Media Professionals and Civil Society representatives call for the inclusion of Local Media Recovery in the URC agenda

MEDIA RECOVERY AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF UKRAINE'S RECOVERY
An open appeal regarding the Ukraine Recovery Conference
In the conditions of a large-scale war, Ukrainian independent media play a crucial role in providing trustworthy information for both Ukrainians and the international audience. However, these media outlets, particularly the regional ones, face challenges due to the effects of armed aggression. Unfortunately, Ukraine's international allies are not prioritizing their recovery. Many media organizations struggle with financial issues, lack of staff, and ongoing psychological stress. Due to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, over 230 media outlets were forced to shut down.
Many countries and donors are involved in Ukraine's recovery efforts, but unfortunately, the media itself is not included in these programs. International donors view the media primarily as a means to share information about reconstruction rather than recognizing it as a sector in desperate need of assistance. Regional media may face extinction in just a few years if this concerning trend persists.
Journalists facing perilous physical conditions and economic crises not only report on the enemy's aggression and its aftermath but also shed light on recovery efforts. The professional media can effectively communicate to the public the developments in reconstruction, the allocation of funding from international partners, the implementation of aid programs, and the provision of public oversight on expenditures. The absence of credible local media outlets contributes to heightened social tensions and a feeling of neglect in various regions. This information void is being filled with falsehoods, causing residents to lose faith in the rebuilding efforts in Ukraine.
As Ukrainian journalists, media organizations, and members of civil society, we urge the upcoming Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin on June 11-12, 2024, to include the topic of supporting and restoring local media in Ukraine.
The Ukrainian government should effectively communicate the recovery needs of the country's media industry at both national and international levels. These needs should also be integrated into the reconstruction programs implemented by international partners. The restoration of Ukrainian media must be a crucial element in Ukraine's overall recovery strategy. Without independent media, sustainable and transparent reconstruction will not be possible.
The following individuals and organizations have joined in support of the appeal:
- "Recovery Window" media network
- National Union of Journalists of Ukraine
- "Nakypilo" media group
- Tetiana Avdieieva, Digital Security Laboratory
- Victoria Hromova, State Committee for Television and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine
- Zurab Alasania, officer of Ukraine's armed forces
- Roman Kifluk, International media support IMS
- Oleh Dzolos, Institute of Journalism of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv
- Anna Pavlenko, NV
- Anastasia Rudenko, "Recovery Window" network, "Rubryka" media outlet, regional media "Eastern Variant"
- Olha Stukalo, Network "Recovery Window"
- Valeriia Kovtun, Zinc Network
- Alyona Romaniuk, "NotaYenota", "On the other side of Putin's lies", NGO "Information Analysis Center "Lakmus""
- The team of the NGO Lviv Media Forum
- Roman Danilenkov, "Recovery Window" network, "Nakypilo" media group, "Nakypilo" Practical Education Center
- Public organization "Center for Democracy and the Rule of Law"
- Yevhenia Dryzhuk, Bilozersky House of Culture
- Maria Avdeeva, strategic communications expert
- Vira Yatsenko, media and communications expert
- Diana Dutsyk, Ukrainian Institute of Media and Communication
- Ihor Nechytailo, Baryshiv settlement council
- Liudmyla Kurdelchuk, Lutsk school
- Anastasiia Pustova, SUPERWISE bureau/NGO
- Inna Kosianchuk, "Slovo" Vyshhorod district newspaper, Kyiv region
- Vitaliy Ulybin, "Sil" Media Group
- Olena Dub, Media consultant and trainer, co-founder of the professional community "SMM Talks for NGO & Media"
- Kateryna Sergatskova, 2402 Foundation
- Maksym Onoprienko, National Council of Ukraine on Television and Radio Broadcasting
- Anastasiia Dziubak, "Hrechka" Information Portal
- Anatoliy Zhupyna, independent newspaper of the Kherson region "Novyi Den"
- Valentyna Manzhura, responsible secretary of the Zaporizhzhia Center of Journalistic Solidarity of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine, co-coordinator of the Center for Journalistic Solidarity of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine
- Tetiana Velyka, Director of "Holos Huliaipillia" newspaper editorial office LLC.
