Resources for Ukraine
For funding opportunities, visit the GFMD website. For crisis and emergency funding, see Crisis/emergency funding in the left-hand menu. For a Ukrainian translation of this Guide, see the Ukrainian MediaDev Fundraising Guide.
Logistical Support
UA Media Support Centre Chatbot
The Fix, Reporters Without Borders, the Media Development Foundation, JNomics and the Kyiv Independent have launched a chatbot and a hotline for media organizations and journalists to help find housing, get equipment, find grants and career opportunities, and learn how to work in the wartime.
Help for filling out funding applications
Media industry publication The Fix is connecting media to other donors and/or helping with grant applications so that media staff in Ukraine don’t have to spend time on paperwork. You can contact them by writing to partnerships@thefix.media.
Solidarity centers for journalists in Ukraine
National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU) is launching a network of journalistic solidarity centers to help media workers during the war. These centers are open in Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk and Chernivtsi, in the headquarters of the regional organisations of NUJU. The centers are open to all journalists operating in Ukraine. They can be used as newsrooms, but will also be used to provide training for journalists. In case of emergency, journalists evacuated from the fighting territories will be provided with timely material and financial assistance.
Ukrainian and foreign journalists who are in the war zone or any other region of Ukraine will be able to contact the Centers for support.Small office spaces are available for journalists, with internet connection. The three centres will also serve as distribution points for protective equipment and first aid kits.
The project is implemented with the support of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and in partnership with the Independent Media Union of Ukraine (IMTUU). Resources to assist Ukrainian media workers are provided by international partners – journalists’ associations and unions, media companies and institutions.
How to contact the Journalistic Solidarity Centers?
Fill in the form on: https://bit.ly/3JcQFhK
Email: jsolidarity2022@gmail
Hotline (text message): +380681266674
The coordinators of the centers are Bohddana Stelmakh (Lviv Center), Victoria Plakhta (Ivano-Frankivsk) and Volodymyr Bober (Chernivtsi).
Lviv Media Forum
The Lviv Media Forum is providing 24/7 support to the Ukrainian editorial boards and journalists during the crisis.
Assisting in search of evacuation possibilities for journalists and their families;
Shelter places in Lviv that provide a roof over one’s head, shower, laundering facilities, and basic food supplies;
Workplaces, internet connection, and device charger stations;
Professional mental health support that includes personal appointments;
Assisting in search of gear equipment and means of personal protection;
Financial support for content creation and internet hosting;
Gathering information about additional needs of editorial boards and searching for means to fulfill them;
Providing work equipment for editorial boards;
Ready-to-use textual and visual guideline assets to maintain information hygiene;
Lviv Media Center (20 Ruska Street) coordinates foreign reporters and provides local fixers.
See above for information on the organisation's digital support.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
RSF Lviv Press Freedom Centre
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has, in partnership with the Ukrainian Institute of Mass Information, launched a Press Freedom Centre in Lviv, Ukraine.
The centre will, amongst other things, be providing training in physical safety and first aid to journalists attending in person or by video-conference.
The Assistance Desk of RSF
The Assistance Desk of Reporters Without Borders (RSF) provides financial and administrative assistance to professional journalists and citizen-journalists who have been the victims of reprisals because of their reporting. RSF helps:
the victims of violence connected with their reporting to obtain appropriate medical care
wrongfully prosecuted journalists to pay their legal fees
threatened journalists to find a safe refuge journalists to resolve their most urgent needs if they decide to flee abroad because of threats and persecution
families of journalists to cope with the consequences of the reprisals to which their loved-ones have been exposed.
When the results of its research allows, RSF may also support applications for international protection or asylum submitted by professional journalists and citizen-journalists who have fled their country.
Support to media outlets and NGOs
RSF is also in a position to support the activities of media outlets and local NGOs that defend the media or freedom of information. This assistance is intended to help media outlets and NGOs to maintain or restore operational capacity in the event of problems (such as attacks, ransacking and vandalism). It may also contribute to capacity-building and development:
by facilitating training for their employees or members
by supporting campaigns and lobbying for freedom of information and for the protection of information providers.
The processing of applications for support and capacity-building requires more examination and preparation, and is therefore not as fast as the processing of applications by media outlets and NGOs that have been the victims of attacks or vandalism.
ABA Center for Human Rights
The American Bar Association - Center for Human Rights provides legal technical expert assistance to HRDs activists/lawyers. Please see contact: Service@americanbar.org for more info.
