Yuliia Mcguffie is a beacon of journalistic integrity and insight in an era marked by rapid change and tumultuous events. As the chief editor of NV.ua, one of Ukraine’s largest online news outlets, Yuliia Mcguffie has navigated the complex landscape of media in a country that has faced profound challenges and transformations over the years.
Her journey into journalism began in the late 1980s, inspired by the winds of freedom that swept through the Soviet Union during Gorbachev’s reforms. Through her unique perspective, she has witnessed pivotal moments in Ukraine’s history, from the Orange Revolution to the ongoing conflict shaped by external forces. In this revealing interview, McGaffi shares her thoughts on the current state of media freedom, the evolution of civic responsibility among the youth, and her aspirations for a Ukraine free from corruption and nepotism. Join us as we delve into the mind of a passionate journalist dedicated to truth and the triumph of democratic values in an ever-changing world.
Y: Hello, I’m Yuliia Mcguffie, and I’m the chief editor of the website NV.ua – one of the largest online news resources in Ukraine.
What moment or event led you to this profession?
Y: Now this may sound quite strange or may indicate that I’ve been around for a long time, but it was probably Mikhail Gorbachev and all the warming in the late 80s that led me to this profession. At that time, I was going through a period of adolescent searching, and the press became a very important element of the new freedoms: something non-party, something only spoken about in kitchens. And in my communal apartment kitchen in Kyiv, newspapers started writing about these things. At that moment, I was 13 years old, it was 1988-1989, and I decided that I also wanted to pursue this dream, so I applied to the journalism faculty. Even though my grandfather was a very famous doctor, a surgeon, everyone wanted me to become a medical professional. But I decided that I wanted to pursue journalism, and it’s a love for a lifetime. It might sound too dramatic, but it’s true, because if you don’t love this job, it becomes hellish work.
What were the most pivotal moments in Ukraine’s history since you began writing about politics?
Y: I wouldn’t say it’s politics. I have always been involved in news, and it started with the presidential elections, where the legendary Vyacheslav Chornovil was still participating. I remember almost all the elections over the 32 years of Ukraine’s independence, including those that Chornovil did not attend. Then the Orange Revolution in 2004 was a sort of upturn. Like everyone, I don’t have any personal stories. Ukrainians are very disobedient, and if they strongly dislike something, we’ve seen how it all ends, so there was a wave of protests in 2004, and then in 2013. I worked for a long time as the editor-in-chief of Korrespondent.net, which investors were forced to sell in 2013 to one of Yanukovych’s henchmen. I worked there for 13 years, and we were all forced to leave. It was also a very difficult moment for me. I would say I follow history. And of course, we all thought until 24th February 2022 that we had a difficult job and that it was hard for us, and we didn’t understand how physically and psychologically challenging it could be to work in media, but here I am still.
In post-Soviet countries, broadcasting the truth is quite dangerous. Are you ever scared? Can something influence you to stop speaking your mind?
Y: Since 2000, there have been many tragic stories of journalists being murdered, starting with Georgiy Gongadze – that was my first year in digital media. Personally, maybe I was lucky; I didn’t feel a threat to my life. I often felt pressure. Compared to very authoritarian countries, in Ukraine, there has always been media freedom and, in principle, the opportunity to speak the truth, but it’s very sad that for some colleagues, it cost them their lives. There were moments of threats, but I don’t think they were serious. When you work in media in a leadership position in Ukraine, you have to be prepared for pressure in one way or another. At first, it’s very difficult, and then you just learn to live with it. I was also lucky that I always worked in media where the editorial board was independent of the owner, since 2000, so they worked on business models. I can’t say it was difficult to tell the truth. It was very difficult for me to do other things. When I compare the information flows from 10 years ago, before the Revolution of Dignity, to now, it’s like comparing a small stream to a tsunami. It’s a tsunami now. It’s incomparable in terms of quantity, saturation, everything. And you just absorb it all, adapt, and you start to think you can’t handle it anymore, but you can, because a person is very flexible and can do more than they might think about themselves.
Is it possible to turn Ukraine into a totalitarian country?
Y: In Ukraine, this is already impossible. Ukraine has already passed the point of no return where this was possible. I am 100% sure that it cannot be done anymore. The resistance of society to things that threaten freedom and values will always provoke resistance.
Do you think that young people should participate in the political life of the country?
Y: Of course. Everyone should. Voting is a civic duty. And this doesn’t just apply to young people. It upsets me that some part of society believes that it doesn’t make a difference, but that’s not true. There have been many cases that have proven that it does make a difference. I think that for everything to be perfect in voting and participating in elections, the political culture in the country should be a bit more developed. Ukraine is 32 years old, on a global scale – this is very little. Criticising society now for not being perfect, it just can’t be that way yet, considering all the factors and history. I think the full-scale war that Russia has unleashed against Ukraine, which has been going on for 10 years now, will lead people to take their civic duty more seriously and vote.
What does the concept of modern Ukraine mean to you, and what would you change if you had the opportunity to do so?
Y: What would I change? Corruption, nepotism – these are the things that cause the most problems. I would introduce external justice. For example, to bring in British judges who would work in courts at all levels. Completely reform the judicial system and punish corruption. Not just individual cases, as is done now, but something more systematic. It seems to me that this is what should be paid attention to.
NV.ua
www.instagram.com/nvmedia_life
An interview by Sofia Tchkonia @sofiatchkonia / www.sofiatchkonia.com
All photos by Sasha Mazur @mazur_sasha
