No neutral journalism, Ukrainian War journalist says

A Ukrainian war reporter said she doesn't believe in neutral journalism, speaking at the 20th International News Festival in Perugia, Italy on April 17.

In a panel discussion on Ukrainian war reporting, Mariya Frey, member of the managing board of Ukraine’s national public broadcasting company Suspilne Ukraine, showed a photo of female journalist Oleksandra Novosel wearing a blue protective jacket, carrying a camera and recording equipment while shuttling through the "kill zone" only 20 kilometers away from the front line.

“Her base was bombed twice, and Russia was only trying to drive away the journalists,” Frey said.

The environment the speakers depict is suffocating, with about 40% of Ukrainian media institutions suffering heavy damage and requiring 500 million euros for recovery, one said, adding that the financial stress is even greater after the United States Agency for International Development cut funding to Ukraine.

The new equipment requirement in the Ukrainian work package for journalists is a washing machine, Freya added. When the artillery fire cuts off water and electricity, Ukrainian journalists have to take a shower and wash clothes in the office.

“Due to power outages, the journalist team even built shower rooms and bought washing machines in the office, which is our safe house,” she added.

Despite the challenges, Freya said independent media in Ukraine has won unprecedented trust, with Suspiline Ukraine's audience trust reaching 79%.

“People search for information like they search for food,” said panel speaker Ola Myrovych, CEO of Lviv Media Forum, an NGO supporting media development. “The media has become a critical infrastructure.”

Panel speaker Olha Syrotiuk, who coordinates a Ukraine programme at the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom said, “We have already won because we have preserved the news industry in the midst of gunfire. What is needed now is to invest in the media as a political infrastructure.”

Daria, a Ukrainian American journalist who attend the panel discussion and declined to give her full name, said because she had reported from the front lines in Ukraine, the talk resonated with her. During her time in Ukraine, she was shocked to find journalists training to distinguish the sound of drones and then returning to the office to write articles.

“Let Ukrainian journalists produce content, receive decent compensation, and live well,” Frey said.