A war always plays on people’s vulnerabilities, civil societies’ shortcomings and influences freedom of speech and democracy. And even after eight years of war, Ukrainian society stays calm and mobilizes itself. There is a new sense of unity. According to a poll, every third Ukrainian would fight to protect Ukraine’s integrity against a Russian invasion.

How to stay objective during a crisis? What constitutes unbiased and balanced coverage? How to uncover problems in Ukraine and not be viewed as a Kremlin agent? These and more questions dominate the work in UA:PBC’s newsroom. Angelina says: “We know what is right or wrong professionally, we need to distinguish between what is fact and what is opinion and we produce our output accordingly!”

In a time of crisis, an independent public broadcaster is essential. Ukraine has a crowded media market, but even a small independent media outlet could influence change. Step by step, the public broadcaster UA:PBC is broadening its audience and building trust. “It is always important to have someone working in the interest of the whole Ukrainian society,” says Angelina Kariakina.

For many young professionals in Ukraine, journalism is a transitional job: inadequate pay and the threat of war detract from the profession. Some are headhunted by oligarch-supported media, or they feel they have to quit and find a better-paid job to support their families.

Before the pandemic’s second wave, the newsroom team was finally able to meet in person. Being able to talk face-to-face helped critical decision-making. But now, with the second COVID-19 wave underway, the team again is split into shifts, with many journalists working from home.

Everyone responsible for radio and TV works from the newsroom. The newsgathering team looks at important daily topics and decides which ones to cover. There are producers in touch with government authorities, as well as 24 regional offices. But the most valuable stories are the ones directly pitched from the public because those lead to immediate communication and engagement with the audience.