NUJU calls for systematic support for local media amid reduced donor funding

Ukrainian regional journalism is on the verge of survival. Due to the cessation of international funding, dozens of newsrooms are working without salaries, and in front-line areas, media outlets have remained the only source of reliable information against the flow of russian propaganda.

The National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU) is sounding the alarm: local media are experiencing the deepest crisis in all the years of independence. On July 3, the NUJU Board adopted a resolution titled On the Need for Systematic Support for Local Media in Conditions of War and Reduced Donor Funding, which became an SOS signal from an industry on the verge of collapse.

The document is based on the stunning results of a NUJU study conducted in March of this year. It turned out that 26% of Ukrainian regional media outlets are operating without salaries – a situation that, until recently, seemed impossible.

The NUJU board emphasizes the extremely important role of local media in ensuring access to reliable information, covering the humanitarian situation, ensuring communication with local authorities, and countering disinformation. This problem is especially acute in front-line regions, where journalists work in conditions of constant danger, without stable access to infrastructure.

The cause of the crisis is the abrupt cessation of international funding in early 2025, which left newsrooms without resources to survive. In front-line regions, advertising and subscriptions are practically ineffective, so the media have lost any stable sources of income.

The NUJU warns of the catastrophic consequences of this situation: the information vacuum is quickly filled by russian propaganda, disinformation, and rumors. Local media in front-line regions, which work in conditions of both physical threats and an information vacuum, are especially vulnerable.

In response to these challenges, the NUJU Board decided to appeal to international partners, including the European Commission and foreign donor organizations, to resume and continue programmatic support to local media in Ukraine. The Union will also initiate consultations with the Ukrainian government and foreign partners on the creation of long-term, predictable funding models that will allow newsrooms to avoid sudden closures.

The NUJU will invite international organizations to consider creating flexible support mechanisms that can respond quickly to media requests in crises, especially in front-line communities. In parallel, the Union will continue to monitor the state of regional media through surveys, analytical reports, and systematic information sharing with Ukrainian and international partners.

The resolution also calls on the NUJU organizations in the field and newsrooms to jointly advocate for the preservation of local journalism as an element of the country’s information security. The NUJU emphasizes that the preservation of independent regional journalism is not just a professional issue but a matter of national importance, requiring the consolidated efforts of the authorities, international partners, and the journalistic community.

The resolution was unanimously approved by all members of the NUJU governing bodies present. It will serve as the basis for the Union‘s further advocacy work at both national and international levels.