Ukraine: Online media school set to launch | Europe/Central Asia | DW | 13.02.2015
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Europe/Central Asia

Ukraine: Online media school set to launch

Ukraine's first online school for journalists was launched in February. DW Akademie project manager Olena Ponomarenko played a key role in developing the concept and shares her thoughts on the new web-based program.

Olena Ponomarenko, DW Akademie project manager (photo: DW Akademie/Elena Singer).

"The Media E-School offers a combination of online and classroom teaching," says DW Akademie project manager, Olena Ponomarenko

The new "Ukrainian Media E-School" offers comprehensive, advanced training for professional journalists and media managers who live outside the country's major urban areas. The program is made up of two, five-month segments focusing on journalism and media management. The segments are divided into modules looking at specific areas such as investigative journalism, social media and data journalism. The program uses a combination of online and classroom instruction.

Why does Ukraine need a media e-school?
Olena Ponomarenko: The idea goes back to the time when former president Viktor Yanukovych was still in power. During my research, I found that media professionals in Ukraine rarely receive additional training in their field. While most Ukrainian universities have journalism departments, often the quality of education offered there leaves much to be desired. Editorial offices usually employ young people and the majority have had no real training apart from short workshops run by international organizations. The workshops, however, don't necessarily focus on their needs. The one well-respected, thorough training program on offer was funded by the oligarch Rinat Achmetow. But that's now closed due to financial issues.

How are the courses at the new e-school designed?
These are "blended learning" courses - an approach that combines online and classroom teaching. It's flexible to accommodate participants' own schedules, inexpensive and an effective way to learn. Approximately 80 percent of the program is based on distance learning. Each seminar starts with a two-day workshop in Kyiv, after which journalists return home with assignments. There are then web seminars, tests and video lectures every week, as well as set times when students can get together in chat rooms to discuss and exchange ideas. The trainers also give participants intensive feedback via e-mail on all assignments that are completed.

Who are the course trainers?
Both the project's sponsor, the Independent Association of Broadcasters (IAB), and ourselves knew it was crucial to include local Ukrainian trainers to ensure that the e-school is rooted in the local culture and sustainable. We also wanted to make sure that we don't ignore the needs of regional media workers. The IAB chose four Ukrainian lecturers who have extensive experience with regional media, and who are young and highly motivated. Denis Bigus, for example, is a special correspondent and host of a highly successful investigative program called "Naschi Hroschi" ("Our Money"). He'll be conducting the module on investigative journalism. Myhailo Koltsov, another trainer, works for "stopfake." It's an initiative that aims to expose the dissemination of false information and propaganda around the Ukraine conflict.

What does DW Akademie hope to achieve with the e-school?
The aim is to improve the quality of information available to Ukrainians living outside of the capital and other urban centers by offering professional training to local media workers. While the eastern part of Ukraine is engulfed in conflict, the rest of the country is struggling through a complicated reform and modernization process. To avoid a further increase in political and social tension, this process has to be transparent and include the public. The media can play a decisive role in this if it offers objective information representing a variety of viewpoints. It also hast to act as a broker between the state and Ukrainians by offering a platform for dialogue. This is the only way to ensure that people become part of the political process. The e-school can contribute to this by strengthening local and independent journalism.

What is currently the biggest threat to independent journalism in Ukraine?
I see three critical factors. The first is journalists' physical safety. Last year a total of six Ukrainian journalists were killed in the Maidan protests and the war in the east. The second is that neither Ukrainian journalists nor the government were prepared for an information war with Russia. The result was that journalists began questioning themselves and their work, and many simply ignored the basic standards of journalism. Regardless of whether it's a question of patriotism or their own standing in society, many journalists tend to withhold important information that might challenge their own position. Finally, the current economic crisis is threatening the survival of many independent media outlets. The danger is that they'll become dependent on powerful sponsors and that would lead to additional problems.

How do people use media in Ukraine?
The Internet is becoming an important information source, not just in the cities but in the countryside as well. This is partly a result of the Maidan protests where people began looking for more credible and critical journalism. Television, however, is still dominant and is the most important information source for more than 90 percent of the population. Radio, unfortunately, is just seen as a source of entertainment.

What does DW Akademie see as potential challenges for the Ukrainian media e-school?
We're curious to see how participants respond to web-based instruction, and whether they stick with the program. In addition, Ukraine's economy has drastically deteriorated over the past few months. If media outlets start closing because of that, journalists won't see further training as a priority. Still, we're optimistic. There are more and more bloggers and successful independent journalists out there, and the e-school courses meet their needs perfectly.

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  • Date 13.02.2015
  • Author Elena Singer / hw
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  • Date 13.02.2015
  • Author Elena Singer / hw
  • Print Print this page
  • Permalink https://p.dw.com/p/1EbVK