What challenges do print media face during Russia's military aggression in Ukraine? How can the establishment of media co-regulatory bodies strengthen the national media environment?

These and other questions were discussed during a round table titled “Practical aspects of the regulation and co-regulation of print media in line with the Law “On Media”: challenges for the resilience of print media,” held in Kyiv and online.

The round table gathered nearly 90 participants, the majority of whom represented print media from different Ukrainian regions and with 16 representatives of front-line and relocated media. The event also engaged high-level representatives of the Ukrainian media regulator, whose representatives opened and moderated the discussion, members of the Ukrainian Parliament, the state enterprise “Ukrposhta,” representatives of other state institutions, professional associations, media co-regulatory bodies, and other members of the media community.

The event provided a platform for national stakeholders and media actors to discuss and share their views on the implementation of the legal provisions introduced by the new Law on Media, focusing on the co-regulation of media and the most pressing issues related to the functioning and resilience of print media in times of war. The first session focused on forming co-regulatory bodies (CRBs) for print media and the experience of creating CRBs for other types of Ukrainian media. The next session addressed the challenges to the resilience of print media, discussing a roadmap for media recovery, the problems and difficulties of postal delivery of newspapers and other press in the regions, and the prospects for the restoration of print media at the frontline, liberated territories and territories currently temporarily occupied by Russia. The final session covered practical issues of the new media regulations, including registration, amendments to the register, inspections, responsibilities of the media according to the new Law, and their rights. The answers to frequently asked questions received from the print media were covered by the speakers.

Among the most pressing issues raised by the participants of the round table were the need to support the formation and development of the CRB of print media and its further enhancement, to ensure sustainable financing of print media by the state and other actors, and restoration of the media outlets that were destroyed or had to close because of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

The event was organised within the framework of the Council of Europe Project “Safeguarding Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Media in Ukraine” (SFEM-UA) in partnership with the National Council of Television and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine (the media regulator) and the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine, at the request and with the support of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine.

The Council of Europe, through its SFEM-UA Project, will continue to assist Ukrainian print media and national authorities by providing expertise on the concerns raised by the print media representatives during the round table.

The Council of Europe Project “Safeguarding Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Media in Ukraine” (SFEM-UA) is implemented by the Council of Europe  Division for Co-operation on Freedom of Expression in the framework of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine “Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction” 2023-2026.