Something Memorable
The Foam of testosterone
BBC’s guidance on impartiality is here.
Anyway, Luc now hates himself for doing his job, for connecting the dots assigned him in a ground-glass editorial policy devised to delight only the departed puppy-dog man with a gruff exterior and a handful of construction company executives from Odesa, for casting the pro-business, pro-globalization, Eisenhower-manqué Chretien Liberals as all that stands in the way of the perfection of the market (hah!), for laboring at a tone of such inelegance and witlessness it feels like watching an old man attempt to take a crap. Yes, he loathes himself so much he’s taken to thinking about the “gold standard” of BBC editorial guidelines (I mean it, I really do!).
Dear Kyiv Post readers,
I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself and to address recent developments at the Kyiv Post as we look to reconnect with our readership and move towards the next chapter in the 26-year story of this Ukrainian media institution.
WHO IS THE NEW / RETURNING CEO OF KYIV POST?
I am a Canadian citizen and have been based in Kyiv for much of the past two decades. Ukraine is my home. I first served as Kyiv Post CEO in 2016-18. It is a huge personal honor for me to be reappointed to this position. As a longtime resident of the Ukrainian capital, I have been an enthusiastic reader and ardent supporter of the Kyiv Post for many years. I felt it was my duty to come back as CEO at this challenging time in the organization’s development.
WHY DID THE KYIV POST SUSPEND PUBLICATION ON NOVEMBER 8th?
This is a hotly debated issue that has been interpreted in many different ways by different people. While I think it is important to acknowledge that I did not personally participate or witness any of the events leading up to the decision to suspend publication of the Kyiv Post, I believe the key fact was that the chief editor and the owner of the Kyiv Post decided the time had come to part ways.
There is also general agreement that tensions had been mounting for a number of weeks due to plans for the launch of a Ukrainian-language version of the Kyiv Post, which was opposed by many members of the newsroom team.
Positions appear to have become increasingly polarized amid a general breakdown in communication and plans for a mass walkout by the newsroom team. This resulted in the decision to temporarily suspend the publication of the Kyiv Post as the only way out of the deadlock.
Following my appointment as CEO, I sought to meet with the editorial team in order to engage in a constructive dialog and hopefully identify how we might be able to move forward together. Unfortunately, they felt things had gone too far for them to return, and have now announced plans to set up their own publication.
While I am genuinely disappointed that we were not able to resolve these issues, I wish the former Kyiv Post newsroom team well in their new venture and hope it will prove successful. Ukraine can always use more quality English-language coverage. As CEO of the Kyiv Post, I also believe that having another viewpoint on the market is not only good for business but also great for democracy.
UNDERLINING THE INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE OF THE KYIV POST
The decision to suspend publication of the Kyiv Post was a difficult one and has sparked understandable international alarm. I appreciate the expressions of concern voiced since last Monday’s announcement and believe the strength of feeling expressed underlines the importance of the Kyiv Post as a flagship of independent journalism and freedom of speech in an independent and democratic Ukraine.
I have received assurances from Kyiv Post publisher Adnan Kivan that the respect towards editorial independence which he has consistently demonstrated throughout his three years as owner of the paper remains unchanged.
Editorially, my priority will be to make sure we are in a position to deliver balanced and factual news. I regard the BBC as the gold standard in this regard, as does Mr. Kivan. We both want the journalism of the Kyiv Post to meet the highest international standards. The Kyiv Post will also continue to provide a platform for a diverse range of opinions and informed debates.
I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank outgoing Chief Editor Brian Bonner for his many years of outstanding service. I believe it is no exaggeration to state that Brian Bonner has set the standard for a generation of Ukrainian journalists.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR OUR SUBSCRIBERS
Unfortunately, we encountered technical problems with the Kyiv Post subscription system in recent days, leading to mass cancellations. I apologize for this error and will be contacting subscribers personally to offer a solution to this regrettable incident, whether they decided to cancel on their own initiative or were affected by this technical glitch. We will make sure the financial concerns of our subscribers are addressed as quickly and efficiently as possible.
UNRESTRICTED ONLINE ACCESS TO UKRAINE'S GLOBAL VOICE
The good news is that the Kyiv Post will no longer be behind a paywall. This will enhance our role as Ukraine’s Global Voice and will enable us to deliver great content to as many people as possible around the world. While paywalls make good business sense for many publications, offering unrestricted access reflects the Kyiv Post’s status as a free speech flagship and enhances the newspaper’s role as the leading source of English-language content about Ukraine.
Thank you for taking the time to read this message. The sudden nature of recent developments has left many of our readers unsure of the Kyiv Post’s future direction. I recognize these concerns and am committed to maintaining the values of transparency and integrity that have defined the Kyiv Post for more than a quarter of a century.
WHEN WILL THE KYIV POST RETURN?
The Kyiv Post plans to be back in time for the Christmas holidays! I ask for your patience and understanding over the coming weeks as we prepare for the next chapter in the history of this venerable media institution.
As we enter a challenging and exciting period for the Kyiv Post, I look forward to a constructive dialog with our global audience. Please send me your thoughts, concerns, questions, and ideas to: CEO@kyivpost.com