The “Wartime Media Challenges 2024: RESILIENCE” forum is a partnership support event, a 36-hour intellectual marathon featuring over 100 outstanding participants, 46 unique speakers, a job fair, special recognitions, the realization of innovative ideas, non-stop creative collaborations, practical cases, heated discussions, the search for new impacts in the profession, warm networking, and special invited partners and guests.
This year, the Deputy Mission Director of USAID in Ukraine, Theodora Dell, delivered a welcome speech and interacted with the participants at the forum. In her speech, she emphasized the importance of being among both established journalists and those just beginning their careers. Theodora Dell highlighted that in 2022, 2023, and 2024, Ukrainian journalists demonstrated what the highest level of journalism in the world can be like. They reveal the truth about Ukraine to the world, risking their lives to provide first-hand accounts of the war, helping to prevent abuses of power, human rights violations, and war crimes. “Your dedication to uncovering and spreading the truth worldwide is nothing short of bravery, and it comes at a great cost,” she stressed. “91 media professionals have lost their lives, and 30 have been captured by Russian forces. We recognize that the mission of independent, fact-based journalism in Ukraine is more important than ever.”
As evidence of this, Theodora mentioned that in 2022, special citation was awarded to the journalists of Ukraine “for their courage, endurance, and commitment to truthful reporting during Vladimir Putin’s ruthless invasion of their country and his propaganda war.” In 2023, the highest award given by the Pulitzer Board, the “Public Service” prize, was awarded to Vasylisa Stepanenko, Yvhenii Maloletka, Mstyslav Chernov, and Lori Hinnant for their brave work in Mariupol, which was under siege. Vasylisa is also a graduate of the Journalism Hub. In 2024, “20 Days in Mariupol” won an Oscar for Best Documentary Film, made by the same team that witnessed the mass killing of civilians during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“Supporting Ukraine’s media sector remains a priority for USAID. Since 2018, through our media program, we have supported over 500 organizations in Ukraine and trained over 5,000 journalists. USAID also funds the Psychological Support Program provided by the Souspilnist Foundation, which has been received by around 60 newsrooms. This is just the first step, but it is a crucial one,” emphasized Theodora Dell.
Referring to young journalists who have already received job offers in media and are new forces in newsrooms, Theodora noted that they are the first line of defense against the disinformation war. She thanked Ukrainian journalists for their high service to public interests and emphasized that the American people stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine in this war.
