Read in Ukrainian / Читати українською
The conference was dedicated to discussing the recovery and strengthening of Ukraine’s information ecosystem in the context of the war. Mykola Tochytskyi, Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications, introduced the event and highlighted the importance of protecting the professional activities of journalists and media independence.Thibaut Bruttin, Director General of Reporters Without Borders, followed and stressed the need to support Ukrainian journalists and independent media, and the importance of quality standards in news publishing.
Lina Kushch, first secretary of National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU) highlighted key challenges for the Ukrainian media landscape now, mentioning that 1 in 3 media outlets has suspended its work since the start of the full-scale invasion in spite of a strong public demand for credible, local information. They identified two requests from Ukrainian journalists: the first being a request to continue working, their activities; and the second being a request for psychological support to tackle emotional burnout.
There is an urgent need for systematic, long-term funding and strategies to ensure media sustainability and for media outlets to operate without constant uncertainty. Short-term fixes are no longer sufficient. Advocacy efforts and discussions with policymakers are underway in an effort to integrate the recovery of media into Ukraine’s broader reconstruction plans. Examples from Sweden, for instance, demonstrate how subsidies and tax systems can play a vital role: subsidizing delivery costs for media that meet certain standards; eliminating VAT on imported paper for printed media; incentivizing public institutions and businesses to advertise in local or hyperlocal media; etc.
Pauline Maufrais, manager of the Ukraine Desk at RSF, said that the NGO recently called for the creation of an International Fund for the Reconstruction of the Ukrainian Media (IFRUM) to ensure media independence and preserve the right to information. A “report found that $96 million is needed over three years to ensure that independent Ukrainian media outlets can cover their operating expenses and administrative costs.” Once launched, one of the eligibility criteria will be the news outlet’s adherence to existing ethical standards, such as the Journalism Trust Initiative (JTI).
Tetiana Kurmanova, head of Hromadske Radio, said that «it is very important to stay independent, and that treating the news independently because quality is the basis [of everything we do at] Hromadske Radio.» One recent development is that they decided to close their Telegram channel because the platform poses growing risks of misinformation and disinformation as it dominates the information consumption habits. Hromadske Radio’s priority is to engage directly with its audiences, in a safer and more ethical way. Tetiana also reminded of the significant challenges faced by the organization she heads: the loss of transmission equipment worth close to USD 3 million due to Russian attacks, energy supply issues, the mobilization of many experienced journalists, the lack of institutional support, increased operational costs and a volatile advertisement market.
Angelina Soldatenko, executive director of the Institute for Regional Media and Information (IRMI), stressed that local and hyper-local media are essential for fostering unity and rebuilding trust within war-affected and displaced communities. When insecurity and displacement prevent people from planning their future and weaken societal cohesion, media organizations can address these challenges by providing consistent, localized information to keep communities informed and united. Angelina praised the JTI certification process as a way for media to critically evaluate their transparency, financial structures, and editorial independence. The process of achieving certification encourages media to consistently reassess their policies and practices, and maintain high ethical and professional standards. She emphasized that understanding audience needs, improving engagement, and rethinking media strategies are crucial to maintain relevance and sustainability. More urgently, she also highlighted the need for systematic training for journalists, media managers and editors to adapt to new challenges and technologies (e.g., AI).
