The Women in Media NGO, in cooperation with the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) and with the support of the Federal Foreign Office of Germany, is launching the Women Leaders in Investigative Journalism – Ukrainian-European Support Program.
The selected participants are:
- Kateryna Saienko, Suspilne — Investigative Journalist.
- Yana Korniichuk, Slidstvo.Info — Investigative Journalist.
- Svitlana Stetsenko, Bihus.Info — Journalist.
- Liubov Velychko, contributor to TEXTY.org.ua, Mind.ua and other media outlets — Investigative Journalist.
- Anna Myroniuk, freelance investigative journalist and editor; formerly an editor of RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service and Head of Investigations at The Kyiv Independent.
- Nataliya Onysko, NGL.media — CEO and Co-founder.
- Olesia Bida, The Kyiv Independent — Reporter with the War Crimes Investigations Unit.
- Olena Kushchenko, Texty.org.ua — Freelance Journalist.
- Yuliia Khimeryk, freelancer collaborating with Slidstvo.Info, the Media Initiative for Human Rights and Nikcenter — Investigative Journalist.
- Iryna Maliukova, Cherkasy Information Agency “18000” NGO — Head of the Video Department.
The program aims to strengthen a diverse, resilient and European-integrated investigative journalism ecosystem in Ukraine by supporting the professional development, visibility and leadership of women investigative journalists, while fostering cooperation with the European journalism community despite the challenges posed by Russia’s war against Ukraine.
The program builds on the success of the Women Leaders in Media – Ukrainian-European Support Program, implemented by Women in Media in 2025.
The journalists who were not selected this year are no less professional or committed. However, due to the limited number of places available, the selection process was highly competitive. Women in Media plans to create additional opportunities for cooperation and professional development in the future.
The European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) is a non-profit organisation founded in Leipzig, Germany, in 2015. It operates on the basis of the European Charter on Freedom of the Press and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. ECPMF’s mission is to promote, preserve and defend media freedom. The organisation monitors violations of media freedom, provides practical support to journalists and media organisations, and brings together diverse stakeholders across Europe to strengthen the protection of freedom of expression.
Women in Media is a Ukrainian non-governmental organisation founded by women journalists in 2019. Its vision is a media environment where women have equal opportunities for professional development and leadership, and where newsrooms operate on the principles of equality, inclusion and respect for human rights.
The organisation’s mission is to unite, support and empower the community of Ukrainian women journalists. To achieve this, Women in Media implements professional development programmes, conducts research, develops media policies and recommendations, carries out advocacy initiatives, provides practical support to women journalists, and builds partnerships with Ukrainian and international organisations.
#CivilSocietyCooperation