Word Against the System: A Student Conducts a Public Lecture on British Journalists
On October 15, at the “YouthHub” youth center, Yuliia Dmytryshyn, a third-year journalism student, delivered a lecture titled “Word Against the System: British Journalists as Whistleblowers of Constructed Reality.” The event, supported by the Ayn Rand Center Ukraine, aimed to explore the work of three prominent British journalists: Gareth Jones, Peter Pomerantsev, and Luke Harding.
The lecture was attended by students from various years of the media department, “YouthHub” staff, and faculty members Natalia Tolochko and Evelina Hurnytska. Before diving into the journalists’ careers, the audience discussed the specifics of literary reportage, as these renowned media figures have all made significant contributions to this genre.
The lecture began with Gareth Jones, who visited the USSR in the 1930s and alerted the world to the Holodomor (the man-made famine in Ukraine), publishing approximately 20 articles on the subject. Jones is also famous for interviewing Adolf Hitler. His journalistic antithesis was Walter Duranty, who published reports justifying the Stalinist regime and denied Jones’s findings, claiming that food shortages were not unique to Ukraine. Yuliia recommended the book and the film “Mr. Jones” (Ukrainian title: The Price of Truth), which detail the clash between these two figures.
Moving to the modern era, the lecture covered Peter Pomerantsev. After emigrating to the UK, he worked for the BBC and Radio Liberty. In 2000, he moved to Russia, where he spent a decade as a producer for the TNT channel. He authored the acclaimed book on Russian media and propaganda, “Nothing Is True and Everything Is Possible.” In it, he explains the fluid, surreal nature of Russian identity: “In the morning you can be a dissident, at lunch a communist, and by evening a third person entirely.”
The final segment focused on Luke Harding, whose work is closely tied to the current situation in Ukraine. Harding authored “Invasion,” a book chronicling the horrific events since the start of the full-scale war. He is also the author of “Mafia State,” which describes the challenges of working as a foreign correspondent in Putin’s Russia. Due to his political commentary and reporting that challenged the Kremlin, Harding was eventually banned from entering Russia.
Yuliia chose these three figures because each viewed journalism as a mission. She emphasized that the primary duty is to report the truth, regardless of the consequences. She also encouraged her colleagues to maintain professional ties with foreign journalists, as they represent Ukraine in the West and help the global community understand the country’s reality.
When asked about the essential skills for a “whistleblower” journalist, Yuliia noted:
“Such journalists must be level-headed, highly focused, and work closely with legal experts.”
The event concluded with a Q&A session and a giveaway. Prizes included books by American author Ayn Rand (The Virtue of Selfishness, The Fountainhead, We the Living), as well as notebooks and stickers. Attendees also enjoyed pizza and drinks, providing a relaxed atmosphere for networking and further discussion.
By Kseniia Riaboi, 1st-year student of “International Journalism”
Photos by the author and Sofiia Slyvka
