Projects

The Mykolaiv Press Club has extensive experience in implementing various international projects aimed at media development and reform in Ukraine. Our initiatives have received support from:

  • Media Development Fund of the US Embassy in Ukraine
  • Democracy Commission Small Grants Program of the US Embassy in Ukraine
  • Council of Europe
  • International Renaissance Foundation
  • PAUCI Foundation
1. Saving Mykolaiv Region Journalists: A Step Towards Restoring the Media Industry in Southern Ukraine, October 2023-April 2024

Supported by: Media Development Fund of the US Embassy in Ukraine

As part of this project, participants produced 84 text materials, 30 video programs, 13 stories, and 12 photo reports. Additionally, the initiative supported and preserved the roles of 22 individuals in the media industry. The volume of information materials covering events and life in Mykolaiv and the surrounding region increased significantly. Our authors also reported on life in the newly de-occupied areas of the Kherson region. Notably, a substantial portion of the content focused on events and individuals from districts such as Voznesensk, Berezanka, Snigurivka, Bashtanka, Ochakiv, Novy Bug, and Pervomaysk, providing valuable insights into the experiences of these communities, as well as those in the de-occupied territories of Kherson.

2. Saving Mykolaiv Region Journalists: Preserving Ukraine, September 2022-September 2023

Supported by: Media Development Fund of the US Embassy in Ukraine.

As a result of the project, 200 text materials, 51 programs, 25 stories and 25 photo reports were created. All materials were shared on the Mykolaiv Press Club Telegram channel, as well as on our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/mkpressclub) and YouTube channel ((https://www.youtube.com/@pressclub2003/videos).

Thanks to this project, we were able to support 24 individuals in the media industry. Additionally, the volume of informational materials covering events and life in Mykolaiv and the surrounding region increased significantly. Our authors also reported on life in the newly de-occupied areas of the Kherson region. Notably, a substantial portion of the materials focused on events and individuals from districts such as Snigurivka, Bashtanka, Ochakiv, Novy Bug, and Pervomaysk, providing valuable insights into the experiences of these communities, as well as those in the de-occupied territories of Kherson.

3. «Television for the Rule of Law», July-December 2020

Supported by: Democracy Commission Small Grants Program of the US Embassy in Ukraine

As part of the project, we produced 24 special episodes of the program "Such a Law" and 6 special episodes of the talk show "Television Press Club," all focused on the theme of the rule of law across various fields. These episodes were broadcast on a local TV channel.

The produced television programs significantly contributed to raising legal awareness among citizens on the following topics:

  • Ensuring equal access to justice
  • Observance of citizens' rights in the context of an open land market
  • Restorative justice for minors
  • Compliance with gender quotas during the 2020 local elections
  • Introduction of the Bankruptcy Code
  • Challenges in juvenile justice and resocialization
  • Rights of citizens during property seizure in civil legal matters
  • Prohibition of alienation of debtor’s property
  • Release of property from encumbrance
  • Rights of citizens during preventive measures
  • Protection of consumer rights

These programs aimed to enhance citizens' understanding of changes in Ukraine's legal landscape.

All TV programs were also made available on the Mykolaiv Press Club's YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@pressclub2003/videos)  and shared on our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/%D0%A2%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%BB-TAK-TV-179119382105939/).

4. «Television as a Tool for Information Security During COVID-19», April-June 2020

Supported by: Media Development Fund of the US Embassy in Ukraine

As part of the project, we produced 20 special editions of the "Open Studio" program, focusing on COVID-19 and its impact on various aspects of citizens' lives and the economy at both regional and national levels. These episodes were broadcast on a local TV channel.

All TV programs were also made available on the Mykolaiv Press Club's YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@pressclub2003/videos)  and shared on our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/%D0%A2%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%BB-TAK-TV-179119382105939/).

5. «Independent press center. Elections of the President of Ukraine», February-May 2019

Supported by: Media Development Fund of the US Embassy in Ukraine.

As part of the project, we produced 12 special editions of the talk show "Television Press Club: From Free Press to Open Policy. Elections of the President of Ukraine 2019." Over two months, representatives from 10 presidential candidates presented their programs and positions on key areas for Ukraine's development, including:

  • Features of the 2019 presidential elections
  • The role of regions in state development
  • Openness and the information society
  • Ukraine's foreign policy direction
  • Economic development amid war conditions
  • The President's role in establishing peace
  • Reforming the Armed Forces of Ukraine
  • The relationship between the President and Parliament
  • Legislative initiatives of the President
  • Honesty and transparency in the election process
  • Results of the first round of the presidential elections
  • Ukraine's future over the next five years: the President's proposed steps

These discussions aimed to inform voters and encourage civic engagement during the election period.

