News

News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Journalism in Ukraine: Telling the War Stories that Matter NYC Journalists’ Conference to Address Critical Media Challenges

NEW YORK, May 16, 2024 - As Ukraine enters its third year of war with Russia, journalists and experts assemble today at the Ukrainian Institute of America to assess the state of the media sector in Ukraine and chart a sustainable course forward.

Under the banner Journalism in Ukraine: Telling the War Stories that Matter and organized by the Toronto-based Ukrainian Journalists’ Association of North America (UJANA), the conference will pinpoint what needs to be done immediately to improve the dire state of the Ukrainian media sector - which has been battered by the deaths of more than 100 media workers, newsroom closures, a degraded security environment and plummeting revenues. It will take place amid the multi billion dollar ask for the reconstruction of Ukraine.

Event Details:

  • Date: May 16, 2024

  • Time: 09:30-19:00

  • Location: Ukrainian Institute of America, 2 East 79th Street, New York, NY 10075

  • Agenda: Visit UJANA Events

  • Registration: Visit UJANA Events to register.

  • Note: The conference will continue with a second day of invite-only sessions for journalists on May 17 in midtown Manhattan, focusing on storytelling in media. The second day will include a session on the state of the Ukrainian diaspora media. Please contact us for further information on Day 2.

Keynote and Guest Speakers Include:

  • Sevgil Musaieva, Editor-in-Chief of Ukrainska Pravda and recipient of the CPJ 2022 International Press Freedom Award, is scheduled to deliver the keynote address. Ukrainska Pravda is the most widely read online publication in Ukraine.

  • Simon Shuster, Time magazine correspondent.

  • Peter Pomerantsev, British journalist and author of "How to Win an Information War".

  • Viktoriia Romaniuk, Deputy Director at Kyiv Mohyla School of Journalism.

  • Amb. Sergey Kyslytsya, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations.

  • Diane Francis, editor-at-large of the National Post and Sr. Fellow of the Atlantic Council Eurasia Center.

Special Sessions and Panels:

  • A focused discussion on the implications of the upcoming European Union elections and the political shifts in Europe. From France - Maurin Picard, US Correspondent for Le Soir, Le Figaro and Sud Quest and Germany - geopolitical expert Jessica Berlin.

  • A storytelling session led by Katie Orenstein of The OpEd Project emphasizing the importance of narrative in shaping public opinion and policy.

Moderation of the conferences will be conducted by Micheal Bociurkiw, a geopolitical analyst and Sr. Fellow at the Atlantic Council, and Farzana Baduel, CEO and Co-founder of Curzon PR of London. Two keynote sessions on Day One will be moderated by BBC News anchor Helena Humphrey.

For additional details or to request an invitation for the second day, please contact:

Preeti Bali Media Relations Consultant, London Phone: +44-7470-918958 Email: bali.preetii@hotmail.com

Notes to Editors

About UJAJA

  • Based in Toronto, the Toronto-based Ukrainian Journalists’ Association of North America unites and speaks for journalists in the Ukrainian community throughout the continent. It also aims to support the media sector in Ukraine. Past events and conferences have been held in Lviv, Kyiv, Toronto, Kerhonkson, NY and New York City.

About the Ukrainian Institute of America

  • The Ukrainian Institute of America, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the art, music and literature of Ukraine and the Ukrainian diaspora. It serves both as a center for the Ukrainian-American community and as America’s “Window on Ukraine,” hosting art exhibits, concerts, film screenings, poetry readings, literary evenings, children’s programs, lectures, symposia, and full educational programs, all open to the public.

About Atlantic Council Eurasia Center

  • The Eurasia Center’s mission is to enhance transatlantic cooperation in promoting stability, democratic values and prosperity in Eurasia, from Eastern Europe and Turkey in the West to the Caucasus, Russia and Central Asia in the East.


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A major journalism conference focused on the war in Ukraine, its impact on the region and Russian disinformation will be held in New York May 19-20, 2023. The annual conference of the Ukrainian Journalism Association of North America in partnership with the renowned Ukrainian Institute of America is scheduled at a particularly crucial moment


NEWS RELEASE

For immediate release

Major Journalism Conference in New York

 May 19-20, 2023:

 ‘Ukraine: Raising its Voice – Journalism & Misinformation at a Time of War’

NEW YORK, May 9, 2023 - A major journalism conference focused on the war in Ukraine, its impact on the region and Russian disinformation will be held in New York May 19-20, 2023.

