Lviv Media Forum Conference 2025

At this highly anticipated event, media professionals from all over the world will raise the most important issues in journalism and democracy. In 2025, the three-day forum, which will take place on May 15-17, will focus on “Speak the Unspoken: Choices, Decisions, Responsibilities”. 

RE:Cover Ukraine organises and hosts the panel discussion on the second Conference day, introducing Yuliia Dukach, Ukrainian data journalist and Head of Disinformation Investigations at OpenMinds, and Mikkeline Thomsen, Partner at the Danish Research Cooperative Analyse & Ta. Both Yuliia and Mikkeline have done investigations about online violence on Facebook and YouTube, where vulnerable groups are targeted. Morten Hansen, Chairman of the organization, will moderate the panel.

With it, we want to draw attention to disinformation, hate speech, and verbal attacks, trying to create a chilling effect on journalists and opinion leaders in the public debate. It frustrates the democratic process and urges politicians, journalists, scientists, and others to withdraw from the civil dispute. It can have devastating results, especially for Ukraine in the current circumstances, so we want to discuss the issue in detail and start crafting efficient solutions.

“Our study shows that a strong digital civil society is required to counter disinformation, hate speech, and verbal attacks. Citizen-driven Facebook groups throw some social glue into the social debate”, Mikkeline Thomsen says.

Yuliia Dukach was among the authors of Texty’s publication “Spoon of Hate”. Presenting the research in question, she said: “All the examples are there so that next time you will not advise to simply ‘ignore the haters’. Because it is impossible to ignore them, especially when they move from public comments to private messages”.

Kateryna Rodak, an investigative reporter at NGL.Media, will share her real-life experience and stories that made an impact, but at the same time made her a target. 

The panel will be held in the format of “Presentations + Q&A”, so the audience will have the opportunity to express their opinions and ask the speakers any questions they are concerned about.

See you at the Lviv Media Forum!