The war in Ukraine shed light on the importance of supporting local media outlets. In the face of life and death situations, viewers sought to find more trustworthy news sources. Local Ukrainian media outlets attempted to provide such news while working in dangerous environments with no income, no internet, and damaged equipment.
In the context of the Russia-Ukraine War, it is difficult for smaller, local media outlets to survive. Dima Khilchenko from BBC Media Action argues that many local Ukrainian news outlets are up against bigger outlets funded by oligarchs promoting their own interests. Nevertheless, local journalism became a source of safety during the war and there was a greater demand for finding reliable information in a field of manipulated news.
What complicates our understanding of disinformation is the increased use of artificial intelligence. The role of technology and AI challenges current media regulations and conceptions of freedom of expression. Kyrylo Loukerenko of the Hromadske Radio, a Ukrainian media outlet, explains that in the modern-day, governments and militaries can use AI to spread disinformation in various languages on social media. This complicates the mission of local news outlets, as they now have to provide consistent, objective news while combating disinformation spread by AI on social media.
Beyond the role of AI, social media platforms play a significant role in instigating modern-day conflicts. According to Dr. John Roozenbeek and Yara Kyrychenko of the University of Cambridge, successful disinformation narratives on social media tap into the frustrations and concerns of media users, often manipulating identity politics. Thus, powerful disinformation campaigns are not backed by outright lies but instead, manipulate people’s concerns by exaggerating actual political issues.
The lessons we can take away from the Russia-Ukraine war are that there should be greater investments in the safety of journalists, with a focus on supporting local narratives and improving media literacy to combat widespread disinformation. While we can increase investments in local media outlets, it is ineffective without improved media literacy. Susan Abbott, an independent consultant who has worked with ghe US Agency for International Development (USAID) discusses USAID’s support for media programs in Ukraine that focus on four key areas: high-quality content production, media literacy, media reforms, and sustainability of the independent media sector. She argues that governments should promote media literacy by creating programs in schools and among local communities. Similarly, Allison Reed of the DT Institute argues that media literacy programs should prioritize combating gender disinformation. Gender disinformation is often considered a secondary media issue, especially during the Russia-Ukraine war. It is important to incorporate a gendered lens in all forms of media coverage and to not isolate gendered conversations into their own news stories.
These findings were discussed during the session, “Strategic Approaches to Tackling Disinformation: Lessons from Ukraine,” during the 10th PeaceCon Conference held in Washington DC during May 3-5, 2023.
Panelists:
Susan Abbott, Independent Consultant
Dima Khilchenko, BBC Media Action
Kyrylo Loukerenko, Hromadske Radio
Allison Reed, DT Institute
Dr. John Roozenbeek, the University of Cambridge
Yara Kyrychenko, the University of Cambridge
Image: Ukraine journalist
Tia Savarese
Tia Savarese is a recent graduate of the George Washington University with a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs with concentrations in Conflict Resolution and Security Policy and a minor in Spanish. She serves as the Commissioning Editor and Social Media Manager for Peace News Network while residing in Washington, DC. Before joining PNN, she interned for a communication firm, a think tank, and the federal government.