The annual conference of the Ukrainian Journalism Association of North America in partnership with the renowned Ukrainian Institute of America is scheduled at a particularly crucial moment as journalists in Ukraine come under increasing threat, as the media sector reels from a collapse in revenue and loss of talent due to the war - and as Russian misinformation and manipulation are on an alarming upswing. Through insightful talks and networking, the event is being structured to facilitate fresh interaction between Ukrainian media outlets both in North America and inside Ukraine and with emigre media entities. Organizers say they wish to encourage stronger connections between Ukrainian journalists and their colleagues in mainstream media. Finally, the organizers wish to amplify some of the positive aspects of Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression - including how it has risen to a new level on the battle frontline of social media and marketing.

The conference will be held at the prestigious Ukrainian Institute of America (2 East 79th Street), an architectural gem nestled on Central Park East, in the heart of Manhattan’s Museum Mile. It occupies one of the grandest turn-of-the-century structures that remain in the city. As one of the premiere Ukrainian cultural hubs on the continent, the UIA will provide an ideal environment to promote Ukrainian music and talent - but also to serve up discussion on Saturday on how Russia has used the war to commit cultural genocide. 

The program commences on Friday evening with a poignant video tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the Ukraine conflict, followed by a moment of silence. There will also be a hybrid cultural program with artists from Ukraine and the U.S., followed by a curated tasting of products from wineries in Ukraine (some of which have come under Russian attack) and Moldova.

The conference will feature an impressive line-up of speakers from Ukraine, Europe and North America. They include:

  • award-winning Ukrainian investigative journalist Natalie Sedletska. Head of “Schemes” - RFE/RLs Ukrainian service investigative department ; Acting RFE/RL’s Kyiv Bureau Chief. She had stayed in Ukraine since the start of the invasion to report on the war and has uncovered Russian atrocities against civilians such as mass graves;

  • Laura Ballman. A Washington-based strategic business consultant and frequent geopolitical media commentator, Laura previously served as a CIA operations officer overseas, including in multiple war-zones that were marred by cultural genocide. She also served several years managing intelligence for the FBIs international art crime team;

  • live from Kyiv, Mykhailo Podolyak, the adviser to the head of Office of the President of Ukraine;

  • live from Brussels, Teri Schultz - freelance correspondent, NPR/DW;

  • Helena Lins, Reporter, CNN Portugal. A Portuguese, Bulgarian and Brazilian journalist covering human rights, social justice and foreign affairs. Part of the founding team of CNN Portugal, she has been focusing on the Russian invasion of Ukraine;

  • Kristina Hook. Assistant Professor of Conflict Management at Kennesaw State Universitys School of Conflict Management, Peace-building, and Development. Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council;

  • Roman Badanin, founder and editor-in-chief of Proekt and Agentstvo (The Agency, in English), a collaboration of journalists who have been targeted by the Russian government for their investigative reporting into the most powerful forces in their country. 

  • Sarah Kerr, a reporter and producer in the video unit at The New York Times, covering national and international stories and breaking news.

  • Amb. Sergiy Kyslytsya, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations

Notably, some of the sessions will be co-branded with the Washington, DC-based think tank, the Atlantic Council. The generous support of sponsors is highly appreciated - including from the Self Reliance New York Federal Credit Union and the SUMA Federal Credit Union.

About the Ukrainian Journalists’ Association of North America

The Ukrainian Journalists’ Association of North America is a Toronto-based union of journalists working as staffers and freelancers at Ukrainian publications on the continent, professional journalists at mainstream media outlets who have a connection to Ukraine as well as others who support and create quality journalism. Previously, UJANA has held an annual conference in Kerhonkson, NY, and supported panels in Toronto, Kyiv, and at the Lviv Media Forum.

https://www.ujana.net/

About the Ukrainian Institute of America

The Ukrainian Institute of America, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the art, music and literature of Ukraine and the Ukrainian diaspora. It serves both as a center for the Ukrainian-American community and as America’s “Window on Ukraine,” hosting art exhibits, concerts, film screenings, poetry readings, literary evenings, children’s programs, lectures, symposia, and full educational programs, all open to the public. www.ukrainianinstitute.org

To view the full conference agenda, click here

To register, click here

For further information contact:

Preeti Bali

+447470918958

preetii.bali@icloud.com

Olena Kalbania (Ukrainian media)

+33698435901

Olena.kalabania@gmail.com