From Ideas to Collaboration: How Journalists from Ukraine and Europe Explored New Approaches to Covering Ukraine’s Recovery

How can journalists tell the story of Ukraine’s recovery in a way that resonates with international audiences? How can newsrooms build cross-border partnerships and develop joint reporting projects? These questions brought together 27 journalists from ten regions of Ukraine and nine European countries for a four-day seminar on strengthening cross-border media cooperation in Ukraine’s recovery, held in Lutsk on June 24–27.

The event was organized by RE:Cover Ukraine with the support of the taz Panter Foundation, Politiken Fonden, Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University, and the Volyn Press Club.

Opening the seminar, RE:Cover Ukraine Chair Morten Hansen said the gathering was designed to create a space where journalists could learn from one another, exchange experiences, and jointly explore new ways of covering Ukraine’s reconstruction.

“We come from different countries and different media realities, but we are united by a common goal — to understand how we can contribute to Ukraine’s recovery and tell these stories effectively,” Hansen said.

Barbara Oertel of the taz Panter Foundation highlighted another challenge facing Ukrainian journalism today: the gradual decline of international attention to the war.

“The world is dealing with many crises at once, which means journalists have a special responsibility to keep Ukraine visible in the international news agenda. Meetings like this help Ukrainian journalists make their voices heard in European media,” she noted.

Supporting Journalists Beyond the Newsroom

The seminar began with a session focused on journalists’ mental well-being. Psychologist Inna Suzova introduced practical techniques for stress management, grounding exercises, and self-support during difficult situations.

“How do you usually stress? Take it to the point of absurdity. You drink coffee – imagine you’ve had five cups.” And it works, because for many Ukrainian journalists, reporting on war, destruction, and humanitarian crises has become part of everyday work. The session acknowledged that resilience is not only a professional skill but also a personal necessity.

Covering Recovery and Holding Power Accountable

A major part of the program focused on how journalists can report on Ukraine’s reconstruction in a meaningful and responsible way.

Inna Vedernikova, an editor with ZN.UA (Dzerkalo Tyzhnia), spoke about the changing role of the media during wartime, the importance of maintaining a critical perspective, and the need for journalism to continue serving the public interest even in times of national crisis.

She noted that while many newsrooms initially avoided difficult questions during the first months of the full-scale invasion, Ukrainian journalism has increasingly returned to its watchdog role — monitoring authorities, investigating problems, and demanding transparency.

The discussion continued with a presentation of the DREAM digital ecosystem by Senior Data Support Manager, DREAM Project Office, Open Contracting Partnership Andrii Khazin. He demonstrated how journalists can use the platform to analyze recovery projects, track funding, compare regional priorities, and identify stories for further investigation.

Journalist Adriana Homolova also introduced several European platforms that help monitor international tenders and financial assistance directed to Ukraine.

Solutions Journalism, Fixers, and Lessons from Bosnia

Participants also explored broader questions about the future of journalism in post-war recovery.

Artem Perfilov, local producer and board member of RE:Cover Ukraine, spoke about the crucial role of fixers in international reporting. According to him, many influential stories produced by foreign media would not be possible without local journalists who help international teams navigate Ukrainian realities, find sources, and work safely.

He argued that the fixer profession should not disappear after the war but could evolve into new fields, including security consulting and cross-cultural media support.

Olha Virsta, Deputy Chair of RE:Cover Ukraine and a certified trainer with the Solutions Journalism Network, led a session on solutions journalism. She emphasized that reporting on recovery should go beyond highlighting positive examples and instead examine what actually works, for whom, and why.

“Solutions journalism is not about promoting success stories,” Virsta explained. “It is about carefully analyzing responses to problems and understanding whether they produce real results.”

One of the most powerful sessions featured Tarik Moćević, project coordinator at Mediacentar Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Drawing on Bosnia’s experience of war and post-war reconstruction, he highlighted striking parallels with Ukraine — from civilian suffering and displacement to international solidarity and the struggle for democratic values.

“Journalists played a crucial role in preserving evidence, photographs, videos, and documents that were later used in international investigations and tribunals,” Moćević said. “They helped societies remember what happened and seek accountability.”

Building New International Partnerships

During the seminar, participants also visited the Suspilne Lutsk newsroom, where they learned how a regional public broadcaster operates during wartime and discussed current reporting priorities with local colleagues.

The central element of the four-day event, however, was collaborative work on future cross-border journalism projects.

Working in mixed international teams, journalists developed project ideas focused on reconstruction, anti-corruption efforts, support for internally displaced people, humanitarian aid, community resilience, environmental recovery, and countering disinformation.

At the end of the seminar, each team presented its concept for a future international reporting project. The most promising proposals will receive grant support for implementation.

More importantly, the seminar created a network of new professional connections between Ukrainian and European journalists. What began as a four-day meeting in Lutsk may soon develop into long-term collaborations that help international audiences better understand Ukraine’s recovery and the people behind it.

Photo by Anna Klochko