Joint event by Kiev Dialogue and The German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP)
The issue of press freedom in Ukraine is a cause for discussion in Europe: though in many areas Ukrainian journalists are able work free from government constraints, oligarchs continue to have a significant influence on reporting. The murder of Pavel Sheremet, one of Ukraine’s best-known journalists, shook the world. During the debate the following questions were discussed: Is it possible, however, to reform Ukraine’s media landscape while there is a war taking place? Is it possible to feel safe as a journalist in Ukraine? Where do you draw the line between countering Russian propaganda and obstructing journalistic work? Do media owned by oligarchs pose a threat to press freedom in Ukraine?
Panelists:
Andriy Tsaplienko
Ukrainian war journalist, “1 + 1” television channel
Viktoria Siumar, MP
Chairperson of the Committee on Freedom of Speech and Information Policy, Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine
Taras Shevchenko
CEO and expert on media law, Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law, Kyiv
Ulrike Gruska
Press Officer and Eastern Europe expert, “Reporters Without Borders”
Julian Röpcke
Political correspondent, BILD
Wilfried Jilge, Program Officer at the Robert Bosch Center for Central and Eastern Europe, Russia, and Central Asia, chaires the discussion.
Ukrinform, a Ukrainian multimedia platform for broadcasting, reported on this event. Click here to read the article in Ukrainian.