  The pygmy dipole resonances and photon strength functions in stable and
unstable Ni and Sn isotopes are calculated within the microscopic
self-consistent version of the extended theory of finite fermi systems which
includes phonon coupling effects.The Skyrme forces SLy4 is used. A pygmy dipole
resonance in $^{72}$Ni is predicted at the mean energy of 12.4 MeV exhausting
25.7\% of the total energy-weighted sum rule. The microscopically obtained
photon E1 strength functions are compared with available experimental data and
used to calculate nuclear reaction properties. Average radiative widths and
radiative neutron capture cross sections have been calculated taking the phonon
coupling into account as well as the uncertainties caused by various
microscopic level density models. In all three quantities considered, the
contribution of phonon coupling turned out to be significant and is found
necessary to explain available experimental data.
