Media community calls on authorities and donors to save local media

Five Ukrainian media organizations and almost 150 local newsrooms have called for the government and donors to include measures to support independent media in their action plans.

This is stated in an Open Letter sent on Wednesday, August 27, to the Government of Ukraine and international donors.

The Open Letter, initiated by the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU), calls for an urgent response to the crisis of local and hyperlocal media and the inclusion of relevant points in the Government’s Action Program.

Over the course of almost four years of war, more than 50% of print publications and over 300 other media outlets have ceased operations. Areas and communities have appeared on the map of Ukraine where local media are completely absent due to problems with newspaper delivery by the Ukrposhta state postal service organization.

Our country is the only one in Europe without daily printed publications, and even in the capital, there is no city newspaper. The information space is filled with anonymous resources that do not adhere to professional standards.

However, it is the local media that demonstrate the highest efficiency in solving public problems. According to a study by the Ukrainian Academy of Media Business and the NUJU, thanks to the efforts of local newsrooms, over 400 community problems have been resolved in three and a half years of war. At the same time, 75% of residents are grateful to their media for such an initiative.

The media community offers the authorities a specific action plan:

change the philosophy of the approach – consider media support not as charity, but as an investment in democracy and partnership for the sake of government transparency,
integrate the media component into all community recovery programs – not just for “covering activities,” but as a tool for dialogue between the authorities and citizens,
introduce long-term mechanisms for supporting newsrooms through a strategic communications program to guarantee the sustainability of journalists’ work even during crises,
involve the media in discussing all decisions related to the industry, based on the principle of “nothing about the media without the media.”

It is also proposed to officially appeal to the governments of the EU countries and international partners to include the recovery of Ukrainian media in assistance programs.

Separately, there is a need to change the state’s attitude towards the media – to perceive newsrooms as partners in the country’s reconstruction, rather than as potential law violators.

The Open Letter was signed by representatives of leading media organizations and newsrooms, calling for immediate action to preserve the local information infrastructure.

The appeal is open for signature by other organizations and media. You can sign the letter HERE.

Here is the full text of the document.

OPEN LETTER

of industry associations, media associations, journalists, and individual newsrooms to the Government of Ukraine and international donors.

In the fourth year of russia’s aggressive war in Ukraine, support for local and hyperlocal media remains critically important. The media inform their audiences, unite communities, create conditions for public control, and counteract disinformation from the aggressor country.

Despite the high demand for reliable information and the emergence of new challenges in this area, support for local and hyperlocal media in Ukraine is declining.

Over the course of almost four years, according to various sources, more than 50% of print media outlets and over 300 other media outlets have ceased operations. Unfortunately, there are areas and communities on the map of Ukraine where local and hyperlocal media are completely absent due to poor-quality delivery of newspapers to subscribers by the national postal operator, Ukrposhta JSC. Against the backdrop of a sharp decrease in donor support following the suspension of key USAID programs, a significant portion of newsrooms lack the funds to cover basic expenses and resort to redundancies among journalists, including reducing salaries or working without pay.

Ukraine is the only European country without daily printed publications, and its capital does not have a city newspaper.

Resources are capturing the information space, often anonymously and not registered as media, which do not adhere to ethical and professional standards. The risk of manipulating public opinion and spreading openly hostile propaganda is increasing.

At the same time, for example, only thanks to the efforts of the Ukrainian Association of Media Business and the NUJU, which attracted and sent support in the form of equipment, money, and mentoring efforts to local media newsrooms, over 400 problems in communities were solved during these three and a half years of war. Displaced people, families of fallen defenders, veterans, older individuals, and community residents received direct assistance, information about housing and employment opportunities, and solutions to their current issues. Communities were able to solve or begin to solve issues that had not been addressed for a long time, for one reason or another. According to a study by the Ukrainian Association of Media Business, over 75% of community residents are grateful to their local media for taking such an initiative, giving a voice to local communities and influencing the solution of certain problems. This highlights the high potential of local and hyperlocal media. But it is they who are in the most difficult situation today. And it is in this segment of the media market that the highest number of shutdowns is observed.

