THE NATIONAL UNION OF
JOURNALISTS OF UKRAINE
Due to the massive russian attacks on the energy infrastructure of Ukraine, many (especially regional) media were threatened with termination of work. This problem has become too acute in the front-line regions, where power grids often fail due to continuous enemy shelling. Last year, the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU) started a program to support newsrooms: it handed over modern EcoFlow charging stations to colleagues from international partners – the Ukrainian Media Fund and the Fundacja Gazety Wyborczej (Poland).
“This is one of the most effective ways to support media workers in Ukraine”
In the Kharkiv Region, near the front, where emergency power cuts are regularly used, such support turned out to be vital.
“Since then, they have become more stable,” says Pavlo Sukhariev, the head of the Nadiya TV and radio company from Pervomaiske. “Any TV and radio company is a very energy-intensive media. So, without alternative power, there is no chance to work.”
Thanks to the transferred charging station, he explains, the media provides uninterrupted television broadcasting and operation of all Internet platforms for several hours.
“We use EcoFlow to power broadcast and editing computers, two servers, converters, and a router for online broadcasting. In addition, we charge digital equipment – batteries for video cameras, audio systems and lighting camera lights, smartphones, laptops, etc.,” notes Pavlo Sukhariev.
Charging stations also support the work of metropolitan media. Mykola Pidvezianyi, the editor-in-chief of the Glavcom news agency, notes that the resulting EcoFlow can work for up to six hours during power outages.
“Currently, we all work remotely. Therefore, employees use the obtained equipment in the conditions of remote work. This allows journalists to inform even in the absence of electricity,” he explains. He adds that this is one of the most effective ways to support colleagues in Ukraine today.
Front-line newsrooms are intensifying information
The situation in the city of Nikopol in the Zaporizhzhia Region, which is regularly subjected to russian shelling, is particularly difficult. Last March, the local Radio Nostalgia 102.4 FM was seriously damaged by an enemy missile. Thanks to the received EcoFlow River 2 station, the team was able to establish continuous broadcasting.
“The station is used to power studio equipment and computers during power outages; its charge is enough for about three hours. Currently, it is an important part of our technical equipment,” says the director of the station Valerii Tereshchenko. “Thanks to EcoFlow, we promptly go on the air with news and maintain contact with the audience without interruptions.”
Such support plays a special role for newsrooms that were forced to relocate due to hostilities. Yurii Barkulov, head of the Orbita TV company from Pokrovsk in the Donetsk Region, whose team is currently adapting to work in Dnipro, says: “Currently, the TV channel continues broadcasting for its audience on cable networks and IPTV. But what will happen next is unknown.”
“We have a lot of equipment, besides, we need to ensure uninterrupted operation of our servers,” he adds. “For one of these, we have enough energy from the charging station for four hours, and this is provided that there are no long-term blackouts.”
Ivano-Frankivsk RAI TV And Radio Company also highly appreciated the help received.
“This is an extremely valuable resource that has proven itself in the work. Thanks to EcoFlow, our equipment is continuously powered even in the event of a power outage,” says Director General Andrii Rusyniak. “Such autonomy is really important for the team, in particular the program and issue editors. Now, we can be sure that the editorial work will not stop, and we will carry out our professional duties without hindrance, even under the most difficult conditions.”
Ivano-Frankivsk RAI TV And Radio Company is ready for power cuts. Photo by Andrii Rusyniak.Support also went to printed editions
“Even when there is no light, Visnyk will be there!” says Maryna Osipova, a journalist from one of the most widely circulated newspapers in Ukraine, Visnyk Ch, from the border town of Chernihiv. According to her, the charging station ensures uninterrupted operation of the publication and, most importantly, layout during power outages.
Future plans: the need for additional equipment
The initiative of the NUJU, Ukrainian Media Fund, and Fundacja Gazety Wyborczej significantly strengthened the energy independence of the Ukrainian media and their ability to work in the difficult conditions of war. At the same time, the russian army continues to regularly drop missiles and drones over Ukrainian territories. And they mainly aim at the energy infrastructure. That is why newsrooms need additional powerful stations, in particular, to power transmission equipment that consumes the most energy. As media representatives assure, this is extremely necessary to strengthen stability and autonomy in wartime conditions. Such support will significantly increase work for several additional hours without light, which is still turned off almost every day in many regions of Ukraine due to shelling.
NUJU Information Service
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