LogoLogo
- BACK TO THE GFMD WEBSITE+ SUBSCRIBE TO THE GFMD IMPACT NEWSLETTER
  • Welcome to GFMD IMPACT
  • Learning meetings
    • 2025
      • From crisis to opportunity: reimagining media development in the MENA region (Apr. 2025)
        • Meeting Agenda
        • Literature Review
          • Lebanon
          • Palestine
          • Syria
          • MENA region
          • Frameworks, Guidelines and Recommendations
      • Connecting the dots: How to use existing mechanisms to protect media freedom online? (Jan. 2025)
    • 2024
      • GFMD Levant Regional Meeting on Media Support (Dec. 2024)
        • Mapping report
        • Key Recommendations
        • Meeting Agenda
        • Literature Review
          • Lebanon
          • Palestine
          • Syria
          • MENA region
          • Frameworks, Guidelines and Recommendations
      • Post-Summit of the Future Updates and Upcoming Opportunities (Nov. 2024)
      • UNDP–GFMD-SFCG Webinar: Media actors and the (de)construction of the ‘other’ (Oct. 2024)
        • Key insights from the meeting
        • Speakers
        • Literature review
      • Advocating for public interest media and journalism (Aug.-Sept.2024)
        • Donor Workshop: Donor Support for Locally Led Journalism and Media Advocacy (Sept. 2024)
          • Meeting agenda
        • Learning Call: Coordinating policy and advocacy working groups (Aug.2024)
          • Meeting agenda
        • Literature review
      • GFMD Regional Meeting for the wider European region (May 2024)
        • Mapping report
        • Meeting report
        • Meeting agenda
        • Literature review
      • GFMD Latin America & Caribbean Summit (May 2024)
        • Meeting report
        • Literature Review & Case Studies
      • Journalism Cloud Alliance Inaugural Meeting (Apr. 2024)
        • Meeting agenda
        • Speakers
        • Literature Review
        • Press release
      • PRIMED (Feb. - Mar. 2024)
        • Key takeaways
        • Workshop 1
          • Meeting agenda
          • Speakers
          • Literature review & case studies
        • Workshop 2
          • Meeting agenda
          • Speakers
          • Literature review & case studies
        • Workshop 3
          • Meeting agenda
          • Literature review & case studies
    • 2023
      • MENA regional meeting (Nov. 2023)
        • Lit review & case studies
        • Meeting report
      • National Journalism Funds (July 2023)
        • Lit' review & case studies
      • Philanthropy for Ukraine (Apr. '23)
      • Summit for Democracy (March. '23)
        • Media Freedom Cohort: key outcomes and findings
        • Thriving media for resilient democracies
        • Media viability in crisis
        • Other Summit for Democracy Events
      • National consultations on Media Viability (Jan.- Feb. '23)
        • Lebanon
        • Tunisia
        • Namibia
    • 2022
      • Challenges and perspectives for media support programs (Nov. '22)
      • World News Media Congress: Media Viability (Sept. '22)
        • Meeting Report
      • Investing in the future of independent journalism (Sept. '22)
        • Investing in independent media to strengthen democracy
        • Exploring new funding models: thinking brave and bold
        • Editorial sustainability: on ownership and media capture
        • Investing in people
        • Agenda
      • IAMCR 2022 (July '22)
      • World Press Freedom Day (Uruguay, May '22)
        • Principles for effective media assistance
        • Safety of journalists in Ukraine
      • Principles for effective mediadev Belgrade (April '22)
        • Coordination and local perspective
        • Suggestions for improving the support
        • Building digital competences
        • Positive examples
      • MFC Global Conference for Media Freedom (9 Feb. '22)
        • Sustainability & viability
          • How is sustainability defined and measured?
          • Cross-cutting themes
          • Achieving sustainability and viability
          • Initiatives to support media sustainability: an overview for donors and policy
          • Literature review
          • Meeting agenda
        • Renewing the principles for effective media support
          • Process of renewing the principles, development and pathways to implementation
          • Three pillars identified in the consultative process so far
          • Donor perspective- improved partnership
          • Improvements that would benefit the principles process
          • Moving forward with the Principles for Effective Media Development
        • Participation in other MFC events
      • Principles for effective mediadev (Jan. '22)
    • 2021
      • Theories of change & impact measurement (March '21)
        • Meeting agenda
        • Case studies
          • Theories of change in media and governance programmes
          • PRIMED - Protecting Independent Media for Effective Development
          • Measuring the impact of investigative reporting
        • Introduction to GFMD IMPACT
        • Feedback
      • Disinformation - Media support (June '21)
        • Introduction (efficacy of MediaDev responses)
        • 1. Identification responses
        • 2. Responses aimed at producers and distributors
