This article discusses the current state of democracy and media in Ukraine, Hungary, and Europe. The conversation between Yevhen Hlibovytskyi, Anne Applebaum, and Dorka Takácsy touches on various topics, including:
1. **Public broadcasting**: Ukraine has a strong public broadcaster (Suspilne), which can serve as a source of stabilization for the media market. A neutral and independent public broadcaster can help keep politics centered and provide a platform for diverse perspectives.
2. **Democratization**: Ukraine should focus on building democracy and institutions for its own benefit, rather than trying to appeal to external powers like the EU or NATO.
3. **External support**: While it’s uncertain what will happen in the future, current European leaders strongly support Ukraine’s sovereignty and democracy. There are genuine friends in Europe and the US who are committed to supporting Ukraine’s cause.
4. **Media polarization**: The media landscape is becoming increasingly polarized, with outlets competing for emotional engagement rather than objective reporting. A public broadcaster can help counter this trend by providing dry and professional journalism.
Some key quotes from the conversation:
* “If you can have a public broadcaster that can afford not to go for emotions—to be dry and professional… then you have to preserve it, because there’s chaos all around.” – Dorka Takácsy
* “You should democratize Ukraine and build institutions there not to get into the EU or to someday be accepted into NATO. You should do it because it’s good for Ukraine.” – Anne Applebaum
Overall, the conversation highlights the importance of a strong public broadcaster, genuine external support, and democratic institution-building in Ukraine, as well as the need to address media polarization and promote objective journalism.
