How do the media, editorial teams, and audiences, divided by the war, rebuild their relationships? How do we learn about the newly emerged information needs and social cleavages? These questions were addressed at a roundtable in Kyiv, where the findings of the sociological research “Reconnecting Audiences: Understanding the Role of Local Media in Promoting Social Cohesion” were presented and discussed. The research focused on 23 hromadas the grantees of the “Improving Media Resilience in Ukraine” project come from.

The roundtable gathered journalists, embassy representatives, donor organizations, and experts. The focus of the research, and thus the discussion, was on social cohesion, which tends to be growing into a pressing need for Ukrainian society, and on the role the media can play in strengthening social cohesion and in bridging the divides. How can the media operate under conditions of hromadas’ forced mobility? How do the media meet the demand for quality journalism and critical updates during wartime? How to close coverage gaps?

The research involved 49 focus group interviews and surveyed 2,391 respondents. Besides the general report, each editorial team received a report for each of the target hromadas. There was  an important educational component to the research. The grantee newsrooms were involved in developing the research tools and discussing the research process at each stage of the initiative. The project aims to bring editorial teams closer to their communities, regularly studying their problems and needs. Concurrently during the training sessions the grantees learned to make use of the existing sociological tools to be applied at their workplace.

Key discussion topics included people’s attitudes towards social cohesion, the lack of full-fledged public dialogue, including engagement with the government, and the need for solution journalism. There was also talk about boosting critical thinking to be able to recognize fakes, etc. The journalists found themselves exposed to unexpected findings that were at odds with their assumptions about public opinion and social media discussions. However, the main takeaway was the relatively high trust in local media compared to national media and the need for more hromada-focused local news.

Trust breeds accountability. Therefore, a brainstorming session was held during the training that started immediately after the roundtable. Proposals were developed to adjust strategies and thematic plans based on the research findings. Not only should topics related to social cohesion take a prominent place, but also actions aimed at greater social responsibility of the media, improving communications with audiences, and more effective engagement with hromadas.

Mogens Schmidt, IRMI Chairman:

• The highly qualified report on the role local media can play in social cohesion was translated into editorial strategy and journalistic practice. Community building, public dialogue, and countering misinformation and disinformation are its key elements. I am impressed by the diligence, resilience, and courage of the journalists, most of whom represent local front line media. Despite this, they constantly strive to improve and serve their audience as best they can.

Sandra Fontaine, Program Manager at the Irondelle Foundation:

• Trust is the foundation of this process. As the research shows, while hromadas have a high level of trust in local media, they still expect more from the media, especially in combating disinformation, propaganda, and hate speech. I would like to express special thanks to the “Operational Sociology” research team and our twenty-three media partners who recognized the potential of this project and contributed to the preparation of the final research. May it serve as a practical tool and editorial compass that enhances the newsrooms’ social mission and promotes the development of an inclusive, participatory democracy where no Ukrainian citizen is left behind.

Oleksandra Deineko, Project Researcher:

• The research serves as  a “roadmap” of some kind for local media to reconnect with their audiences during wartime. It has a practical component and provides a list of topics that local media can develop to enhance social cohesion in their hromadas, as well as highlights topics that are not sufficiently communicated at the local level. We hope that the findings will inform the media strategies of the project’s partners in the future.

The research has been published and can be useful to anyone interested in social cohesion and the role of the media in social cohesion enhancement. The roundtable and training on implementing its results are part of the “Improving Media Resilience in Ukraine” project IRMI has been implementing together with Fondation Hirondelle with the financial support of Swiss Solidarity.

Two of our media partners have received international JTI certificates. Congratulations to the editorial teams of ‘MykVisti’ (Mykolaiv) and NA ‘Status Quo’ (Kharkiv). These are the first of more than 20 of our partner regional and hyper-local publications that have completed the self-assessment stage and submitted applications for audit. All these media outlets are grantees of the ‘Improving Media Resilience in Ukraine’ project, carried out by IRMI and Fondation Hirondelle and supported by Swiss Solidarity.

Preparation for certification has been one of the key components of the project. This part of the work was supported by Reporters sans frontières / Reporters Without Borders / RSF and comprised monthly consultations for the newsrooms and training.

Oleg Derenyuga, editor of ‘MykVisti’:

– We started this journey in July 2023, when we first filled out the transparency report. The independent audit confirmed our compliance with journalism trust standards, which means we are a reliable source of information. Consultations and training organized by IRMI and Fondation Hirondelle played a special role in our preparation for the audit, helping us get ready for this important process.

‘MykVisti’ journalists continually adapt to audience needs, learning new techniques and tackling relevant topics. The website has been updated for better user experience, leading to increased traffic. Foreign publications are purchasing the editorial team’s licensed photos, with one such photo even making it onto a city day postage stamp.

Natalia Kobzar, editor of Status Quo news agency, shared that certification formalized many understood but unsystematized practices into clear rules, instructions, and policies.

-The audit process highlighted that journalistic standards are not just a philosophical guide but involve specific policies, website structures, content presentation methods, staff interaction rules, attitudes toward content and readers, and protocols for working with authorities and founders. The audit brought focus and clarity to previously vague areas. The Status Quo editorial team is grateful to IRMI and Fondation Hirondelle for their support during the audit process.

Self-assessment is a crucial certification step where each editorial team needs to view itself objectively, asking the same questions the audience might consider when deciding whether to trust the media outlet. This process is not just for the audit but to align practices with the declared standards.