Hungarian Helsinki Committee
The Hungarian Helsinki Committee is providing professional and free legal assistance, from counselling to representation, to Ukrainian refugees . On February 24 the Hungarian government recognised the vast majority of people fleeing Ukraine as eligible for temporary protection. Read more about the decree here. You can contact the Committee at ukrainecrisis@helsinki.hu or facebook.com/helsinkibizottsag.
Katapult
Katapult, an independent magazine with offices located in north-eastern Germany, is offering editorial office space for Ukrainian journalists who have fled the country. The company is offering 2000 m² of office space plus desks, computers, servers & accommodation.
People In Need
Czech-based NGO People In Need can help to cover costs for relocations and provide support regarding visa and invitations. Their team is mostly working in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, both in the territory under the control of the Ukrainian government and in non-government controlled areas. The aid focuses on those in the greatest need, who have often lost everything. The organisation provides financial assistance to buy the basic necessities of life, hygiene kits, or food parcels with flour, oil, salt and sugar.
In cooperation with partner organisation People in Need Slovakia, the organisation has had a team working on the Slovak-Ukrainian border since 26th February. Humanitarian workers in Ukraine near Velky Berezny—where the situation is critical— built facilities for people waiting for border control. You can read more about their efforts here.
Media in Central Europe offer to host displaced journalists
Leading independent media in Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia, who form part of the International Press Institute’s (IPI) Central Europe Independent Media Network, have offered to support displaced journalists who may end up in their countries by hosting them in their newsrooms.
IPI's partners have already offered support in different ways, for example by promoting fundraising efforts to support Ukrainian media, and in the case of Gazeta Wyborcza by hosting refugees in their offices.
"Newsrooms have also offered to provide working space, use of technology and editorial resources to displaced journalists. In some cases, the newsrooms would be able to host multiple journalists, allowing small teams to stay together. The situation remains uncertain and it is not clear how many journalists will be forced to flee and where they will move to, but IPI is coordinating the offers of support to ensure it can be given when needed."
Journalists from Ukraine or Russia who wish to be put in contact with one of the partner newsrooms can email info@ipi.media. They are also happy to hear from other newsrooms who would be happy to host displaced journalists.
Moving personal protective equipment across borders
For journalists operating in hostile environments, having the correct safety equipment - such as helmets and flak jackets - can be the difference between life and death. Nowhere has this been clearer than in Ukraine, where personal protective equipment (PPE) is in short supply, and where journalists have been gravely - and even fatally - injured throughout the country.
Unfortunately, PPE can be expensive and difficult for many journalists to source. The rules governing its transportation across borders can also pose challenges due to the variety of laws across the region.
The Thomson Reuters Foundation and the Committee to Protect Journalists, with the support of pro bono lawyers across Europe, developed a practical guide to help journalists quickly understand what PPE can be moved from Moldova, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland into Ukraine.
Open call for relocation costs coverage
EU4 Independent Media together with the Media Development Foundation are collecting applications to cover relocation costs. It is designed both for the editorial office and for individuals and journalists. The main task is to preserve them in journalism and in production.
You can apply by filling out the form here (in Ukrainian):
Safety
NSJU hotline and committee to support journalists
The National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NSJU) has put together a group "to monitor the situation and coordinate the actions of NSJU members during the war between Russia and Ukraine."
All hotlines (communication channels) are open for members of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine and all media outlets. Reception of messages is accepted:
in the Facebook messengers of the NSJU page, the personal accounts of the Chairman and the First Secretary of the NSJU; and to the e-mail addresses of the Union oblik@nsju.org and spilka@nsju.org.
Media Safety Advisory for Journalists Covering Armed Conflict in Ukraine (IFJ)
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has published a media safety advisory with safety tips for journalists who will be covering the fighting from the front line, while travelling to and from war zones as well as in news rooms.
Essential Steps for Journalists in Emergency Situations (GIJN)
Journalists receiving threats may have to flee their homes in a matter of a few hours. Conflicts, though, are often foreseeable and that’s why those in fragile regions should have an exit plan in place and crucial documents ready to go. These documents will not just help reporters with travel, when needed, but may also help them to move to a safer region or country. The Global Investigative Journalism Network has listed what documents to gather as well as which organizations support journalists with relocation.
IREX - SAFE
IREX’s flagship program Securing Access to Free Expression (SAFE) enables media practitioners and social communicators to work as safely as possible in closed and closing spaces.
SAFE equips individuals with the means to resiliently continue their important work, and manage—as well as mitigate—the risks and threats they face in their day-to-day work. SAFE addresses safety through the unique lens of digital identity, physical awareness, and psychosocial care by delivering trainings in five regions spanning the globe.
