I lived in the Balkans during the last war in Europe. From my home in Belgrade, I witnessed the incredible heroism of independent media outlets, which were a critical source of information in the face of political repression. Their powerful reporting at that time led me to dedicate my life to the cause of press freedom.
For decades, it felt like a lonely cause as the continued growth of democracy and independent media were largely taken for granted. Tragically, that is no longer the case. For the past 16 years, Freedom House has tracked a steady decline in democracy and press freedom globally.
The unprovoked invasion of Ukraine — justified to a domestic Russian audience by malign disinformation — has punctuated this trend. As Russia wages war against Ukraine, independent journalism sources in Russia have been forced to shut down or go underground.
Russian forces invading Ukraine have made journalists a prime target: destroying broadcast towers, kidnapping and killing reporters and editors, and conducting cyberwarfare to block media websites. The goal of all this is to deprive the Ukrainian people of the facts they need to make informed decisions about their lives, their livelihoods, and their country’s future.
This has put Ukrainian media at immediate risk. It’s unsafe for reporters to venture out without flak jackets, which remain extremely difficult to obtain. It has also caused ad revenue for media outlets to plummet along with the larger Ukrainian economy.
Journalists in Ukraine need international support to survive physically and financially. Encouragingly, philanthropists large and small have risen to the occasion, including sending millions of dollars in direct funding to Ukrainian media outlets.
This generosity, however, will have a greater impact if it is simultaneously directed at the specific needs of journalists on the ground in Ukraine while also advancing long-term press freedom globally. Here are some strategies to consider:
Focus on local, not just international, media. International media organizations galvanize global outrage and action by providing continuous reporting and analysis about the crisis in Ukraine. But it’s local media that bring lifesaving information to communities about conflict areas to avoid, where to take shelter and get food, and how to travel safely. Not only do they report in local languages that local populations understand but they offer detailed, real-time information about available resources. For example, an article last week in the Kyiv Independent gave vital information about the role of the Ukrainian railroad in evacuating millions of people and providing humanitarian aid.
Channeling resources to local journalists under threat is critical to maintaining the flow of life-saving information. This can be done by donating to local outlets directly or working through media development organizations or associations, such as the members of the Global Forum for Media Development, which supports local outlets in a country or region.
Combine short-term safety with long-term support. Journalists need immediate protection when a crisis strikes, including safety gear, and access to safe houses and transportation. I have witnessed journalists take heroic measures to keep reporting from conflict zones or to establish remote operations to continue feeding vital information to their communities. When conflict upends an economy, journalists need financial support from listeners and subscribers, philanthropists, and governments.
But support should not stop when the immediate crisis ends. In Ukraine’s case, money is pouring in now to support media organizations. But those outlets will continue to need that support when the war is over and the country, along with media outlets, starts to rebuild. Too often the funding spigot to news organizations stops flowing when the crisis ends.
Provide flexible funding that isn’t tied to one specific crisis or need. For media support organizations such as the one I run — Internews — the past year has required specialized responses to the unique challenges facing particular countries. Following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan last summer, we helped evacuate Afghan journalists who were being pursued by the Taliban. Now we are procuring flak jackets to protect Ukrainian journalists. A crisis in one location can also have ramifications that require action elsewhere. For example, the invasion of Ukraine has put journalists throughout the entire Eurasia region at significant risk.
When donors restrict giving to one time and place, those funds often can’t be used when an urgent need arises elsewhere — or even for unanticipated ripple effects. While grant makers may focus a donation primarily on one crisis, they should trust the grantee organization to determine how best to use it.
Vet nonprofits to ensure they have local expertise. Many types of organizations support journalists and media outlets in a variety of ways, including providing legal aid, safety equipment, and business expertise. Regardless of the type of support offered, donors should first determine if the organization has experience in Ukraine or the general region. Does it have trusted relationships with local media? Does it have the logistical capacity to get support to those who need it most? During a crisis, it’s unlikely that even a highly skilled organization can make a meaningful difference if they are starting from scratch in a particular country.
Become a subscriber. One of the simplest and most effective actions anyone can take is to become a subscriber to a local news outlet. Those funds go directly to news organizations and, in return, subscribers get high-quality reporting that is close to the action. Most of these publications have translate buttons, making them accessible to people who speak any language. Here’s a vetted list of quality local Ukrainian outlets that need support now and for the long term.
Investing in people who report the truth is a down payment on democracy during a time when both democratic systems and the journalism that undergirds them are under threat. In Ukraine, Russia, Myanmar, Afghanistan, and many other places across the globe, press freedom and journalists themselves are under attack by governments or invading armies seeking to control the information space.
I’ve met few, if any, journalists during a crisis who wanted to get out of the profession. They wanted a flak jacket, a replacement laptop, or a safe place to stay so they could keep trustworthy information flowing to their communities and to the world. Ukrainian journalists are proving just that — they keep reporting, inspiring worldwide support, and providing citizens with information that saves lives.
