Journalists from more than 20 regional media outlets in Odesa, Mykolaiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Dnipro regions participated in training sessions on media and elections held in late October and early November this year. First two sessions took place in Odesa and Dnipro cities.
The main aim of these regional events is to provide a platform for Ukrainian journalists where they could learn and exchange their knowledge and experiences on media coverage of elections, to reflect on the main challenges journalists would likely face during next year electoral processes, and to enhance their professional skills on coverage of elections in conformity with principles of fairness, balance and impartiality and other Council of Europe standards. #FreeFairElections #AllForStandards
During the training sessions, journalists also discussed the important role of self-regulatory measures and journalists’ solidarity to control the quality of media coverage of elections. Activities of Commission on Journalists’ Ethics and Independent Media Council were presented and discussed. #GuardiansOfStandards
Specific focus was made on physical and digital security of journalists, as well as threats posed by fake news and disinformation and their effect on democratic processes and election results. Journalists learned how to protect themselves in real life and digital realm and found out how to identify and debunk fake news and disinformation. #JournalistsSafety #InformationDisorder
Training sessions were composed of lectures, practical exercises, work and discussions within groups, and role plays. They were led by known national experts in the respective fields:
- Diana Dutsyk, executive director of the Ukrainian institute of media and communication
- Oleksandr Burmahin, media lawyer and media trainer of NGO “Human Rights Platform
- Olena Churanova, media expert of NGO “Institute of Mass Information”
- Maksym Lunochkin, expert of NGO “Digital Security Laboratory”
- Iryna Zemlyana, expert of NGO “Institute of Mass Information”
- Mykola Kostynian, expert of NGO “Digital Security Laboratory”
- Olha Iurkova, media expert and co-founder of Stopfake.org
- Oleksa Chornyi, facilitator, expert on education and development
*Regional training sessions for journalists are co-organised by the Council of Europe projects “Supporting the transparency, inclusiveness and integrity of electoral practice in Ukraine”, “Strengthening Freedom of Media, Access to Information and Reinforcing Public Broadcasting System in Ukraine” within the framework of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine 2018-2021 and in cooperation with Commission on Journalists’ Ethics and Independent Media Council.
