15 local newspapers back in liberated territories

Thanks to the assistance of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU) local newspapers from 15 liberated Ukrainian territories can now resume their public mission. Residents of villages and towns in eastern Ukraine get their Ukrainian newspaper shortly after liberation.

The Russian occupation of Ukraine caused many local and regional media outlets to either drastically limit their output or shut down completely. Even after recapturing the occupied territories, damaged infrastructure makes the simple task of distributing print media exceptionally challenging, leaving the most vulnerable communities, the elderly and digitally excluded, without access to reliable information.

One of the top priorities in Ukraine’s fight for sustained freedom and independence is the revival of local media. Newspapers provide tremendous psychological comfort to residents of the recaptured towns and villages but also help to foster a sense of community and solidarity in their hearts and minds. This is why the Ukrainian Media Fund, together with its partners and benefactors, is helping these outlets to get back on their feet.

Our partner, The National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU) is coordinating the effort by seeking out editors and journalists on the ground, encouraging them and providing financial support to fund the production, publication, and distribution of local newspapers. Sergiy Tomilenko, head of the organization, says that NUJU’s systematic financial support has already led to the successful revival of 15 local titles, which, after publishing their first issue, are gradually getting back on their feet and moving on, raising funds on their own and using market mechanisms to maximize funding for their editorial offices.

So far, one or more issues have been printed and distributed in Izium (Obrii Iziumshchyny), Lyman (Zoria), Kherson (Novyi Den), Barvinkove (Visti Barvinkivshchyny), Bakhmut (Vpered), Snihurivka (Visti Snihurivshchyny), Zolochiv (Zoria), Kharkiv (Selianska Gazeta), Zmiyiv (Visti Zmiyivshchyny), Blyzniuky (Nove Zhyttia), Bohodukhiv (Mayak), Kupiyansk (Visnyk Kupiyanshchyny). After the liberation of Kherson, Novyi Den was the first outlet to break the news to local residents.