        • 3. Impacting production and distribution mechanisms
        • 4. Supporting the target audiences of disinformation campaigns
        • 5. Evaluating counter-disinformation programmes
          • The Challenges of Evaluating Countering Disinformation Programs: A Working Paper (June 2021)
          • Tips for evaluators
        • 6. Research on disinformation
        • Literature review
        • Feedback
        • Meeting agenda
      • Principles for effective mediadev (Dec. '21)
        • In quotes - What should the principles look like?
        • Feedback
  • Resource centre
  • Activities & services
    • OECD Development Co-operation Principles for Relevant and Effective Support to Media and the Information Environment
    • Help desk
      • Report: Informing the Initial Priorities of IFPIM
      • Literature review on pooled funds
        • IFPIM
    • Learning meetings
  • Policy & Learning Meetings
    • Workshop on Encryption and Media Freedom (June '23)
      • Workshop Report
      • Resources
    • Gender Equality in Media Regulation (May '22)
      • Meeting Report
      • Literature Review
  • RESOURCES
    • Latest data, trends and issues facing journalism and media
    • Guides for donors & funders
    • Declarations
      • Events w/recommendations
    • Policy briefs, working papers & primers
      • Disinformation
      • Gender Equality
      • MediaDev effectiveness
      • Sustainability & viability
      • ... by donors & funders
      • + how to produce a policy brief
    • Academic studies & papers
      • AI, regulation, legislation & design of platforms
      • Disinformation
        • Support to journalism
        • Media & information literacy and fact-checking
      • Ethics & independence
      • Evaluation
      • Gender Equality
      • Investigative journalism
        • Collaborative journalism
      • Journalism, democracy & governance
      • Journalism training
      • MediaDev effectiveness
      • Sustainability & viability
      • Thematic reporting
    • Research & reports
      • AI, regulation, legislation & design of platforms
      • Disinformation
        • Support to journalism
        • Media & information literacy and fact-checking
      • Ethics & independence
      • Evaluation
      • Exiled media
      • Gender Equality in Media Development
      • Investigative journalism
      • Investment & innovation
      • Journalism, democracy & governance
      • Journalism training
      • MediaDev effectiveness
      • Media in fragile contexts
      • Sustainability & viability
        • Business models & start-ups
        • Support for Ukranian Media
      • Thematic reporting
    • Case studies
      • Disinformation
      • Gender Equality
      • Impact measurement, evaluation & learning
        • PRIMED learning questions
        • Measuring social impact
      • Investigative journalism
      • Investment & innovation
      • Research Programmes
      • Sustainability & viability
    • Articles
      • AI, regulation, legislation & design of platforms
      • Data & indicators
      • Ethics & independence
      • Disinformation
        • Support to journalism
        • Media & information literacy and fact-checking
        • Gendered disinformation
      • Gender Equality
      • Investigative journalism
      • Journalism, democracy & governance
      • MediaDev effectiveness
      • Media in fragile contexts
      • Sustainability & viability
        • Business models and start-ups
        • Support for Ukrainian Media
      • Thematic reporting
    • Podcasts
      • Sustainability & viability
    • Evaluation & impact reports
      • Disinformation
      • Emergency & crisis funding
      • Media & information literacy
    • Indicators
    • Data sources
    • Learning tools, interactive maps and applications
    • Glossary
    • Independent Media in Exile
  • OPPORTUNITIES
    • Calls for papers & submissions
    • Events
  • GFMD IMPACT BACKGROUND
    • Consultation (2019)
      • Recipient Perceptions of Media Development Assistance: A GFMD Study (Jan. 2019)
      • Donor feedback on GFMD’s concept for a media development policy Hub - (Sept. 2019)
    • Co-design (2020-2021)
    • Related projects and initiatives
      • Ariadne
      • BBC Media Action research and insight
      • CAMECO
      • CIMA
        • CIMA - Putting Research to Work: Scholars and Practitioners Discuss Greater Collaboration (2016)
      • Civitates
      • Communication Initiative
      • Council of Foundations
      • Dafne
      • Forum Media and Development - FoME (Germany)
      • Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation
      • Human Rights Funders Network
      • Humanitarian Journalism
      • Journalism Funders Forum
      • Media Impact Funders
      • Media Impact Project
      • Network for European Foundations (NEF)
      • OECD - DAC Network on Governance (GovNet)
      • Government agencies
  • SUBSCRIBE TO:
    • MediaDev Insider (GFMD IMPACT's newsletter)
    • GFMD's LinkedIn newsletter
  • ABOUT
    • About GFMD IMPACT & FAQs
    • Give feedback
    • GFMD IMPACT regional coordinators
    • GFMD IMPACT pool of consultants
    • About GFMD
    • GFMD coordination
    • GFMD homepage
Powered by GitBook
On this page

