“Audience must look at the war through the eyes of journalists as the information they provide is professional and verified,” Lina Kushch

The First Secretary of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU), Lina Kushch, says that media people have to be at war to cover it. She also adds that respective trips must be prepared for very thoroughly.

“The rules of accreditation provided by the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) do not contain any requirement to take courses and have a certificate, as they did before. The rules are quite simple: you need to provide documents,” Lina Kushch said at the event within the framework of the Donbas Media Forum 2023, held with the support of the NUJU.

However, according to the journalist’s conviction, it is impossible to go to the front without at least taking courses in tactical medicine.

“We, as the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine, conduct training sessions on tactical medicine and safety related to work in the war zone. The latest two training sessions of ours were dedicated to the issues of radiation safety and were held in Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia. Zaporizhzhia hosted the one that included the simulation of a real-life situation,” Lina Kushch said.

“There was a local volunteer group that played the role of the injured residents. The NUJU tries to simulate situations that journalists may face while working in a war zone. Our coach on tactical medicine trains until the journalists meet all requirements,” noted the NUJU First Secretary.

NUJU Information Service