We, representatives of industry associations, media associations, journalists, and individual newsrooms who signed this Open Letter, call on the Government to:

develop the principles of state policy in the field of democracy and access to the truth, and consider the following proposals of the media and journalistic community.
integrate support for independent media into state policy in the field of democracy and access to the truth, considering local and hyperlocal media as the foundation of civic resilience and as a key institution of democracy and citizens’ trust.
consider support for the media not as charity, but as a partnership and investment in democracy and freedom of speech, thanks to which local professional media ensure transparency, accountability of authorities, and involvement of citizens in the processes that regulate the life of communities and districts.
officially appeal to the governments of the EU countries and international partners with a proposal to include the restoration of Ukrainian media in international assistance and recovery programs.
include measures to restore local and hyperlocal media in all programs for the comprehensive recovery of communities and territories.
in all programs for the recovery and development of communities and territories, provide for the so-called media component – as a tool for dialogue and interaction between the authorities, business, and the community, as an exercise of citizens’ rights to freedom of speech, and not only for “covering activities” and “dissemination of information.”
introduce long-term mechanisms for supporting local and hyperlocal newsrooms, which will guarantee the sustainability of journalists’ work in communities, even during crises, through the strategic communications program.
preserve the direction of information policy within the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications as a separate and priority direction of work, making it part of strategic communications.
change the state’s approach to the media: perceive newsrooms not as objects of control, not as potential violators of the law, but as partners in rebuilding the country.
consider the media as responsible participants in the social process, who mostly comply with the law, take a clear pro-Ukrainian position, and work professionally in the interests of their audiences, not only informing, but also contributing to solving urgent and systemic problems.

Nothing about the media without the media: When developing and supporting initiatives that impact the media, it is essential to involve experts from all media industries in the discussion. Do not make decisions without consulting representatives of local and hyperlocal media, journalists, and specialized organizations.

Ensure that any state and international financial support is made transparent for registered media, in accordance with the relevant Ukrainian Law “On Media” and the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA).

To amend the Law of Ukraine “On Media” taking into account Articles 3 and 4 of the Law of Ukraine On State Support for the Media, Guarantees of Professional Activity and Social Protection of Journalists and the Decree of the President of Ukraine On the Decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine dated March 11, 2021 On the Strategy for the De-occupation and Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol.”

This Open Letter was signed by:

President of the Public Organization Ukrainian Association of Media Business / Member of the Board of Directors of the World Association of News Media Publishers WAN-IFRA, Oleksii Pohorelov;
Chairman of the NUJU / Member of the Executive Committee of the European Federation of Journalists, Sergiy Tomilenko;

