Support Ukrainian Journalists Reporting Conflict

Now over one year since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we remain dedicated to supporting journalists on the frontlines of war. The global news cycle is moving the spotlight away from this war, but independent media in Ukraine still need crucial support. 

We're still supporting emergency response, prioritizing the safety of journalists, but also the creation of high-quality content as well as investigative reporting and anti-corruption efforts, the introduction of media literacy in schools, crucial media reforms, innovations in combatting disinformation, and efforts to improve the long-term sustainability of key media institutions in the country. 

Recently, we’ve turned our ear to listening to refugees in Moldova, using their voices to inform the wider humanitarian response and publishing two reports compiling our findings, with practical recommendations for media, humanitarian, and governmental service providers: 

• An Information Ecosystem Assessment in Moldova, researching how Ukrainian refugees and Moldovan citizens create, access, and share information about the Ukrainian refugee response. It aims to identify barriers to accessing quality information, risks in information access, and information gaps which could contribute to misinformation and social tensions. 
• An analysis of social listening to monitor sentiments and perspectives shared by Moldovan social media users about Ukrainian refugees and the wider refugee response. The timing of this social listening enabled an assessment of the temperature of the information ecosystem at a critical moment in Moldova, seeking to capture harmful discourse that could impact refugee services or pose a risk to refugees or aid workers and volunteers. 

Our experiences in Ukraine led to the development of our Emergency Fund, which has allowed us to act quickly at the start of the humanitarian crisis in Sudan. We continue to challenge our own understanding of our role as an organization in emergency response, as digital spaces become more and more saturated and life-saving information becomes more and more critical. We've been working in Ukraine since 1994 and have seen the shift in public perception firsthand. In such trying times, it's an honor to be a part of the push for prioritizing free and independent media and supporting the journalists who keep it alive.  

You make our critical work possible. Thank you for your continued support. 

At the close of 2022,our USAID/Internews annual survey into media consumption habits in Ukraine revealedsome notablechanges since Russia’s escalated invasion in February 2022. Despite the war, 23% of respondents said they were ready to pay for access to their favorite digital media, up from 20% last year. Ukrainian’s ability to assess and filter out disinformation is continuing to rise. But most notably, Ukrainians have come to rely more and more on regional and local news outlets. This is Internews’ glimmer of hope—proof that our work is vital to the lives of Ukrainians navigatingthe uncertainty of war. 

At Internews we believe that access to timely, quality information saves lives, but in times of crisis, those who deliver that information face paramount physical and digital risks. In Ukraine, Journalists and media workers remain the targets of continued attacks. In January alone:  

• "Dom" filming crew comes under Russian fire in Luhansk oblast 
• Bild journalist injured in a shelling attack on Druzhkivka 
• Filming crew of a French TV channel comes under fire during a live stream 

Since our last update, we’ve continued to provide newsrooms with supplies to continue their work—laptops, cameras, mobile phones and other equipment—along with deliveringmedical kits, bulletproof vests, heaters and other weather-resistant supplies to journalists at risk. Through legal assistanceand trainings on physical safety, tactical first aid, digital hygiene, and cybersecurity, we empower journalists to better advocate for themselves and the communities they serve. 

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“I’ve met few, if any, journalists during a crisis who wanted to get out of the profession. They wanted a flak jacket, a replacement laptop, or a safe place to stay so they could keep trustworthy information flowing to their communities and to the world. Ukrainian journalists are proving just that — they keep reporting, inspiring worldwide support, and providing citizens with information that saves lives.” 

– From Internews President Jeanne Bourgault’s op-ed in Chronicle of Philanthropy 

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Internews remains committed to supporting Ukrainian journalists and an independent media sector on the frontlines of war. With flexible funding thanks to partners like GlobalGiving, Internews has acted rapidly and proactively since the start of the Ukrainian war, and we continue to adapt to a changing media landscape to spread lifesaving information—first by ensuring the journalists and newsrooms on the ground are able to carry out their duties safely and responsibly.  

You make our work possible. Thank you for your continued support. 

As the war continues, and amidst the most recent mass missile attack in the country, Ukrainian journalists and media outlets remain in need of support and protection.

Since February 2022, a total of 40 Ukrainian Journalists have been killed, 8 while carrying out professional duties. In September alone:

• The editor of a local newspaper was kidnapped from her home by Russian forces
• Ukrainian film crews were directly targeted by Russian drone attacks
• Local media organizations faced digital attacks, harassment, and threats of imprisonment
• Russian forces established propaganda radio stations, newspapers, and TV channels in occupied territories
• International media outlets unknowingly spread staged Russian reports, falsely claiming a majority of Ukrainians had voted in favor of joining Russia

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“It’s local media that bring lifesaving information to communities about conflict areas to avoid, where to take shelter and get food, and how to travel safely. Not only do they report in local languages that local populations understand but they offer detailed, real-time information about available resources.”

– From Internews President Jeanne Bourgault’s op-ed in the Chronicle of Philanthropy

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Because of your continued support, Internews has now relocated 195 journalists, repurposed our offices in Moldova and Lithuania to support refugee communication efforts, and funded the procurement of emergency equipment: 250 flak jackets, 552 tactical medical kits, and 602 lifesaving items (tourniquets, bandages, antibiotics, drinking water treatment tablets).

Alongside immediate emergency relief, we’ve created and delivered resources to over 238 Ukrainian regional and local media outlets by:

• Offering trainings on physical safety, tactical first aid, digital hygiene, and cybersecurity to 315 journalists across Ukraine
• Supporting the monitoring of violations of journalists’ rights and the provision of legal assistance for 754 journalists
• Supporting our partners’ training of 880 journalists to cover the war responsibly and ethically

Internews is committed to preserving the nearly 30 years of work we’ve done to support Ukraine’s independent media sector, and we remain dedicated and hopeful amidst the current complex humanitarian emergency.

We sincerely thank you for your donations, on behalf of our organization and the journalists risking their lives on the ground every day. It wouldn’t be possible without you.

Internews is so grateful for this community's support of our work to protect Ukrainian journalists in the current complex humanitarian emergency. Thanks to your generous donations, Internews has:

• Relocated dozens of journalists and media support staff to safer locations
• Offered digital security training to help media and civil society defend against hacking, phishing, and DDOS attacks
• Re-purposed our offices in Moldova and Lithuania to support refugee communication efforts and journalists operating remotely
• Procured hundreds of flak jackets, helmets, first aid kits and tech equiptment and subscriptions for journalists so they can continue to work safely.

As the crisis continues, so does the need. Our team is working hard to protect and preserve the independent Ukrainian media sector and to help journalists continue their vital work. We are also committed to working for years to come to ensure Ukraine maintains a vibrant media sector that provides citizens with vital information, debunks disinformation, and holds power to account. For more information, we recommend these local organizations for credible, current information on the latest attacks against media in Ukraine and disinformation about the conflict.

We sincerely thank GlobalGiving and all those that have supported this work to date - we could not do it without you.

Links:

• Op/ed by our president and CEO on the crisis
• Interview about Ukraine with our president and CEO at Davos 2022