Ukraine Conflict – Resources for Journalists and News Organisations (WAN-IFRA)
The conflict in Ukraine presents numerous challenges to local and international journalists and news organisations in how to cover the Russian military invasion safely and securely. A number of media support organisations are making resources freely available to help guide journalists on the ground and news editors working from outside the country. This article by the World Association of News Publisher presents key resources to guide journalists and news organisations to safely provide coverage of the Ukraine crisis.
Physical Safety: War Reporting
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has compiled recommendations to mitigate risks when reporting from the front lines of a conflict. "All war correspondents should have hostile environment training, up-to-date medical training, and the correct safety equipment before going on assignment in a conflict zone."
Arrest and Detention
"Covering certain stories–such as human rights abuses, corruption, or civil unrest–can place you at a higher risk of arrest and detention, particularly in countries with authoritarian regimes or with a heavy militarized and police presence."
Read more about CPJ's safety advice in case of arrest or detention.
NUJ: journalists' war zone safety
The UK and Northern Ireland National Union of Journalists has published a list of useful information and links for journalists reporting on events in Ukraine.
Telegram course: Reacting to a chemical attack
Thomson Foundation has created a unique easy to access course for local journalists available via the encrypted messaging service Telegram with the help of chemical and biological weapons expert Hamish de Bretton-Gordon.
‘Reacting to a chemical attack’ is designed to take just 15 minutes or less on a smartphone. The course will guide users on the types of chemical and biological weapons that have been used in recent years and how to recognise them. Typical symptoms are listed alongside what to do in the event of a chemical attack.
The course is designed for local journalists in particular as they may not have access to the safety experts and kit (such as gas masks) that are available to staff working for large international news organisations.
The course is available only on smartphones via Telegram. It is available in both Ukrainian and English.
Ukrainian version:
In the Telegram app, search: TFT01uk_bot
Or phone click: t.me/TFT01uk_bot (Telegram account required)
English version:
In the Telegram app, search: TFT01en_bot
Or phone click: t.me/TFT01en_bot (Telegram account required)
Digital Safety
The Fix: Connecting publications with tech support providers
Media industry publication The Fix is ensuring that Ukrainian media receive tech support "by directly connecting publications with providers who have offered their services, helping migrate hosting, boost storage, debug sites etc." For assistance please contact partnerships@thefix.media.
Lviv Media Forum
The Lviv Media Forum is providing 24/7 support to the Ukrainian editorial boards and journalists during the crisis.
Cybersecurity consulting to protect the Ukrainian media space
Unblocking Facebook and Instagram accounts, providing further assistance to prevent social media assets from being banned
For information about the organisation's logistical support see below.
Facebook
Facebook has established a Special Operations Center to respond to activity across the platform in real time. It is staffed by experts from across the company, including native speakers, to allow them to closely monitor the situation so they can remove content that violates their Community Standards faster. They have also launched a new feature in Ukraine that allows people to lock their profile to provide an extra layer of privacy and security protection over their information.
Last week the FB Media Partnerships Team launched a Journalist Safety Campaign which includes a new web destination for Journalist Safety and guides available in multiple languages that explain the content in the attachment (ex: setting up 2FA, reporting harassment, etc.). These guides will be updated as the content is updated moving forward.
The Meta Journalism Project offers Training and Support Resources: Equip yourself with resources to help mitigate digital safety risks and find organisations that can address other security concerns you may face — including legal issues, mental health and physical safety.
Pro-bono protection against DDOS attacks
If you are the victim of a DDOS attack, the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) can refer your organisation to Cloudflare, an American web infrastructure and website security company that provides content delivery network and DDoS mitigation services. Cloudflare offers pro-bono protections against DDOS attacks for organisations referred by NED. For assistance, please contact ukraine@ned.org.
Free DW Resources to Avoid Disinformation and Circumvent Censorship
DW Freedom (Twitter), a project of Deutsche Welle highlights complex issues surrounding free speech, free expression and a free press around the world. In connection with the ongoing crisis in Ukraine they recommend a series of articles they have published on circumventing censorship and moving unrecognised on the internet.
DW Innovation also recommends accessing InfoMigrants, “a news and information site for migrants to counter misinformation at every point of their journey: in their country of origin, along the route, or in the places where they hope to start a new life.” The site is a joint-venture of DW, ANSA and France Médias Monde.
No Ukrainian or Russian language service has been established yet, but the war in Eastern Europe is already being covered in the English language news.