First Secretary of the NUJU / Member of the Steering Committee of the Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD), Lina Kushch;
Chairman of the Committee of the Independent Media Trade Union of Ukraine, Serhii Shturkhetskyi;
Chairman of the Public Organization Joint Regulation Body in the Field of Printed Media, Serhii Cherniavskyi
President of the Public Association Academy of the Ukrainian Press, Valerii Ivanov;
Director of LLC Hazeta Volyn newspaper (Lutsk, Volyn Region), / editor-in-chief of the Volyn newspaper, Oleksandr Zhoranets;
Director / editor-in-chief of LLC Slobodskyi Krai (Kharkiv Region), Larysa Hnatchenko;
Editor of the MAYAK newspaper / director of LLC Mayak-Media, Tetiana Luchynska;
Director of LLC Pivdenna Zoria TV and radio company / editor-in-chief of the Pivdenna Zoria newspaper, Inna Shvydka;
Editor-in-chief of the Vechirnii Mykolayiv newspaper, Olena Ivashko;
Editor of the Visti newspaper / director of Visti Plus (Poltava Region), Yuliya Shablia;
Editor of the Novyny Horodnianshchyny newspaper, Svitlana Tomash;
Director and Editor-in-Chief of the Pershotravenski Novyny newspaper newsroom LLC (Shakhtarske, Dnipropetrovsk Region), Liudmyla Maslova;
Director / Editor of the Putyvlski Vedomosti newspaper, Tetiana Kaushan;
Director General of the VIKKA Television Company LLC, Serhii Kuzliayev;
Director of the Nadiya Television and Radio Company LLC (Kharkiv Region), Pavlo Sukharev;
Acting Board Chairperson of the Vinnytsia regional organization of the NUJU, Maryna Teplenko-Didyk;
Director orca LLC Silski Novyny media / editor of the Silski Novyny newspaper (Chutove, Poltava Region), Oksana Cherkas;
Editor of the website City (Zakharivka Village, Odesa Region), Viktoriia Mainych;
Editor of the newspaper and website Zoria Pryirpinnya, Oleksandr Nakaznenko;
Editor of the website Znamiya Industrii (Kostiantynivka, Donetsk Region), Alina Shkoda;
Director of LLC Zviahel Media Group (Zviahel City, Zhytomyr Region), Hennadii Freher;
Editor-in-chief of the Technopolis newspaper (Kramatorsk City), Oleh Kubar;
Editor for the LLC Silske Zhyttia newspaper newsroom / website City, Kateryna Matko;
Editor of Zhovti Vody.City and Volnovakha.City, Pavlo Yeshtokin;
Editor of the website STEP ― media about the Western Donbas, Tetiana Volkova;
Director of LLC Firtka News Agency (Ivano-Frankivsk), Andrii Ketsmur;
Director of the LLC Konotop-based newspaper newsroom, Rural Horizons, Nataliya Odnodvorets;
Director of LLC Newsroom of the Ostroh Town newspaper, Zamkova gora / acting editor-in-chief (Rivne Region), Ivan Hlushman;
Editor of the newspaper Reshetylivskyi Visnyk (Reshetylivka, Poltava Region), Ivan Tsyhan;
Director of LLC Panorama newspaper newsroom (Mukachevo, Zakarpattia Region), Ivan Harahonych;
Editor of LLC Chervonyi Promin newspaper newsroom (Nyzhni Sirohozy Village, Kherson Region), Vita Kopenko;
Editor of LLC Silski Novyny newspaper newsroom (Hornostayivka Village, Kherson Region), Liubov Rudia;
Editor-in-Chief of the Zmiivskyi Kurier regional weekly (Kharkiv Region), Oleksandr Sumets;
Editor-in-Chief of the Kremenchutska Hazeta newspaper (Kremenchuk, Poltava Region), Oleh Bulashev;
Editor-in-Chief of the Technopolis newspaper (Kramatorsk), Oleh Kubar;
Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Technopolis newspaper (Kramatorsk), Vira Iliyina;
Editor-in-Chief of the Mykolayivski Novyny newspaper / Head of the Mykolayiv Regional Association of Sports Journalists, Anatolii Bilonozhko;
Director of LLC Rozdilne-based Publishing House, Vpered (Odesa Region), Nataliya Bukovska;
Editor of the Vorskla newspaper (Velyka Pysarivka, Sumy Region), Oleksii Pasiuha;
Editor of the Novyny Trostianechchyny Tyzhden newspaper (Sumy Region), Pavlo Zlenko;
Director of the public organization Nove Zhyttia editorial team (Volyn Region), Nataliya Mukha;
NUJU Board Chairperson / Director of the Visti Prydniproviya LLC (Dnipropetrovsk Region), Oleksii Kovalchuk;
Board and Secretariat Member of the NUJU / Editor-in-Chief of the Zaporizska Pravda LLC (Zaporizhzhia Region), Nataliya Zvoryhina;
Director of the LLC editorial team of the Dniprovski Vohni newspaper (Zaporizhzhia Region), Oleksandra Kot;
Director of LLC Editorial Team of the Newspaper Holos Gulyaypillya” (Zaporizhzhia Region), Tetiana Velyka;