6. «School of Regional Journalists for Reform Coverage», August-December 2018

Supported by: Media Development Fund of the US Embassy in Ukraine.

As part of the project, we conducted 10 training sessions for the "School of Regional Journalists for Reform Coverage," with a total of 75 participants, including journalists from Mykolaiv, Odesa, and Kherson regions. This program aimed to enhance journalists' skills in reporting on the ongoing reforms in Ukraine, which in turn led to an improvement in the quality of materials produced on these topics.

Key areas of focus included:

  • Reform of electoral legislation
  • Media reform
  • Judicial reform
  • Public administration reform
  • Energy sector reform
  • Reform of the fiscal and budgetary sector

The training sessions equipped journalists with the knowledge needed to effectively cover these critical issues.

As part of the "School of Regional Journalists for Reform Coverage," we identified a low level of government communication regarding reforms in Ukraine. Notably, educational reform, decentralization reform, and local patrol police reform are progressing more effectively than other reforms. Additionally, it became clear that journalists exhibited a limited understanding of judicial reform, electoral law reform, energy reform, and public administration reform. This highlights the need for further training and resources to enhance coverage and public awareness of these critical issues.

We produced 5 special editions of the talk show "Television Press Club" and 11 special issues of the program "Open Studio," focusing on the reforms taking place in Ukraine. These special episodes significantly enhanced awareness among residents of the Mykolaiv region regarding the implementation and essence of these reforms.

The project also highlighted key challenges, such as problems in the communication of reforms at the district level and a shortage of specialists in the regions who can effectively explain the ongoing changes in Ukraine.

7. «Informing the Population: The Key to Successful Reforms», September 2017-January 2018
8. «Television Against Corruption», August-October 2015

Supported by: Democracy Commission Small Grants Program of the US Embassy in Ukraine

The implementation of this project marked a pioneering effort in the region, where experts from various sectors discussed the issue of corruption in key areas of life for Ukrainian citizens and the state’s economy live on television. The discussions covered a range of important topics, including:

  • Analysis of Ukraine's anti-corruption legislative package
  • Public control as a countermeasure against corruption
  • The media's role in combating corruption in Ukraine
  • Reforming the education system as a means to address corruption in the sector
  • Strategies to reduce corruption in the provision of administrative services
  • The impact of opening land registers on combating corruption in the land sector
  • The effect of anti-corruption laws and law enforcement reforms on corruption within the justice system
  • The influence of legislative reforms on entrepreneurship and business corruption
  • Reforming the healthcare system as a mechanism to address corruption in that field
  • The impact of public procurement reforms on reducing corruption in various industries

These discussions aimed to raise awareness and foster dialogue on effective strategies to combat corruption in Ukraine.

As part of the project, we produced 10 special episodes of the talk show "Television Press Club," broadcast on the local TV channel. For the first time, representatives from specialized industries, the public, lawyers, and journalists gathered in one studio to discuss the issue of corruption.

Special editions of the TV program "Such a Law" provided viewers with insights into the package of anti-corruption laws, their implementation, and ways to combat corruption. This initiative significantly improved public awareness of mechanisms for addressing corruption and highlighted achievements in this area.

Through the project, we were able to identify the most open and closed industries regarding discussions about corruption. Notably, law enforcement agencies and the healthcare system were found to be the most resistant to such conversations, while the justice system, administrative services, and the field of entrepreneurship demonstrated a greater willingness to engage in discussions about corruption-related issues.

9. «United Country», September-December 2014

Supported by: Media Development Fund of the US Embassy in Ukraine.

We conducted 15 special issues of the talk show "Television Press Club," where we explored a variety of relevant topics, including:

  • Decentralization: Are the regions ready to take on more powers?
  • Transparency and Openness of Government: Pathways for development
  • Community Participation in Governance: A model for effective self-governance in the regions
  • Corruption and the Regulatory System
  • Freedom of Speech: An integral part of civil society
  • National Unity: A cornerstone of a united, independent state
  • Respect for the Rights of National and Religious Minorities in Ukraine, particularly in the Mykolaiv Region
  • The Role of Youth in the development of the state
  • Foreign Policy: A key vector for national progress
  • History of Ukraine: Searching for compromises to foster understanding between regions
  • Observance of Human Rights in the context of military conflicts
  • Participation of Active Citizens in societal transformation
  • Implementation of Reforms and their transparency
  • The Role of Media in shaping modern Ukraine
  • Professional Standards of Journalism and the quality of journalism education

These discussions aimed to engage the community in critical dialogues about issues affecting the region and the nation.