Was this helpful?

Export as PDF
  1. Learning meetings
  2. 2022
  3. World Press Freedom Day (Uruguay, May '22)

Safety of journalists in Ukraine

High-Level Session on the Safety of journalists in the Ukraine War (May 4, 2022)

PreviousPrinciples for effective media assistanceNextPrinciples for effective mediadev Belgrade (April '22)

Last updated 2 years ago

Was this helpful?

High-Level Session on the Safety of journalists in the Ukraine War (May 4, 2022)

Co-organisers: UNESCO and GFMD

Aim: Provide a forum for discussion on the current challenges facing journalists in Ukraine while presenting perspectives and experiences from media workers both in and outside the country.

Context: Free and independent media are crucial for ensuring that civilians have access to life-saving information, as well as debunking disinformation and rumors. This work is crucial, especially during times of conflict. In Ukraine, journalists have become frontline witnesses to the war in order to keep other Ukrainians and the international community informed while risking their lives. Furthermore, the conflict has also put the livelihood and viability of the media sector and its workers at risk, which is why a number of media outlets have had to stop their work.

Panelists

  • Sergiy Tomilenko, President of the National Union of Ukrainian Journalists (NUJU). The NUJU is an independent, non-governmental organization that unites journalists and other media workers who are engaged in journalism. Their current work includes covering the war in Ukraine and monitoring incidents with journalists during the conflict. This panel will be moderated by Tom Law, Head of Poli

  • Jeremy Dear, Deputy General Secretary of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ). The IFJ serves as a global voice for journalism, representing 600,000 media professionals in 187 national trade unions and associations in 146 countries.

  • Daryna Shevchenko, Co-founder and Editor of The Kyiv Independent. The Kyiv Independent is currently the main voice of Ukraine since Russia's invasion.

  • Rebecca Vincent, Director of Operations and Campaigns at Reporters Without Borders (RSF). RSF works to promote and defend press freedom around the world.

  • Teresa Ribeiro, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media and Co-founder and first elected President of the Executive Board of Obercom Media Observatory.

Moderator: Tom Law, Head of policy and Learning, GFMD.

