Київ Media Hub:
A New Haven to Strengthen Ukraine’s Media Community

The hub will provide networking, professional development and community-building opportunities for media makers

Since the onset of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine over two years ago, media professionals  have been crucial in providing the public with accurate information, and countering disinformation. Yet, behind the headlines, Ukrainian journalists and media professionals continue enduring severe physical, psychological and digital threats, as their lives have been heavily disrupted.

In response to these challenges, Media in Cooperation and Transition (MiCT) with support from UNESCO, the people of Japan, and the German Federal Foreign Office, is launching Київ Media Hub, a safe haven for Ukrainian journalists and media makers affected by the ongoing full-scale invasion. The co-working space will provide networking and professional development opportunities, geared towards enhancing their journalistic skills and resilience through risk awareness, safety planning and digital security. 

Київ Media Hub will also foster a community of solidarity and collaboration among media professionals. By bringing together diverse individuals, the Hub aims to create a supportive network where individuals share resources, ideas, and emotional support, collectively building resilience over shared journeys of courage and hope.

Through the Hannah-Arendt-Initiative, Germany’s journalist protection programme, we have supported over 1,400 Ukrainian media activists and 15 media outlets since 2022. The Київ Media Hub operated by our network partner MiCT will be a valuable addition to this programme's toolbox,” Peter Ptassek, Director for Strategic Communication and Public Diplomacy in the German Foreign Office said.

Communities and people in Ukraine and abroad are counting on Ukrainian journalists to provide reliable information during the ongoing war. It is our shared duty to ensure that journalists can do their work in safe environments, conducive to exchange and with access to support. UNESCO therefore is honored to continue contributing to this endeavor, by the creation of the Київ Media Hub,” said Chiara Dezzi Bardeschi, Head of UNESCO Desk in Ukraine.

The Київ Media Hub is dedicated to building a community that will not only enhance the professional resilience and capabilities of Ukrainian media professionals at a time when they need it the most, but also contribute to a stronger, more united front in the pursuit of truth and peace in Ukraine,” said Klaas Glenewinkel, Founder and Managing Director at MiCT.

Since 2022, MiCT has supported over 90 Ukrainian young media professionals through the Fellowship for Critical Voices, subsidized publications of over 30 Ukrainian media outlets and led various initiatives to foster connections between regional and national journalists across the country. In June 2024, MiCT will publish the book “Unbroken”, which will compile stories of fortitude and resilience of these journalists, from both local and regional Ukrainian perspectives.