Poltava City Council promises regular reports to journalists

The secretary of the Poltava City Council, Acting Mayor Kateryna Yamshchykova, agreed with the media to organize regular meetings between chiefs of departments and offices subordinate to the City Council, where officials will report on their work and answer journalists' questions.

The agreement was reached during an informal Journalist's Day event – a meeting with the city authorities at the IMI journalism hub "Mediabaza Poltava" on June 6.

Journalists at an informal Journalist's Day meeting at Mediabaza Poltava. Photo by Mediabaza Poltava

The media representatives joined in a friendly conversation to discuss the progress on the Regulation of cooperation between journalists and the Poltava City Council press office. In particular:

• possible press conferences by chiefs of departments and offices;
• wishes regarding access to information;
• ideas for joint projects.

"Unfortunately, journalists and media workers (especially regional ones) do not feel like the state authorities or local governments are a 'supportive shoulder' for them. Although most of us are happy to help these institutions inform the people about important socio-political issues. The solution could be to create state-sponsored or local projects which would involve media campaigns and projects financed from, for example, local budgets. Such joint initiatives by the authorities and the media could have a real social impact and contribute to the development of certain territorial communities and, consequently, the entire state," says journalist and project manager at the NGO "Poltava Public Television" Vadym Patyk.

He added that only when the authorities demonstrate a willingness to work in synergy with the media and support journalists will we be able to talk about the profession achieving the status it enjoys in developed democracies, and using all possible media tools to achieve qualitative transformation.

Kolo.News journalist Anna Zarudska proposed to improve the livestreams of the sessions and deputy commission meetings, which are interrupted during air raid alerts and malfunction after being resumed.

"I ask you to consider pausing the broadcast. Maybe the speakers who are at the City Council will go down into the bomb shelter if they can't leave the building. Every time there is one problem: the air raid alert part is unavailable, the recording constantly 'throws you forward' to the end," said the journalist.

Maryna Serova, chief press officer at the Poltava City Council, replied that the City Council would consider the technical possibilities and try to resolve the problem.

Moreover, on the occasion of Journalist's Day, Kateryna Yamshchykova presented letters of gratitude to representatives of Poltava media outlets and the IMI journalistic hub "Mediabaza Poltava" received a commendation for supporting the media community. The "Mediabaza Poltava" director and the IMI representative in Poltava oblast Nadia Kucher received thanks from the city authorities.

City Council secretary Kateryna Yamshchykova presents a commendation to Mediabaza Poltava coordinator Nadia Kucher. Photo by Mediabaza Poltava

"I think that a place like Mediabaza in Poltava, where journalists can gather, work, and talk, is very necessary and helpful," said City Council secretary Kateryna Yamshchykova.

"We keep working to ensure that Mediabaza Poltava is not only a resource spot for journalists, where they can use the equipment they need, work, and network, but also a platform for communication between the authorities and other state bodies which journalists have to be in touch with in one way or another," said Nadiya Kucher.