Digital safety advice from CPJ
"Journalists should protect themselves and their sources by keeping up to date on the latest digital security news and threats such as hacking, phishing, and surveillance. Journalists should think about the information they are responsible for and what could happen if it falls into the wrong hands, and take measures to defend their accounts, devices, communications, and online activity."
See more on CPJ's Digital Safety Kit. You can also read their article about how to prepare for internet shut-downs.
Satellite Communication Threats
Risks are inherent in using any form of communication tool when speaking truth to power. Satellite communication tools are often rolled out quickly during crises as they provide critical access and are difficult – but not impossible – to block. However, the risks of using these tools must be considered.
Internews has published a guide discussing threats which are widely applicable to 2-way satellite communications devices, such as satellite phones and pagers, Inmarsat BGANs, Starlinks, and VSAT terminals.
Internews Tech Support
Internews can support partners with anti-virus software, DDoS protection, hosting, VPNs and any ad hoc tech-related requests. Please reach out to UA-Partner-Tech-Support@internews.org if you have any questions or if any of the tech services below are of interest:
Anti-virus software - ESET: This is anti-virus software that works to protect your device against cyber intrusions such as malware attacks and data breaches. One ESET license can be installed on five different devices. Valid for three years.
Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) Protection - Cloudflare: Cloudflare provides robust security to enterprises that are targets of DDoS and other cyber-attacks. Project Galileo has made that same security available for at-risk public interest websites at no cost. In an effort to keep participants safe from potential backlash, Cloudflare will not publicly announce sites involved in Project Galileo without explicit permission.
Hosting - Greenhost/eQualitie: Internews has limited available credits for web hosting, which may include services like migration or set up of tools, for example Nextcloud or Mattermost. Specific hosting requirements will be assessed.
Virtual Private Network (VPN) - TunnelBear: TunnelBear encrypts your internet connection and protects your privacy, which prevents hackers or other nefarious actors from viewing or accessing your browsing activity, hiding your real IP address, and helps you to bypass internet censorship. Valid for one year.
Five Ways to Stay Online During a Government Internet Shutdown
International nonprofit journalism organisation Rest of World has spoken to experts in privacy and security to get their advice on the tools and tactics for skirting shutdowns.
From the article, "Experts advise that if you live in a place where shutdowns are a risk — and that risk is spreading — be prepared. Download VPNs and other apps; be sure to have a contingency plan, including a phone number that doesn’t rely on the internet to connect; and have a phone tree of important people to call should something happen."
Open Technology Fund (OTF) Rapid Response Fund
To resolve digital emergencies, OTF's Rapid Response Fund works with partners who are highly sensitive to and well-aware of the specific needs and challenges of human rights activists, journalists, and the Internet freedom community.
Listed below are trusted service partners that offer technological services:
Tierra Común
Terra Común is a Latin American network made up of a group of professionals and experts in free technologies, computer protection and training that promotes a comprehensive approach to privacy and digital security.
Their main objective is for the people they work with to manage their own protection without intermediaries, without expensive software licenses, and gradually strengthening their own capacities.
Tierra Común provides the following services:
Advice: Consulting on digital security diagnosis and risk analysis and design of protocols and regulations in computing
Information backup
Communications receipt
Trainings: Basic and advanced computer self-defense
Technical support
Web services: Website creation and security audit
Languages supported by Tierra Comun:
English
Spanish
Reach out to Terra Común here: infosec@tierracomun.org.
Greenhost
Greenhost offers web hosting from small, simple websites to complex setups with multiple Virtual Private Servers (VPSes) using 100% Dutch wind energy.
Greenhosts' web hosting services includes:
Clustered web hosting
Cloud platform
Deflect anti-DDoS protection
Infrastructure as a Service (IAAS)
Real-time Monitoring
Please reach out to this dedicated address for rapid response requests: rr@greenhost.net.
Qurium Media Foundation (QMF)
Qurium Media Foundation (QMF) is a Swedish digital forensic group that offers Rapid Response support. The pro-bono service is dedicated to independent media, investigative journalists and human rights activists in Internet repressive regimes that have been targets of digital attacks, or are likely to become a target due to its scope of work, and are in need of immediate support.
The support that Qurium assists with is classified in thee categories:
Preventative measures:
Sanitation and audit of at-risk websites – cleaning and upgrading outdated and insecure websites to improve resilience against attacks
Secure Hosting of at-risk websites – 12 months hosting with Virtualroad.org, including DDoS mitigation and forensics investigations of targeted attacks
Mentorship – a 3-6 months remote mentorship program to strengthen and improve existing organizational procedures in digital security. Available in English, Spanish and Arabic.