Director and Editor of LLC Narodna Trybuna newspaper (Yemilchyne, Zhytomyr Region), Mykhailo Melnyk;
Editor of the regional news agency RIA-Pivden (Zaporizhzhia Region), Svitlana Zalizetska;
Director and Editor of LLC Ridnyi Krai district newspaper (Buryn, Sumy Region), Lyudmila Maznova
Editor-in-Chief of the City online publication (Pervomaisk, Mykolayiv Region), Halyna Davydova;
Director and Editor-in-Chief of Nadrossia media-center (Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi, Cherkasy Region), Svitlana Perets;
Director and Editor-in-Chief of LLC, the Zoria newspaper (Lyman, Donetsk Region), Oleksandr Pasichnyk;
Director and Editor of LLC VISTI-NOV news agency (Novovorontsovka Village, Kherson Region), Iryna Telychko;
Director and Editor of LLC Hutsulskyi Krai newspaper (Kosiv, Ivano-Frankivsk Region), Alisa Mudrytska;
Editor-in-chief of the Pohliad newspaper (Chernivtsi, Chernivtsi Region)/ head of the Chernivtsi regional organization of the NUJU, Volodymyr Bober;
Head of the Chernivtsi regional organization of the NUJU, Head of the NGO Association of Regional Mass Media, Oleksandr Nazarenko;
Director and Editor of the northernmost newspaper, Zhyttia Semenivshchyny (Semenivka, Chernivtsi Region), Serhii Vysotskyi;
Coordinator of the Dnipro Journalists’ Solidarity Center (JSC) of the NUJU, Nataliya Nazarova;
Executive Secretary of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional organization of the NUJU, Svitlana Iotova;
Editor-in-Chief of the Zhinochii Pohlad newspaper, Liudmyla Usova;
Director / editor-in-chief of the Zoria Poltavshchyny (Poltava), Iryna Rohozhynska;
Editor-in-Chief / director of the Mezhyvskyi Meridian publication (Mezhova Village, Dnipropetrovsk Region), Yevhen Khrypun;
Editor of the Visti Vodolazhchyny newspaper (Kharkiv Region, Kharkiv District, Nova Vodolaha Village), Polina Afanasenko;
Acting editor of the Peremoha newspaper (Krasnopillia, Sumy Region), Olha Kyslenko;
Editor-in-chief of the Holos Shakhtaria newspaper (Pavlohrad, Dnipropetrovsk Region), Olena Tkach;
Director of LLC Na Samari (Samar, Dnipropetrovsk Region), Larysa Lemeshchenko;
Director of LLC Mayak-media (Kulykivka, Chernihiv Region), Iryna Hayova;
Director of LLC Poliska Pravda (Kulykivka, Chernihiv Region), Valentyna Seliuk;
Head of the Sumy regional organization of the NUJU / Head of the Department of Journalism at the Sumy State University, Professor Volodymyr Sadivnychyi;
Director of Karpaty newspaper newsroom (Putyla, Chernivtsi Region), Liudmyla Fediuk;
Detector of the TVA TV and radio company / editor-in-chief of the Bukovyna newspaper (Chernivtsi), Vadym Pelekh;
Director of LLC Druzhba-Region/ editor-in-chief of the Druzhba newspaper (Bolhrad, Odesa Region) Tetiana Terzi;
Visnyk Ch (Chernihiv) Serhii Narodenko;
Member of the editorial board of the Vesela Respublika magazine / member of the NUJU and National Writers’ Union of Ukraine, Pylyp Yuryk;
Director and Editor of the Nash Krai newspaper newsroom, Halyna Soroka;
Editor-in-chief of the Nova Kakhovka City website, Oleksandr Hunko;
Editor of the Vist newspaper (Chernihiv), Olha Makuha;
Director of Visti Snihurivshchyny newspaper newsroom (Snihurivka), Ihor Novikov;
Editor of the Panorama newspaper (Sumy), Olena Kasatkina;
Editor-in-chief of the if.ua news website (Ivano-Frankivsk), Mykhailo Savliuk;
Director General of the RAI television and radio company (Ivano-Frankivsk), Andrii Rusyniak;
Director of LLC Chervonyi Promin newspaper newsroom (Zaporizhzhia District), Nataliya Stina;
Journalist of LLC Holos Huliaipillia newspaper newsroom (Huliaipillia, Zaporizhzhia Region), Tamara Bort;
Secretary of the NUJU/ editor of the Na Dotyk vision radio (Zaporizhzhia City), Liudmyla Dolzhenko;
First Secretary of the Zaporizhzhia regional organization of the NUJU / Co-Coordinator of the Journalists’ Solidarity Center (JSC) / Member of the NUJU Audit Commission (Zaporizhzhia City), Valentyna Manzhura;
Head of the Zaporizhzhia regional organization of the NUJU / Honored Journalist of Ukraine / Co-Coordinator of the JSC / Member of the NUJU Board, Nataliya Kuzmenko;
Editor of the Shans newspaper (Shostka Town, Sumy Region), Liubov Barabash;
Co-founder / Assistant to the Executive Secretary of the newspaper / fact-checker Media Maidan / Self-organized media – analytical academic tract of the national Dialogue, Liudmyla Oliinyk;