Nataliya Dmytruk
Nataliya Dmytruk (Ukrainian: Наталія Дмитрук) was a translator for the Deaf on the Ukrainian state-run channel UT1 news broadcasts, who became famous for refusing to translate the official script during a live broadcast on November 24th 2004 that announced Viktor Yanukovych as the winner of the presidential election. Dmytruk instead signed to viewers, "Everything you have heard so far is a lie. Yushchenko is our true president." Many view her simple act as a catalyst for many Ukrainian journalists to reject doctored news reports in favour of more balanced reporting. Domination of the media is considered one of the ways Yanukovych influenced the vote.
"I am very ashamed to translate these lies," she signed during the broadcast, "...and this is probably my last day in this job, so goodbye."
Her solo rebellion sparked a stop-work meeting by 250 of her newsroom colleagues who made a broader stand for truth; within days UT1 had changed to a balanced reporting style. "I had no idea that the newsroom would support me like this – I just decided that I had to start telling people the truth," Dmytruk told Australian journalists. Hours after her UT1 co-workers announced on-air their intentions to report fairly, reporters at Channel 1+1 made a similar announcement. There changes were significant, because until then, most media outlets in Ukraine were influenced in some capacity by the government.
Despite Dmytruk's efforts, changes spearheaded at UT1 by a new boss eliminated sign-language services, forcing Dmytruk onto extended leave. She later resigned and joined rival Channel 1+1.
In 2005, Nataliya Dmytruk, together with another Ukrainian Olena Prytula, were given the annual International John Aubuchon Freedom of the Press Award of the National Press Club.[1] [2]
Dmytruk is the daughter of deaf parents and is the mother of two children, a son and daughter. Dmytruk both speaks and signs.
See also
References
- 'Anger of heroine who signed up for a new future.' timesonline.co.uk. 3 February 2006.
- National Press Club Selects 2005 Awards Winners
- 'Falling on Deaf Ears.' John Marone. The Ukrainian Observer. Issue 213.]
- Nataliya Dmytruk at Channel 1+1 web-site