The idea of creating the George Gongadze prize emerged 3 years ago. It was supported by Kyiv-Mohyla Business School dean Oleksandr Savruk, kmbs Alumni, PEN Ukraine, and the Ukrainian Pravda edition. Apart from awarding the winner each year, the initiative realizes different projects and events that help the Ukrainian media community exchange perspectives.
Photo: The discussion between Ukrainian journalists Pavlo Kazarin and Vitaliy Sych
During Media Day, kmbs dean Oleksandr Savruk shared why he personally, as well as our community, support the Ukrainian media landscape development:
"I am glad that kmbs is a co-founder of the Georgy Gongadze Prize. We consider the development of independent journalism crucial for Ukraine, and this event is a sign that we are moving in the right direction. Our business school has been and always is a place of strength for people who create, not imitate. A great example of such people is kmbs graduates who act as patrons of the Award and its projects, who realize independent journalism's value."
Photo: kmbs dean Oleksandr Savruk and Director of PEN Ukraine Tetyana Teren
Since 2017 the George Gongadze Prize was supported by 18 members of the kmbs Alumni community. One of the patrons, Presidents' MBA graduate Anton Artemenko, explained that he graduated from kmbs with an inner need to promote the development of the Ukrainian humanities because it is about our culture that shapes many areas of life. He is motivated to fund The Georgy Gongadze Prize and its projects such as Media day because they are not about the past but also the Ukrainians' future.
Apart from patrons' support, kmbs Alumni devoted to developing the Award's management processes, creating its development strategy, participating in the award ceremony, and events dedicated to the development of Ukrainian independent journalism.
Photo: kmbs dean Oleksandr Savruk and MBA Alumni