Ukraine
IMS is actively involved in Ukraine, assisting media actors in ensuring protection and regulative measures in accordance with international standards. Since the Orange revolution in 2004, media in Ukraine has seen great improvements for press freedom. However, challenges still persist such as an inadequate legislative framework which does not guarantee press freedom. Furthermore, the ownership structure of national broadcast and print media remains widely controlled by oligarchs and politicians.Archive
- Ukrainian media lawyers polished their professional knowledge
- "We are laying the foundation for a new kind of investigative journalism"
- Investigative journalists meet in Kyiv
- Concern over increased government influence as Ukraine shifts to digital broadcasting
- New report: No justice for journalists in Ukraine, Belarus and Russia
- Ukraine: Draft Election Code Must Protect Free Expression
- Ukrainian law students compete in Oxford media law competition
- Ukraine: Law on Access to Public Information
- Passing of Access to Public Information Law marks new era in Ukraine
- The battle over free speech in Ukraine
- Access to information law removed from agenda in Ukraine Parliament
- Ukraine Parliament must adopt crucial media law, say IMS and A19
- Gongadze memorial, 16 September 2010, Kyiv
- Fighting impunity in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine
- Ukraine language version - Ukrainian Parliament called on to protect freedom of expression
- Public service broadcasting in Ukraine up for debate
- Ukrainian Parliament urged to protect freedom of expression
- Fears for media in Ukraine
- Media ownership a hot issue in Ukraine
- New Freedom of Expression handbook for Ukrainian courts
- Successful International Media Law Summer School in Kyiv
- Ukraine: Press Freedom Situation Deteriorating Under New President
- Media situation in Ukraine worsens under new president
- Ukrainian media law students impress in Oxford
- Open letter to the new President of Ukraine from A19 and IMS
- New President of Ukraine urged to support Freedom of Expression
- Reporting on elections in Ukraine
- Election Notebook for Journalists - Ukraine
- Ukraine: IMS and ARTICLE 19 Call for Balanced and Ethical Reporting During Elections
- Joint Statement on Ukraine by Article 19 and IMS, October 2009
- Ukraine in need of media reform, says IMS and Article 19
- Digital future on way in Ukraine
- International Media Law Summer School in Ukraine gathers top CIS media lawyers
- Reforming Ukraine's state print media
- Strategic litigation in Ukraine
- Investigative journalism digs deeper in Ukraine
- Building legal defense for media in Ukraine
- Journalists join hands to respond to legal reform in Ukraine
- Preparing media lawyers for election in Ukraine
- Digital broadcasters Forum in Ukraine
- NGOs address access to information in Ukraine
- The fourth International Media Law Summer School in Kyiv carried out with support from IMS
- Statement from High level policy meeting on media policy reform in Ukraine, March 2008
- Support to media policy reform in Ukraine
- Calls for a legal reform of media
Reporting on elections in Ukraine
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A new notebook which includes guidance on election reporting supports Ukrainian journalists during elections
By Antonina Cherevko, IMS Ukraine
To coincide with ongoing elections in Ukraine, IMS and Article 19 have published an Election Notebook for Journalists in Ukraine which includes practical advice on professional and ethical election reporting, the elements of a democratic election process and security considerations involving journalists. The first round of presidential elections in Ukraine took place on 17 January and the second is due to follow on 7 February 2010.
Focus on journalistic ethics
According to Ukrainian and international experts, the key problem with Ukrainian media’s coverage during the recent election campaign is rooted in poor journalistic ethics and general media malpractice. While political censorship is no longer an issue in Ukraine, “money talks” and media often sell their services by being paid to publish a certain news agenda and material. This, in turn, increases financial pressure on journalists to sell their product. For more on media conduct during the presidential elections, see the joint IMS-ARTICLE 19 statement calling for balanced and ethical reporting during the elections.
The Election Notebook for Journalists includes important ethical rules regulating election coverage, provides an overview of the elements which should be in place for the election process to be considered transparent and democratic, provides security considerations and gives tips on assessing and publishing election-related sociological surveys.
The format of a notebook which combines useful guidelines for reporting elections with space for note-taking is based on research by A19 showing that journalists are more inclined to read and make use of the notebook if space is included for notetaking during press-conferences, interviews, and other on-the-job activities. Now Ukrainian journalists can write their articles while having practical election details and advice at hand.
Tailor-made for Ukrainian journalists
The notebook for Ukrainian journalists is based on the handbook “Media + Elections: An Elections Reporting Handbook” published by IMS and IMPACS (Ross Howard) in 2004. This handbook has been successfully translated and published in other countries in the region to promote fair and balanced election coverage. This time, the text has been adopted to match the needs of Ukrainian journalists.
Where to find the notebook
The Election Notebook for Journalists is disseminated free of charge to media organisations, professional associations and media in Ukraine. If you are interested in receiving a free copy, please do not hesitate to contact Antonina Cherevko, IMS Programme Officer for Ukraine, at ac[snabela]i-m-s.dk or 380 50 410 27 68.
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