Union of Orthodox Journalists (UOJ): Mission, Goals, and Objectives

Mission

The Union of Orthodox Journalists (UOJ) is an international media project aimed at creating a unique platform that embraces Orthodox Christians worldwide. Our mission is to amplify the voices of Orthodox believers who remain steadfast in their traditional and conservative values, rooted in the Gospel teachings, Holy Tradition, and Canon Law of the Orthodox Church. We aim to provide every participant in our media platform with the opportunity to be heard on the global stage. Our vision is to reinforce Orthodox identity, uphold Christian values, and serve as a source of strength and inspiration for the entire Orthodox community.

History and Uniqueness of the Project

The UOJ was established in 2014 amidst the church-political crisis in Ukraine, a time when the Ukrainian Orthodox community faced intense pressure and various forms of oppression. State authorities, media, and political elites were largely hostile toward our Church. In such challenging circumstances, we had to build effective informational platforms from scratch, concurrently seeking out opinion leaders within the Orthodox community – individuals capable of providing objective evaluations of events, countering media attacks, and guiding public consciousness toward seeking truth.

Our project evolved in an environment where simply republishing materials from other platforms wasn’t enough – we took it upon ourselves to actively create content: analytical articles, interviews, commentaries, and more. Unlike many church media outlets operating in the comfort zone of ‘peaceful times,’ often relying on reprinted stuff, our team ventured straight into the heart of events to uncover vivid stories for articles and reports. We sought out compelling narratives and delivered them to our audience. We worked tirelessly to reveal the profound richness of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church at a time when it was under relentless attack. Our efforts aimed to showcase its wisdom and bring forth the voices of spiritually mature individuals who could inspire and uplift others.

Principles and Values of the UOJ

Our media project is based on conservative Orthodox principles and traditional Christian values. We believe that Orthodoxy plays a vital role in the cultural and spiritual life of nations and individuals alike. The key principles guiding our work include:

1. Christian Humanism – Respect for human rights and freedom of conscience.
2. Traditional Family Values – Supporting families and raising children based on Christian truths.
3. Objectivity and Accurate Information – Combatting fake news and manipulations in media.
4. Respect for Church Independence – Preventing interference from political and secular forces in Church affairs.
5. Support for International Orthodox Unity – Promoting a unified stance among Orthodox believers worldwide.

Primary Goals of the UOJ:

1. Amplifying the Voice of Traditional Orthodoxy – Creating a platform where advocates of conservative views can confidently express their positions.
2. Revealing the Spiritual Wealth of the Church – Showcasing the wisdom and uniqueness of the Orthodox worldview to society.
3. Actively Seeking and Supporting Orthodox Experts – Not just waiting for materials but creating them vigorously through interviews and commentary with authoritative figures in theology, politics, and culture.
4. Uniting Orthodox Forces Globally – Establishing an international network of branches, each functioning within a unified editorial policy while accounting for local societal characteristics.