Customized support during special events – secure hosting and close monitoring of websites of public interest under election periods, military coups, and situations of civil unrest.
During attack:
Mitigation of ongoing attacks against websites, including:
DDoS attacks
Scanning and probing
Brute-force attacks
Unauthorized access
Post attack:
Secure Hosting – 12 months hosting with Virtualroad.org, including DDoS mitigation and forensics investigations of targeted attacks.
Sanitation of compromised website – identification and removal of malware/backdoors as well as insecure code to prevent future attacks.
Circumvention of Internet blocking – deployment of block-resilient mirror of blocked WordPress website (Bifrost)
Digital forensics – forensics investigation with focus on modus-operandi and attribution of targeted attacks, including:
Website attacks (DDoS, unauthorized access, scanning, probing)
Targeted phishing
Internet blocking of websites and web applications – forensics investigation of Internet blocking with focus on how the blocking is taking place, by whom and by which means.
Compromised mobile phones – digital forensics investigation of compromised mobile phones
Apply for Rapid Response support here.
Qurium may offer services that are not listed above, depending on its scope and the human resources available. If your needs don’t fit within the list of services, feel free to send an encrypted email to rr@virtualroad.or.
Totem
Developed in collaboration by Greenhost and Free Press Unlimited, Totem is an online learning platform that offers educational courses about digital security and privacy, and related tools and tactics for journalists, activists and human rights defenders in a safe, online classroom environment.
The Totem platform is built using the open-source Open edX MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) software. The platform has been carefully designed to be safe and privacy-preserving by collecting minimal data about its users and also using secure, modern encryption to prevent any eavesdropping.
The following are featured courses from Totem:
Risk analysis
Human rights documentation
Device security
How to protect your identity online
How to be a journalist and manage your online privacy
Tools for journalists to help identify their online abusers and the tactics that they use
Why field research matters
Going undercover on Instagram
How to bypass internet censorship
Good password management
Secure messaging apps
Phishing attacks
How the internet works
View all 63 courses here.
Fact-checking
Public spreadsheet for debunked information on Ukraine
Bellingcat has published an article on how to document and debunk footage from the frontlines and compiled a public spreadsheet debunking reported incidents.
Digging Into the Disinformation Campaign Behind Russia’s War on Ukraine (GIJN)
In this article, Nobel Peace Prize winner and Rappler CEO Maria Ressa interviews disinformation expert Jane Lytvynenko about Russian state propaganda and the war in Ukraine. Rowan Philip at the Global Investigative Journalism Network writes: "We now know that the US war in Vietnam was predicated on false claims about an attack on an American warship in the Gulf of Tonkin. Likewise, the 2003 invasion of Iraq was justified using choreographed — and ultimately baseless — claims that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction. Has a similar campaign of disinformation been used too as a pretext for Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine?"
GIJN starter-toolkit to track Russia around the world
"Russia’s war against Ukraine has sparked an explosion of interest in what Moscow is up to around the world."
GIJN has therefore assembled a starter-toolkit to help journalists track Russian assets, political interference, and disinformation in their countries. They have gathered over 30 useful sites from oligarch planes to sanctions trackers, plus tools for following Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Poynter - spotting fakes and fact-checking Ukraine
How to spot video and photo fakes as Russia invades Ukraine
A look at the techniques that journalists and other investigators use to verify whether images and videos are real and in accurate context.
#UkraineFacts
The International Fact-Checking Network is a unit of the Poynter Institute dedicated to bringing together fact-checkers worldwide. You can find verified facts and debunked disinformation on Ukraine on the #UkraineFacts page.
Read more about #UkraineFacts in this article from the Reuters Institute.
Free DW Resources to help you stay clear of disinformation and circumvent censorship on Ukraine
The Deutsche Welle Innovation Team has published a list of free DW resources to help readers stay clear of questionable content and/or help others access much needed information. They also have a dedicated fact checking team that “debunks, explains and uses in-depth research techniques to separate fact from fiction.” They already have and will continue to run special posts on fakes, propaganda, and the war.
Q&A: International Laws governing armed conflict
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has published an article detailing the legal aspects of ongoing situation in Ukraine. See Russia, Ukraine & International Law: On Occupation, Armed Conflict and Human Rights
Russian Social Media Usage
Foreign Policy has mapped how a network of pro-Kremlin propaganda social media channels are being used to 'massage' the war online on Putin’s terms.