The session provided a forum for discussions on the current challenges facing journalists in Ukraine, presented perspectives and experiences from media workers both within and outside of the country, as well as responses from the international community. The dialogue, moderated by Tom Law, Head of Policy and Learning from the GFMD, included participation of international and regional organizations, NGO’s and the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU).

Ms Teresa Ribeiro, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, highlighted the importance of the work of journalists in reporting on the war:

First, please allow me to pay tribute to all journalists working in Ukraine. Imagine if we didn’t have those journalists in place, we would know nothing of what is going on the ground. [Their work] allows the collection of evidence-based facts, that can be used later to be presented to accountability mechanisms and courts. What they are doing is extremely important. - Teresa Ribeiro, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media

The issue of economic stability is very important for us, and it’s our responsibility to help Ukrainian journalists and the media to provide information to Ukrainian citizens. - Sergiy TomilenkoPresident of the Nation Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU)

In this regard, Ms Rebecca Vincent, Director of Operations and Campaigns of Reporters Without Borders (RWB), highlighted the velocity of the reaction of the international community in response to the crisis, and in particular mentioned the rapid outreach and support provided to Ukrainian journalists at the very start of the crisis.

In addition, the conflict is also threatening the future livelihood and viability of the media sector and its workers, as a number of media outlets have had to stop their work. Indeed, Ms Daryna Shevchenko, Co-founder of The Fix and CEO of the Kyiv Independent, stressed that Ukrainian newsrooms should be funded for the long term, so they have the time and possibility to adapt to the changing circumstances.

Ukrainian newsrooms have to be provided with a runway: they have to be funded for the long-qterm, where they don’t have to worry about paying monthly salaries for a while, and can take the time to adapt to their new circumstances.Daryna ShevchenkoCo-founder of The Fix and CEO of the Kyiv IndependentThe information warfare is not just online. We’ve seen the bombing of at least 12 TV towers. This has one aim: to deny citizens access to reliable information. […] It’s not easy to combat such disinformation, but one of the things that the international community needs to do is to enable the resources to develop fact-checking initiatives, and in the long run to promote media and information literacy for citizens to recognize disinformation. - Jeremy Dear, Deputy General Secretary of the International Federation for Journalists (IFJ)

The safety and security of all journalists to report freely are essential to ensure that the world understands the reality and facts of the ongoing war, including the humanitarian consequences. We stand in solidarity with all journalists and independent media covering Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. The greater the threat to Ukrainian journalists’ lives, livelihoods, and ability to do their jobs, the greater will be our efforts to support them. - Tom Law, Head of Policy and Learning, Global Forum for Media Development quoting from the Perugia Declaration for Ukraine

The following text is taking from the Unesco article summarising the session. For the full summary see: ""

Free and independent media are critical for ensuring civilians have access to potentially lifesaving information and debunking disinformation and rumors, particularly in times of conflict. Journalists are frontline witnesses to the war in Ukraine, risking their lives to keep their fellow citizens and the international community informed. Indeed, since the start of the war in Ukraine, UNESCO’s Director-General has , who have died in the exercise of their work to inform the world of the realities of war.

In his concluding remarks, Tom Law called for increased support of independent media and journalists in Ukraine, notably through the signature of the . Launched at the International Journalism Festival on April 9, 2022, the declaration calls for action from the international community to stand in solidarity with journalists in Ukraine and commit to intensifying efforts to support journalists in conflict zones. The declaration has already been signed by 11 Ukrainian media organizations and 204 international media organizations.

For the full Unesco article summarising the session see: ""

UNESCO organizes a session on Safety of Journalists in Ukraine War on the occasion of WPFD 2022
officially condemned the killing of 9 journalists
Perugia Declaration for Ukraine
UNESCO organizes a session on Safety of Journalists in Ukraine War on the occasion of WPFD 2022
UNESCO organizes a session on Safety of Journalists in Ukraine War on the occasion of WPFD 2022
Logo