Media Lifeline Ukraine

From the very beginning, we as Free Press Unlimited, together with our sister organisation Free Press for Eastern Europe (FPEE) and our partners in the region, have worked day and night to bring journalists to safety and/or provide them with essentials to continue their important work. Media Lifeline Ukraine was initiated to support this work.

Together with our partners, we kick started Media Lifeline Ukraine. Media companies that we have been working with for over a decade now, indicated a need for practical support and more importantly, help for the longer term, to maintain the flow of reliable information.

This included support through the provision of equipment to be able to continue reporting, but also digital security (VPNs) as well as the setting up of media hubs in neighboring countries, where journalists are relatively safe and could come together to do their important work. 
 

What we have done 

Since the start of Media Lifeline Ukraine, we have been able to get over 1000 Ukrainian, but also Russian journalists to a safe place, we have brought 150 high-quality ballistic vests and helmets across the border for the direct protection of journalists reporting at the front lines, and we are continuously working on the digital security of journalists in the region, for example by providing VPNs and protection against hacks. This way they can continue to share their information with the rest of the world.

In addition to the immediate danger to the thousands of journalists still working in Ukraine, the few independent media that still remain in Belarus and Russia are increasingly threatened by censorship, criminal prosecution and open intimidation. Free Press Unlimited continues to advocate for the provision of emergency visas to these independent journalists who are determined to continue their reliable coverage of Ukraine-related events.

We set up a media hub in Poland where a group of Ukrainian refugee journalists could reside and continue working. They worked together with over 10 media organisations that remained active in Ukraine, and supported them in the production of more than 200 stories that reached over 4 million people in Ukraine and beyond.
 

Moving forward

The Media Lifeline Ukraine initiative has come to an end in its original form. The refugee journalists that resided in Poland have returned to Ukraine. Of course we remain in touch and support them if needed. We will also continue to support Ukrainian journalists in distress through our emergency fund Reporters Respond to protect them and their vital role in society and to ensure access to factual, timely and relevant information.