"Telegram may be a fairly marginal social media channel in the West, but—unlike Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube—it is one free of restrictions for state-backed propaganda campaigns in Russia, where it remains popular."
Longer-term and global context facts on Ukraine
Our World in Data provides a list of charts, data and resources that you may find useful to understand the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The site does not publish any data on the ongoing war in Ukraine, but instead provides longer-term and global context on military resources, conflicts, energy production and trade, political regimes and other relevant topics.
Global Conflict Monitor
This tool, created by Brazilian Núcleo Jornalismo, an initiative that covers the impact of social networks on people's lives, "monitors a curated list of accounts on Twitter in order to increase discovery of reliable, actionable social media information about the war in Ukraine in 2022. By having a curated list, the tool helps to filter out the noise of disinformation, misinformation, memes and plagiarism surrounding the conflict."
Map of fact-checking initiatives in Europe
The European Digital Media Observatory (EDMO) "brings together fact-checkers, media literacy experts, and academic researchers to understand and analyse disinformation, in collaboration with media organisations, online platforms and media literacy practitioners."
EDMO has established a taskforce on disinformation about the war in Ukraine focusing on EU and EEA countries, as well as the western Balkans, "collecting and sorting relevant material covering various aspects such as fact-checking, investigations, rapid analysis, and research on disinformation campaigns, as well as specific media literacy initiatives."
The taskforce curates a periodically updated list of fact-checking articles that the EDMO’s network has published during the crisis.
EDMO has created a comprehensive “map” of EU-based initiatives and organizations that focus on fact-checking, verification, or open source intelligence (OSINT). For now, their repository features:
an actual map with names and locations of relevant organizations (zoomable)
a table with extended information (sortable, searchable)
an editorial section featuring short portraits of individual operations
Understanding the Laws Relating to "Fake News" in Russia
This guide is intended to provide user-friendly, practical guidance for journalists and newsrooms seeking to understand the Russian “fake news” laws and how they’ve been applied to local and international press. This was co-produced by the Committee to Protect Journalists and the Thomson Reuters Foundation, with pro bono legal research provided by Hogan Lovells.
Reporting Tips and Tools
How-to Guides: Reporting on the Ukraine Crisis
This IJNet article summarises an interview with Ostap Yarysh, an international reporter with Voice of America’s Ukrainian Service based in Washington, D.C., and Tom Mutch, a freelance journalist covering crime and conflict on the ground in Kyiv. The article provides tips for reporting on Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
In the age of information warfare, journalists must take extra precautions when reporting breaking news. The internet is full of user-generated content, dubious information and claims from unverified sources. Journalism.co.uk has rounded up a list of tools and resources for journalists who cover the Ukrainian war either for their publication or on social media.
Reuters Institute have published an article with tips from the 'Guardian' on live-blogging and covering breaking news on Ukraine. "Head of Editorial Innovation Chris Moran explains how he and his team have shaped the newspaper’s live blog to meet users’ needs."
"For journalists reporting on the war in Ukraine, awareness of historical context is particularly important. Vladimir Putin’s justification for the conflict is partly based on a misrepresentation of history, laid out in his infamous hour-long speech on 21 February as well as in a piece he wrote in July 2021. For journalists without an extensive background of reporting on Ukraine, these may be difficult issues to navigate." Find out more about how to report on Ukraine's history in this Reuters institute interview with Dr. Olivia Durand.
"Reporting violations in an active conflict, previously a daunting and life threatening task, has now become easier thanks to open-source reporting techniques. Thanks to much improved cameras in mobile phones, the digital media being uploaded by combatants themselves to social media and other sites online is now of a very high resolution. Couple that with the availability of high-quality satellite imagery and digital tools that let you sift through the masses of data being uploaded online, and reporters enjoy a much greater ability to investigate war crimes as they happen." Find out more on how to investigate war crimes in this GIJN article.
Resources for following the Ukraine Crisis
Following the news of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is difficult, especially if you’re not already extremely knowledgeable about the situation. Turning to Twitter may be the automatic reaction, but it’s not necessarily that helpful: The non-chronological-by-default timeline means news is presented out of order (here’s how you can fix that, if you’d like). This article compiles Twitter lists, Telegram chats, dropped paywalls/products made free, fact-Checking tools, maps and useful translations.
Data Journalism
German Corrective has launched a live sanctions tracker providing daily updates on which embargoes are imposed on whom and answering readers' most important questions.
