. UREP’s Press Club Network unites journalists who are interested and active in writing on reform issues.  The Network was established in 1994 as part of the Ukraine Market Reform Education Program (UMREP).  Since February 2002 it has been run by UREP.  Press clubs exist in 24 oblast cities and in Kyiv. At press club meetings, leading Ukrainian journalists share views on current events in social, economic, and democratic reforms.  They also hear from top officials, political leaders, scientists, and the business community.  Countless publications and reports appear in local print, broadcast, and electronic media as a result of each press club meeting. The current and former presidents of Ukraine, prime ministers, Cabinet Ministers, members of the Verkhovna Rada, ambassadors and Ukrainian and foreign experts have all been guests of the press clubs.   Since 1999, 19 press clubs are full-time operations, with their own premises, staff, computers and other office equipment, and are open for journalists daily.  They hold weekly meetings with key Ukrainian decision-makers.  Press clubs also support to journalists in their professional activities with such services as free Internet access; professional library; premises for other media events; training of young journalists (young journalist schools in Sumy, Mykolaiv, Ternopil, Vinnytsya, and Chernihiv); and legal support (Chernivtsi, Vinnytsya). For more information on UREP or its press clubs please visit http://urep.cure.org.ua/eng/ or call 490-6988.

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