Payments of emergency financial support from UNESCO to journalists to enable them to continue working in the media industry began on January 16. A total of 160 media people selected by a special jury will receive a one-time grant of USD 600.
Sergiy Tomilenko, the President of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU), announced this on Facebook.
“Ukrainian journalists will receive almost USD 100,000, provided by UNESCO in cooperation with the NUJU and the International Federation of Journalists, as assistance in the performance of their professional duties. The World Food Program provides remittances for 160 Ukrainian journalists selected on a competitive basis. I would like to express my gratitude to international partners – the headquarters of UNESCO, which, supporting the network of Journalist Solidarity Centers in order to improve the physical, psychological state and safety of journalists, introduces various assistance services for media workers. It is essential that international partners understand the importance of financial support for the sustainability of Ukrainian media and journalists,” Sergiy Tomilenko emphasized.
The NUJU received almost half a thousand applications from Ukrainian journalists, and it was extremely difficult for the qualified international jury to carry out the selection. In the end, a list was formed of a certain number of media workers who continue to work in Ukrainian media – both national and regional.
“The support received by colleagues will help them in the current difficult time, when the war destroyed and continues to destroy the economic foundations of Ukrainian media. This is very important, because citizens’ need for reliable, professional, truthful information is more important than ever,” said Serhiy Tomilenko.
The largest number of applications for grants came from journalists from Kyiv and the Kyiv Region (78), Donetsk Region (42), and Dnipropetrovsk Region (29). Among those journalists who received grants, 49 were men and 111 – women, 23 employees of national media and 122 of regional media, 15 freelancers (10 of whom cooperate with national media).
Journalist Solidarity Centers are an initiative of the NUJU implemented with the support of the International and European Federations of Journalists, as well as UNESCO. They are aimed at helping media representatives working in Ukraine during the war. The centers operate in Kyiv, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernivtsi, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipro and provide journalists with organizational, technical, legal, psychological, and other types of assistance.
About UNESCO
UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It contributes to peace and security by promoting international cooperation in education, sciences, culture, communication and information. UNESCO promotes knowledge sharing and the free flow of ideas to accelerate mutual understanding. It is the coordinator of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity , which aims to create a free and safe environment for journalists and media workers, thus strengthening peace, democracy and sustainable development worldwide. UNESCO is working closely with its partner organizations in Ukraine to provide support to journalists on the ground.