The Technology and Social Change Project at Harvard University’s Shorenstein Center is "tracking moves by major technology companies and governments to limit the flow of misinformation. This includes state sponsored misinformation and content removed at the behest of governments, as people worldwide flock to social media to receive updates of the rapidly unfolding violence."
The New York Times is tracking the Russian invasion of Ukraine through these maps.
Bellingcat is tracking the use of cluster bombs in Ukraine. "Social media images and videos have allowed Bellingcat – along with other conflict monitors and open source researchers – to geolocate the impact sites of several cluster munitions to civilian areas within Ukraine." They have also been able to determine the probable direction from which the missiles came, providing a clue as to who may have fired them.
Big foreign media are using incorrect terminology while covering RF's preudo-referendums - IMI
Some well-known foreign media are using incorrect terminology when covering the pseudo-referendums that Russia organized in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
Namely, some international media do not even use quotation marks when calling the sham election process a referendum or a vote. Among those are the Associated Press and AlJazeera.
Mental Health Resources
Protect yourself against trauma while reporting (podcast)
In this podcast, Journalism.co.uk discusses the impact of reporting the war in Ukraine with trauma therapist Olivia James.
"Journalists' mental health is at risk when the news cycle is dominated by death, destruction and uprooted lives. Trauma therapist Olivia James shares soothing techniques and aftercare tips for reporters covering the toughest of news stories."
Six tips to take care of your mental health while covering the war in Ukraine from afar
This article by Marina Adami from the Reuters Insitute offers tips to navigate the reporting of Ukraine and protect your mental health. "Expert Hannah Storm, founder of Headlines Network, advises reporters and editors on how to protect themselves while monitoring the conflict."
12 tips for covering traumatic stories remotely
An increasing numbers of journalists are suffering from the effect of covering the war in Ukraine remotely. This article from Journalism.co.uk suggests 12 tips for covering traumatic stories remotely. From avoiding graphic images to connecting with colleagues, Hannah Storm (founder and co-director of Headlines Network) provides tips from her from my years working in media safety and mental health.
IJN's Mental Health and Journalism Toolkit
The International Journalists' Network has collated ressources in this Mental Health Toolkit to address different aspects of the issue: from post-traumatic stress disorder to digital wellness.
Browse more of these articles and podcast here.
Leading Resilience: A Guide for Editors and News Managers on Working with Freelancers Exposed to Trauma
"A collaboration between ACOS Alliance and Dart Centre Asia Pacific, this guide is designed to help editors and managers understand and support their teams. It is divided into five sections covering both general information and specific suggestions and tips for working with freelancers."
This guide offers guidance on a numbers of key issues such as: culture of safety, exposition to trauma, resilience, risk of serious mental health issues.
Read more about the Dart Centre For Journalism & Trauma guide for editors and news managers working with freelancers exposed to trauma.
Reporting War
The Dart Center for Journalism & Trauma has put together this booklet, collecting recommendations for meeting the emotional challenges of covering war, from a group of seasoned veterans.
"While scores of journalists were confronting trauma and danger to cover the Iraq War, a group of seasoned veterans of such assignments took a brief break to gather at Bretton Woods, N.H., and talk about the emotional challenges raised by their duties in the field."
Also available in Ukrainian.
Tips for coping after reporting distressing and traumatic stories
"Journalists are generally resilient but they are not immune to trauma and distress, which Kinman said can lead to headaches, muscle tension, fatigue, intrusive thoughts, sleeping problems and nightmares. Some may miss deadlines because they can’t concentrate, or their time management skills may also deteriorate. They might experience panic attacks, anxiety, depression or substance abuse."
Read more about these tips compiled by the International Journalists' Network here.
Rory Peck Trust's Resilience Programme
Resilience Programme provides specialist trauma-informed training and access to psychological treatment, enabling freelance journalists to develop the skills they need to build resilience when exposed to conflict or covering traumatic events.
Providing a comprehensive mental health and psychosocial aid to the Ukrainian population
The Ukrainian-language Samopomich program was developed immediately after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine by the Federation Global Initiative on Psychiatry (FGIP) together with the Czech National Institute of Mental Health and provides a multi-faceted platform to help Ukraine deal with the psychological consequences of the war. The mental health and psychosocial support program includes a website with a wide variety of resources, that are further transmitted via social media help-lines (Facebook, telegram, Instagram). The program is managed by an international team of mental health experts with specific trauma-related expertise, and was developed in collaboration with several Ukrainian and foreign organizations.