- Inna Shvydka, "Pivdenna Zoria" LLC
- Liza Kuzmenko, NGO "Women in Media"
- Tetiana Ilchuk, Ukrainian Media League
- Andrii Solomakha, Internet Association of Ukraine
- Ihor Darmostuk, KyivVlada
- Oleh Nevenytsia, NGO Crisis Media Center "Siverskyi Donets"
- Yoanna Kravchyk, Ukrainian Media Fund
- Dmytro Klimanov, Telegazeta Publishing House
- Lyudmila Pankratova, NGO Institute for Development of Regional Press
- Hanna Vakarchuk, Novoselytsk newspaper Slovo pravda, Chernivtsi region
- Oleksandra Kot, LLC Editorial of the newspaper "Dniprovski Vohni"
- Tverdokhlib V'yacheslav, TV channel "TV7"
- Hennadiy Deribas, newspaper "MYH"
- Lesya Lazorenko, Kremenchug Telegraph
- Polyan-Pylyp YURYK, Journal "Peretsʹ. Vesela Respublika"
- Inesa Atamanchuk, newspaper "MYH"
- Alla Shamrai, Radio Na Dotyk
- Nataliya Stina, Newspaper "Chervonyy prominʹ"
- Kostyuk Svitlana, website of the Zaporizhia Organization of NUJU
- Mykhailo Doroshenko, Editor of the newspaper "Ukrayina Moloda"
- Svitlana Karpenko, LLC Editorial office of Trudova Slava newspaper
- Natalia Ligachova, NGO "Media Detector"
- Viktoriia Chumak, Local Media Development Agency ABO
- Oleg Derenyuga, NikVesti.com
- Dmytro Barkar, Institute of Mass Information
- Mykola Ivantsiv, PE "Media Center "Nad Bugom"
- Chunikhina Iryna, editor of the newspaper "Dolynski Novyni"
- Danylo Sivak, Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts
- Olga Boglevska, a freelancer from Zaporizhzhia
- Natalya Dolgikh, newspaper "Novi Rubezhi"
- Halyna Lytovchenko, newspaper "Novi Rubezhi"
- Lyudmila Svetska, Design of Changes
- Zlata Protsenko, University Dean's Office
- Zazadna Oresta, Obroshinska TG
- Natalia Kovalchuk, "Visti Prydniprovʼya"
- Oleksandr Panov, Internews Ukraine
- Inna Lykhovyd, New Ukrainian School
- Mykola Tymchenko, Rubryka
- Orel (Bondar) Svitlana, website Kropyvnytskyi chas-time
- Khrypun Yevhen, Mezhivsʹkyy Merydian
- Inna Teslenko, Owner
- Maryna Teplenko-Didyk, press officer
- Mykola Volynko, Donbas Solidarity
- Lyubov Rudya, Editorial of the newspaper "Silʹsʹki novyny"
- Vitalina Pinchuk, "Hadyatskyi Visnyk", publisher of the print media "Ridnyy kray". Gazette of Hadyatskyi Zemstvo
- Oleg Bulashev, Kremenchuk newspaper, kg.ua website
- Susid Viktoriya, Private enterprise Editorial of the newspaper "Zorya Prydniprovya"
- ZAIKA Volodymyr, all-Ukrainian weekly "Hazyayin"
- Yana Velychko, Editorial of the regional socio-political newspaper "Kreminshchyna"
- Pavlo Yeshtokin, Zhovti Vody.City
- Volodymyr Bober, "Poglyad" Newspaper
- Yevgenia Kostina (Gedrovich), NGO ZABORONA MEDIA
- Dumitru TIRA, Realitatea Media Group
- Vasile State, Association of Electronic Press
- Free Press Unlimited
- Anna Zarudska, Kolo.news
- Reporters without Borders (RSF)
- Valeria Lytvyn, Internet publication «Poltavsʹka Khvylya»
- Kateryna Tkachenko, Sil. Media
- Ihor Kuzhik, "Poltava" TV and Radio Company
- Shablya Yuliya, Media "Visti Plus" (reformed edition)
- Svitlana Iotova, Dnipropetrovsk regional organization of NUJU
- Lyudmila Stelmakh, NGO "Poltava Media Club"
- Sabra Ayres, Fondation Hirondelle
- Lyubov Rakovytsia, NGO "DII-Ukraine"
- Kateryna Pavlova, CRISP e.V.
- Veronika Stetsenko
- Vasyl Sorochuk, PP "Editorial of the newspaper "Voice from above the Bug"
- Victoria Plakhta, Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Union of Journalists
- Liliana Khomyshyn, Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Union of Journalists
- Ihor Debenko, Television "Halychyna"
- Andriy Rusynyak, Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Television and Radio Company RAI
- Mykhailo Mazur, All-Ukrainian cooperative newspaper "Visti…"
- Serhiy Zaraiskyi, Bukinfo (bukinfo.com.ua)
- Olga, author of digital content
- Lidia Tarash, freelance journalist
- Valentina Blyznyuk, Editor of the newspaper "Vilʹnyy Holos"
- Lyubov Vasylyk, National University named after Yu. Fedkovich
- Lidia Vitranchyk, King Danylo University
- Natalya Nazarova, Center for Journalistic Solidarity of National University of Dnipro
- Nadia Druzhinina, Poltava365
- Yulia Oleksiivna Bilyk, Assistant-consultant of a deputy of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine
- Gorbov Maksym, LLC "Maxiprom Group"
- Tetyana Koval, Media Center "Khotynski Visti"
- Mykhailo Zakharchuk, Editorial of the newspaper "Slovo narodu" (Bogorodchany village)
- Maryna Kysylytsia, district newspaper Vyzhnytsky Obrii
- Olga Havrylyuk, "Kolomyiy Visnyk" newspaper
- Yuriy Larin, Dumka.media (Kharkiv)
- Nadiya Pauk, Newspaper "Ridne Slovo"
- Nadiya Strashko, online publication Gadyach.City
- International Press Institute (IPI)
- Anatolii Varava, retired journalist
- Iryna Kopystynska, Department of Journalism of Vasyl Stefanyk Prykarpattia National University
- Alyona Bereza, Online media "ZHAR.INFO"
- Svitlana Baranovska, "Korostenmedia"
The appeal is open for signature via the link.