“Not even every fifth investigative reporter in Ukraine can afford to attend a professional conference abroad. How else can we get to know foreign colleagues and look for partners in some large projects? Let's be honest: online communication is a completely different reality, and even in high tech era personal contact has a much greater power.”

“I was satisfied with the seminar and its format. In two days, we were able to make a general picture of the situation with Ukraine’s restoration. Ukrainian journalists have doubts about whether it is necessary to cover the recovery while the war is still ongoing. You have chosen the right voices when selecting speakers for a seminar. Yuriy Nikolov correctly placed the emphasis: we need support with weapons now for reconstruction in the future. On the other hand, the restoration process has already begun, and such high-profile investigations in Ukraine about the reconstruction of buildings destroyed by the Russians in de-occupied cities of the Kyiv region prove that it is a timely issue.”

“The seminar in Lviv was a very fruitful forum I enjoyed for various reasons. I would underline the importance of having a collective composed of both foreign and Ukrainian journalists from all over the country. It was great to hear from reporters from Dnipro, Odesa, and other cities to get their perspectives on what was going on. Also, I found the speakers very well prepared and taking their speeches very seriously, which was excellent to see and hear. Like many others, I enjoyed the talk with Yurii Nikolov, though I do not think there was a single panel that was not interesting. The only downside, if we might say it indeed was a downside, was the topic itself: the reconstruction. It makes perfect sense to talk about the day after and I fully understand the importance of discussing it, but I felt a bit odd discussing what happens AFTER the war while the war is ongoing in its most brutal form. In other words, I might have appreciated having a discussion or two about the current situation, which has a direct influence on the future.”

“I know many colleagues who would make a trip to Ukraine during the war if it was organized as professionally as you did. In my experience, the only way the network doesn't work in wartime is online. Journalistic exchange works when you meet face to face. It's about building trust. Cooperation can only develop after a few days of intensive dialogue. For me as a reporter, it was worthwhile getting a picture on the ground and making contacts with local and international journalists.”