Media freedom is a necessary component for the protection of human rights. However, today, journalists face increasing danger while performing their professional duties.
This was emphasized by the head of the Gazeta Wyborcza foundation, Joanna Krawczyk, in her speech as the guest of honor at the Global Peace Photo Award 2022 ceremony.
“Journalists would more actively investigate human rights infringement and bring those in power to justice, but they face threats of violence and imprisonment. Threats to journalists, including via the Internet, create a general atmosphere of fear,” Joanna Krawczyk said.
She also cited the example of Ukraine, where 43 media workers fell victim to the Russian occupation.
It is worth noting that it was the Ukrainian photographer Artem Humilevskyi who became one of the prize winners. He received the winner’s medal of the Global Peace Photo Award 2022 for his photo project called A Giant.
It should be noted that for a deep understanding of the situation, Joanna Krawczyk turned to her partners in Ukraine. She was consulted by representatives of media organizations, in particular, President of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU) Sergiy Tomilenko, Executive Director of the Association of Independent Regional Publishers of Ukraine Oksana Brovko, and President of the Ukrainian Association of Media Business Oleksii Pohorelov.
Ukrainian experts drew attention to actual military risks. This is the threat of coming under fire while covering the events of the front, and the risks of being captured by the occupiers.
With the beginning of a full-scale war, hundreds of journalists in Ukraine became war correspondents. At the beginning, there was a catastrophic lack of means of protection – helmets, body armor. Ukraine could not independently provide such a number of front-line journalists with equipment. Ukrainian media organizations, in particular, the NUJU, turned to international partners for support and received the necessary equipment and technology, which were distributed among journalists and newsrooms.
The Gazeta Wyborcza foundation launched the Ukrainian Media Fund initiative with the support of media companies in the Nordic countries. Within the framework of the initiative, assistance is provided to journalists and editorial offices, in particular, equipment, bulletproof vests, and protective equipment. With faith in the stability of Ukrainian media, this assistance will continue in the future.
