Authors

Olena Melnykova-Kurhanova¹;  ¹ National Aviation University, Ukraine

Discussion

Russian propaganda narratives and disinformation are circulating in the information space of the Ukrainian frontline territories, and Ukrainian journalists are refuting them in spite of difficult working conditions during shelling, temporary power outages and various types of disruption.
The aim of the study is to identify the peculiarities of journalists’ work in the near-frontline and de-occupied territories in the context of the Russia-Ukraine War.
This leads to the following research questions:
1.       How have the working conditions of Ukrainian journalists in the near-frontline and de-occupied territories changed?
2.       How and through what channels did Russia exert pressure and information aggression against Ukrainian media professionals?
These questions are answered in the framework of a case study using several methods, primarily semi-structured qualitative interviews with journalists with different work experience who have worked or are working in the frontline, de-occupied territories or have had experience of working during the temporary occupation of the city. These findings are complemented and corroborated by other data, including qualitative analysis of documents (including social media posts, photos, etc.). The documentary analysis was based on a convenient sampling of all materials available to the researcher, including news, social media, and eyewitness accounts in Ukraine during wartime.
The main results of the study indicate the following: 1) at the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Russia actively tried to recruit journalists, offering them to cooperate; 2) journalists created their own channels on the popular messenger Telegram as a platform for publications; 3) journalists created content, printed and distributed the press independently and in defiance of defunct post service, lack of electricity and communication breakdown in the frontline areas; 4) faced with signal jamming, journalists transmitted news on medium and small waves; 5) journalists developed a network of local websites to provide their audiences with up-to-date information, often vital to their survival during hostilities. These findings highlight the complex change in the professional role of journalists who found themselves in the war zone, targeted by the enemy, and forced to develop new technical skills. Journalists record events, eyewitness accounts, and produce documentaries, contributing to “the first draft of history” and documentation of war crimes.