In this series of podcasts, Richard Stupart talks to a range of people and organisations involved in journalism and journalist safety about the things freelancers need to know in order to navigate reporting in Ukraine more safely.
Episode 1 // Accreditation and Logistics
In this episode of Fixers & Stringers Ukraine, Richard Stupart talks to Ukrainian journalist Andrii Degeler about the process of obtaining press accreditation in Ukraine, connecting with others in the country and the logistics of travelling safely towards the east.
Useful resources
- https://t.me/+ivtvO_0cskAxZjRi — a group chat where the MoD sends quick updates and where you can ask questions
- https://t.me/lvivmediacenter — a channel of the Ukrainian Media Centre in Lviv (https://mediacenter.org.ua)
- https://t.me/c/1636061424/2111 — a group chat for journalists and fixers in Lviv; you have to be added by someone who is already a member (groups of this kind most probably exist in other major cities)
- https://mil.gov.ua/special/news.html?article=52842 — instruction on how to subscribe to the mailing list of the MoD (in Ukrainian)
- https://facebook.com/MinistryofDefence.UA/posts/277302151248911 — official instructions for the armed forces and journalists on how to behave in tense situations (in Ukrainian and English)
- https://facebook.com/imi.org.ua/ — the Institute of Mass Information (an NGO)
- https://facebook.com/LvivMediaforum/ — Lviv Media Forum
Episode 2 // Free Press Unlimited
In this episode, Richard Stupart talks to Leon Willems and Jantine van Herwijnen from Free Press Unlimited about safety training and and equipment, managing trauma and some of the dangers facing reporters in Ukraine.
Useful resources
- Free Press Unlimited can be reached through reportersrespond@freepressunlimited.org
- The Free Press Unlimited safety resources guide can be found online at: https://kq.freepressunlimited.org/themes/safety-of-journalists/
- HEAT/HEFAT training in the Netherlands, for safety risk awareness in dangerous contexts (non digital training but kidnapping/physical threats, handling hostile security services): https://centreforsafety.org/
- HEAT/HEFAT training abroad as well as war training resource material at https://risctraining.org/ and https://newssafety.org/home/
- Digital Safety training information and digital training is to be found at: https://totem-project.org/
- Psychosocial training via the Dart Center: https://dartcenter.org/
- WHO stress reduction resources https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240003927
- The ACOS alliance with resources for freelancers: https://www.acosalliance.org/
- The Dutch Journalist Union (NVJ) https://www.nvj.nl/
- The Co-operative Union of freelancers: https://decooperatie.org/
- Review of risks and mitigations in satellite internet usage in war zones and dangrous contexts: https://satellitesafety.openinternetproject.org/
- Body Armour and medical kits enquiries: reportersrespond@freepressunlimited.org
About Richard Stupart
Richard is an assistant professor at the Department of Journalism and Media Studies at the University of Groningen. His doctoral research work was on the norms and practices of journalists working in South Sudan. His current work is on the norms and practices of bearing witness by journalists in geopolitically marginal conflicts, as well as the role of affect/emotion in the work of journalists under pressure. He also pursues interests in media and development, the sociology of humanitarianism, conflict and representation, and post-conflict archive-building.