Angelina Soldatenko, IRMI Director,

– To be in demand and independent, media must meet society’s expectations for quality journalism, honesty, and transparency. This focus is integral to our training and consultation efforts. Quality breeds trust, which is essential for the mission of journalism – to provide access to information and foster important decision-making, especially during times of war and information aggression. The successful certification of both editorial teams is a testament to this. We anticipate that other grantees that have done self-assessment and applied for the audit will also prove to be reliable sources of information.

Bertrand Mossia, JTI’s public relations and organizational development manager, believes:

-Hyper-local, local, and regional media play a fundamental role in society because they directly influence its functioning. The JTI certificates recently awarded to ‘MykVisti’ and ‘Status Quo’ serve as an official guarantee to society, particularly in Mykolaiv and Kharkiv regions, that these editorial teams work in the public interest. They deserve the trust and respect of the audience, government authorities, commercial partners, and many others.

Congratulations to our colleagues! Stay a reliable source of information that enriches people’s lives, also after the Victory.

The international organization “Reporters Without Borders” invites you to discuss the issues of independent journalism and the right to information during an online conference with journalists and media market experts. IRMI Director Angelina Soldatenko will be joining the panel discussion.

We will talk about the growing challenges of our time, when every citizen’s right to independent, reliable, and pluralistic information is under threat. How can Ukraine restore and strengthen its information ecosystem? Participants will be able to get a detailed information about the programs of the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications, the activities of “Reporters Without Borders,” including the Journalism Trust Initiative (JTI).

The online discussion (working language: Ukrainian, with English translation) will take place on October 24, 2024, at 17:00 Kyiv time.

You can confirm your participation through Eventbrite

The two-day training session, which concluded the pilot component of our project for representatives of community media organizations, has come to an end. During these very intensive days in Lviv, participants discussed and practiced modern tools, models, and conditions for sustainable development. The training was part of the “Improving Media Resilience in Ukraine” project, implemented by IRMI in partnership with Fondation Hirondelle, with financial support from Swiss Solidarity.

The training was intended for the NGOs, who, as you may remember, were awarded mini-grants under the pilot project to implement professional development ideas. That was one of the components of the support to the NGOs and, we believe, to the media environment as a whole. What did the participants discuss, and what did the trainers teach? The training essentially consisted of two parts, allowing for a comprehensive discussion of all components of sustainable development and covering the tools to enhance the productivity. During the first part, the discusscusions were around the development of media organizations, the different stages, and the analysis of NGO capabilities. Then, the participants learned to seek resources, manage projects, and engage with communities and their audiences. There was a lot of practical work, discussions, and presentations – this is the “golden rule” of effective training, which always applies to our trainings.

A bit of participants’ feedback.

Natalia Voitovych, Ty-Media (Lviv):

An opportunity to structure my knowledge and understand the mistakes was valuable. I guess, a great result following these two days would be to sit down to writing a proposal for a new project!

Oksana Mospaniuk, Ivano-Frankivsk Association of Media Workers:

I was confident that I knew a lot, but I realized that this is not the case, despite our successful cases and programs. Now I am stepping out of my comfort zone. Thank you!

Kateryna Sereda, Mykolaiv Media Hub:

Grant work is not my professional duty, I am a journalist. But we have to do it to survive. We do a lot of things intuitively, unsystematically. That is why this training is so important for us – we can systematize our work, understand where to move, what to pay attention to when working on a project, how to make it high-quality and achieve results.

Maksym Zabelya, NUJU:

I’m especially grateful for the slew of practical exercises over these two days. This does not happen often. It is very important to hear how to position ourselves and evaluate what exactly we do and how we do that, what mistakes could be avoided. Special thanks for the great atmosphere during those two days!

IRMI offers journalists mini-grants as part of the project “Covering Social Cohesion – Strengthening the Capacities of Ukrainian Media.” The project will provide 15 mini-grants to journalists for covering topics related to social cohesion in their hromadas.

Important Information:

• Each grantee will receive €500 for preparing a comprehensive publication or story on the topic of social cohesion in their hromada (half of the grant will be provided after the selection, and the other half after the story has been published).
• Preference will be given to applicants whose work is based on their own research, as well as those who propose two stories covering different aspects of social cohesion.

During the preparation of the story, grantees will be supported by project mentors – a journalist and a sociologist. The latter will assist in developing research tools. Grantees will receive a total of four consultations.

The grant can be received by a journalist as an individual, as a sole proprietor, or by an editorial team.

When submitting an application, the journalist’s participation and the placement of the prepared story must be confirmed by the editor of the publication (a letter from the editor must be attached to the application).

The grant amount includes all tax deductions.

Who Can Participate? Journalists who work as permanent staff in officially registered multimedia outlets with a regular turnaround. Applications from public organizations, press services, and journalists who are currently not working will not be considered.

To participate in the program, please kindly fill out the form  linked here and attach a letter from the editor. The letter should be sent to: irmi.ukraine@gmail.com. The deadline for applications is October 20. Winners will be informed by October 30.

Grant support is provided as part of the project “Covering Social Cohesion – Strengthening the Capacities of Ukrainian Media,” developed and implemented by the NGO “Institute for Regional Media and Information” in partnership with UNESCO and with the support of the state of Japan. The program is part of UNESCO’s broader efforts to support the safety of journalists and freedom of expression in Ukraine. Our partners in the project are the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine and the public organization “Promotion of Intercultural Cooperation.”