In addition to local experts from Mykolaiv and the surrounding region, we also connected with specialists from Kyiv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernihiv, Kryvyi Rih, Kharkiv, Kherson, Odesa, and Lviv via Skype. Among the participants were the Secretaries and Head of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine, representatives from central authorities, educators from leading universities, and prominent public figures in Ukraine. This diverse range of expertise enriched the discussions and provided valuable insights into the topics addressed.

10. «Independent Press Center», April-June 2014

Supported by: Media Development Fund of the US Embassy in Ukraine.

11. «Independent Press Center. Parliamentary Elections 2012», August-November 2012

Supported by: Media Development Fund of the US Embassy in Ukraine.

12. «Independent Press Center», September 2009 - January 2010

Supported by: Media Development Fund of the US Embassy in Ukraine.

13. «Media in the Conditions of Globalization», September 2009

Supported by:

  • Embassy of Germany in Ukraine,
  • Embassy of France in Ukraine,
  • Embassy of Poland in Ukraine.

As part of the project, a 2-day training session was conducted for editors and journalists from the Mykolaiv, Kherson, and Odesa regions. The training focused on the experiences of modern media development in Poland, France, and Germany, providing valuable insights and best practices to enhance local journalism.

14. «European Standards of Journalists: Ukrainian Realities and Polish and Czech Experience», March-April 2008

Supported by: The Council of Europe

As part of the project, a seminar was conducted for 45 journalists from the Mykolaiv, Odesa, and Kherson regions, focusing on European standards for journalism. The seminar featured contributions from experts from Poland and the Czech Republic, including:

  1. Izabella Khruslinska – Representative of the Council of Europe
  2. Dariusz Jaworski – Journalist at Tygodnik Powszechny, Poland
  3. Pavlo Lukaszyk – Journalist at TVN-24, Poland
  4. Bohdan Kopchak – Independent journalist, Czech Republic

Their insights helped enhance the understanding of European journalism standards among participants.

In order to work more effectively within the framework of the project and achieve the goal of the project, group discussions were organized on the second day of the seminar on the following topics:

  1. "Independent media as a component of a democratic state"
  2. "Adherence to the code of ethics as an integral part of a journalist's work"

Each of the groups has developed its own version of actions regarding the work of Ukrainian journalists in the conditions of European standards of work of journalists. After discussing both options, the groups created the united memorandum in which they noted the main work principles that journalists should adhere to, based on Ukrainian realities.

15. «Polish experience of administrative-territorial reform against ignorance of the topic of editors of district media», September 2007-January 2008

Supported by: PAUCI Foundation

Seminars were conducted for editors of district media in the Mykolaiv region, focusing on the legislation surrounding administrative-territorial reform and the changes it will bring. Additionally, meetings were held with Polish experts, who shared insights from Poland's experience in implementing territorial reform and its effects on various aspects of life and the economy. This exchange of knowledge aimed to equip local media leaders with a better understanding of the reform process and its implications for their communities.

16. «District newspapers: through the market to privatization», 2007

Supported by: Media Development Fund of the US Embassy in Ukraine.

Five training sessions were conducted for representatives of regional communal and state media in the Mykolaiv region. During these sessions, editors and journalists explored key areas of media work, including:

  • Marketing
  • Creation of Relevant Content
  • Identifying Additional Sources for Media Financing

These training sessions aimed to enhance the skills and knowledge of participants, helping them to improve their media operations and sustainability.

17. «Legal Literacy - Instead of Corruption in Journalism» 2006

Supported by: Media Development Fund of the US Embassy in Ukraine.

A series of seminars focused on current legislation in the information industry were held for journalists in the Mykolaiv region. These seminars aimed to enhance journalists' understanding of legal frameworks affecting their work, ensuring they are well-informed and compliant with relevant laws and regulations in the media landscape.

18. «Public Broadcasting: A Step Towards Civil Society in the Regions» 2006

Supported by: International Renaissance Foundation

During the implementation of the project, seminars were organized that included representatives from the Mykolaiv Regional State Broadcasting Company, journalists, local self-government officials, and Polish experts. Participants engaged in discussions about the prospects for public broadcasting in Ukraine, drawing on the experiences of public broadcasting in Poland. These conversations aimed to explore best practices and strategies for enhancing public broadcasting in the region, fostering greater civic engagement and accountability.

The site was created as part of the project "Strengthening media sustainability in Ukraine", which is implemented by the "Irondel" Foundation (Switzerland) and IRMI, the Institute of Regional Press and Information (Ukraine) and is financed by the "Swiss Solidarity" Foundation.
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