Self-Regulation of Media in Ukraine, Freedom of Speech, and Journalistic Ethics: the Aspen Institute Kyiv Held a Seminar for Media Community Representatives

From November 20 to 24, 2024, in the Zakarpattia region, the Aspen Institute Kyiv hosted the fifth seminar, “Media and Reality: Dimensions of Responsibility.” The OSCE Support Programme in Ukraine supported the seminar.

Journalists, editors, media experts, educators, military personnel, representatives of state bodies, and the civil sector spent four days discussing various aspects and challenges of modern media functioning. Classical and contemporary texts served as the starting point for discussions.

Key issues addressed during the seminar included freedom of speech, media regulation, and self-regulation, as well asensuring information security, ethical challenges faced by journalists during wartime, and the difficulties encountered by the media community amid the rapid development of modern technologies.

A dialogue session, “Media Diplomacy: How to Strengthen Ukraine’s Position on the Global Stage,” was organized as part of the seminar. The speakers included:  

• Bettina Ruigis, Senior Adviser, Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media 
• Olha Rudenko, the editor-in-chief of Kyiv Independent
• Yaroslav Yurchyshyn, the Chairman of the Committee on Freedom of Speech of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine

The discussion focused on the gradual decline in international attention to Ukraine as the global audience shifted its focus to other challenges and geopolitical changes. Participants deliberated on the need to develop solutions to keep Ukraine on the international agenda.

Denіs Poltavets, Director of Program Development at the Aspen Institute Kyiv, and Andriy Kulakov, Program Coordinator of the Aspen Institute Kyiv Community, moderated the seminar. 

Olena Fomina, Policy Program Director at the Aspen Institute Kyiv, coordinated the event.

We believe that profound discussions about the role and impact of media on social development and the exchange of ideas and experiences will help participants reassess professional challenges from deeper perspectives and expand their horizons.  

We sincerely thank the OSCE projects in Ukraine for their steadfast partnership.