Special forces soldiers armed to the teeth, thorough checks and bulletproof vests – this is only a fragment of the reality that journalists take into account when reporting on events from a place engulfed in armed conflict.
It is crucial from the point of view of the security of both local services and the media. strictly defined information policy. What does it consist of? What are its limitations? There are no mercy here, no shortcuts. You have to stick to the strict rules of the game. It was similar in Kiev during the celebrations. 33rd anniversary of the proclamation of independence Ukrainy.
Ukraine Independence Day. First, discretion
The preparation for the trip itself, informing the editorial office about the program of the upcoming event, is associated with discretion and reserve. The representatives of the hosts and invited delegations who are responsible for the media side work together for several weeks to develop not only the programme but also the stages of transmitting information.
In case of the president's arrival Andrzej Duda to Kiev the first point that both Ukrainian and Polish media could report was his appearance at the station. It was impossible to report live the moment the special train reached its destination. Information about the start of the visit is only possible with a delay. The aim is for the head of state to be able to leave the station safelyso that “undesirable” forces do not have time to disrupt the beginning of the visit.
The same was true for the next points of media activity. The visit itself – until it started – was kept a secret. That is why in the headlines of articles on Internet portals or on the news tickers of TV stations one could read about the president's “unexpected” or “surprising” visit.
Ukraine. Far from the center of events
The next stages of the president's participation in the celebration of the national holiday in Ukraine include laying flowers in front of The Wall of Remembrance of Those Fallen for Ukrainea speech in Sofia Square or a press conference alongside the President of Ukraine and the Prime Minister Lithuania. Here, in addition to the rule related to the delay in providing information, the organizers decided limit the participation of journalists. The two above-mentioned points of the ceremony took place practically without the participation of media representatives. Details, i.e. photos, film materials and texts can only be found on the news channels of the offices of the presidents of Poland and Ukraine and the prime minister of Lithuania.
This means that politicians could be accompanied on site only personal photographerscamera operators and collaborators responsible for publishing content on social media. It was on their shoulders that the recording of events and preparation of materials for the media fell.
What is more, the services delegated by the Ukrainians to secure the ceremony they made sure that journalists did not appear even near the main event scenes. Live coverage, with a view of the restricted arena of events, could draw the attention of Russian services. From here it is only one step to unleashing a precisely aimed provocation.
Andrzej Duda in Kiev. Phone in the locker room
The organizers took a different approach to the press conference held behind the Mariinsky Palace, the residence belonging to the office of President Volodymyr Zelensky. Here several dozen journalists from Ukraine and foreign media were welcomedbut also in accordance with pre-defined rules. Above all after passing verification through the services (checking documents, place on the list and personal inspection – ed.) it was possible to cross the threshold of the palace, but without tools that would allow for recording the conference live.
In the cloakroom you had to wait for two hours before entering. say goodbye to smartphones and transmitters, thanks to which the television signal is transmitted to the editorial office. DzJournalists could note down the most important fragments of statements in notebooks (back to the roots) and camera operators record images and sound without the option of forwarding.
No live coverage, photos or videos to social media and even no contact with editorial offices. After the ceremony, the hosts helped the journalists leave the palace and they gave the green light for shipping materials.
Voice of the people
Given such rules of the game, is it possible to attractively report on celebrations such as Ukraine's Independence Day? There are ways to do this! During media-restricted times I went to an important and symbolic place for the modern history of Ukraine. This is (nomen omen) Independence Square in Kiev. This on the Maidan In 2004 and 2005, events called orange revolution. Here, too, since November 2013, Ukrainians have been protesting against the then government's attempt to block the path towards rapprochement with European Union.
On Saturday, August 24th, from the early morning one could meet here residents of Kiev with national flags and flowers. After the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine began right on Khreshchatyk, the main avenue of Kiev, blue and yellow striped flags started to appear with names written on them soldiers who died on the front. There are so many flags today at least a few thousand.
There were already a dozen or so reporters and cameramen from other newsrooms working on site. They also wanted to tell the story of this important holiday through the prism of the stories and experiences of Kyiv residents. I met veterans here remembering their colleagues from the front. and young people for whom it is important memory of Ukrainian heroes. Showing their relationship is one of the ways of telling about the independence of their country. Not only the one established in 1991, but also the one dreamed of after the end of the war with Russia.
From Kiev for Interia Grzegorz Urbanek