Since August 1, 2022, they offer free of charge psychological counselling in Ukrainian language to the war-affected journalists and media professionals, with support of the Norwegian Union of Journalists. FGIP invites media organizations to disseminate information about this opportunity to their referral networks and partners.
For more information, please contact Julia Pievskaya: +380 50 305 91 69 or pievskaya@gmail.com
Read more here:
Monitoring Crimes Against Journalists
Institute for Mass Information recording crimes against the media
The Ukrainian Institute of Mass Information, a Kiev-based non-governmental organization whose objective is to defend journalists’ rights, to upgrade their professional skills and to consolidate press freedom in Ukraine, is monitoring and recording crimes against journalists and the media during the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.
Human Rights Watch on issues raised by Putin's invasion
European media director of Human Rights Watch Andrew Stroehlein outlines best practices and mistakes to avoid when reporting on issues such as war crimes against civilians, issues with the treatment of prisoners of war and the repression of free speech and of the media in Russia in this interview with the Reuters Institute.
IPI Ukraine War Press Freedom Tracker
The International Press Institute has launched a monitoring database, the Ukraine War Press Freedom Tracker, which systematically documents all attacks on journalists and restrictions on media freedom linked to the conflict in Ukraine, including in Russia.
Guide for Journalists on Documenting International Crimes
The Centre for Law and Democracy and News Media Europe launched the Guide for Journalists on How to Document International Crimes, with concrete recommendations for journalists and editors on how to capture information about international crimes so that it may be admitted as evidence in court.
The Guide provides advice about several legal issues in a way that is accessible to non-legal experts, including:
Privileges regarding the protection of confidential sources and not having to testify
What constitutes an international crime
Different types of evidence and basic rules regarding admissibility of evidence
How to gather information in a way that promotes its legal reliability and tips on doing this
Interviewing victims and witnesses
The Guide also includes a section on Resources with links to various written documents, apps and civil society organisations which can provide support.
The Guide was inspired by the invasion of Ukraine, but it is not tailored to that conflict and is, instead, applicable globally.
The Guide is available in English here, Burmese here, Ukrainian here and Russian here.
Further Reading
Russia’s fighting a media war, too, with platforms, regulators, and business partners
From ad monetization to cable carriage, there’s a battle going on over the ways Russia gets its messaging out. Most of the international community is treating Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a gross violation of its sovereignty and international law. (Even the famously neutral Swiss are on board.) But the response being summoned isn’t just about economic sanctions or sending weapons — it’s also happening at the level of media.
Reuters Institute's Twitter threads
Reuters Institute is updating several Twitter threads:
A Twitter thread with resources and news articles that may be useful for journalists as Russia attacks Ukraine.
A Twitter thread looking at how journalists are documenting war (including context, resources on how to report on the ground).
Research of local media needs during wartime (June 2022)
The purpose of the Lviv Media Forum research is to assess the needs of the media, how to provide for them, how managers plan further work, and how the media can preserve themselves and their audience at this time.
Of the 61 editorial boards Ukrainian media interviewed: 53 identified financial stability as a necessity, 10 have urgent requests for security and psychological needs, 9 are facing acute personnel issues, 3 stated that they needed to improve living conditions.
The research outlines:
Challenges: safety, reputational, informational, and administrative.
Urgent: needs: financial, equipment, safety, personnel, and psychological support.
The role of the media in wartime.
Conclusions and recommendations.
For more information, on needs and data related to the Ukrainian media market, please contact the CEO of Lviv Media Forum, Olga Myrovych: myrovych@lvivmediaforum.com
BBC Brave New Media podcast
Brave New Media is a podcast featuring journalists and editors from around the world working to remain independent while working in fragile spaces. It explores the challenges faced by the media environment and what needs to happen so that it can become a tool that contributes to the public good.
The second episode features the husband-and-wife team behind Zaborona in Ukraine, Roman Stepanovych and Katerina Sergatskova. Staff at this well-known independent online media outlet have had to turn into war reporters almost overnight, documenting atrocities as they live through them, dispelling misinformation and rumours and sharing critical information, even as the rest of the world begins to lose interest. The BBC's Allan Little reflects on their experiences. It's available here:
Lviv Media Forum has created a platform for finding partnerships
The Nibly app was designed to facilitate the interaction between media professionals from different countries. You no longer need to look for a specialist in six handshakes — just view a profile in Nibly and start to chat.
Currently, this is the best app for journalists, media workers and those involved. You can find projects and jobs for journalists, editors, media managers, translators, photographers, videographers, PR, SMM, etc.
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