“Local media is critical for Ukraine” – Sergiy Tomilenko

Sergiy Tomilenko, the President of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU), emphasizes the critical importance of local media for Ukraine, especially in front-line areas. He talks about the renaissance of the print press in combat zones, where heroic editors deliver newspapers under fire. The NUJU actively supports Ukrainian regional media, providing them with technical support, security training, and mental health support.

Tomilenko emphasizes the importance of professional journalism as a powerful weapon against russian propaganda. He also criticizes the aggressive policy of Ukrposhta, which deals a crushing blow to the print press through poor delivery. Despite this, Ukraine is witnessing a renaissance of print publications in front-line areas, where local newspapers are often the only source of information for people.

The NUJU is also working on creating an international fund to support Ukrainian regional media, involving resources from Scandinavian countries. Tomilenko emphasizes that effective information policy should be formed not only by office experts but also by editors and journalists from the front lines.

He also notes that Ukrainians demonstrate impressive information resilience, but modern challenges to media literacy are associated with the blurring of the boundaries between professional journalism and amateur content. NUJU actively helps journalists master modern communication tools, such as YouTube and social networks.

The program of Tomilenko’s working visit to the Zhydachiv region included a visit to the newsroom of the Novyi Chas newspaper, meetings with local journalists and government representatives, recording an interview on the Zhydachiv FM radio, and honoring the memory of the fallen defenders of Ukraine.