Hromadske Radio has adopted a new Gender Equality Policy in Media Content, developed by Women in Media and the Commission on Journalistic Ethics with the support from the OSCE. This document supersedes the previous Editorial Code of Ethics on Gender-Sensitive Policy, which had been in effect since 2022.
Editor-in-chief Viktoriia Yermolaieva explains that the new policy responds to the challenges Ukrainian media face during the full-scale war: “The updated gender policies are a comprehensive response to today’s realities. They include balanced representation of women and men in content, rules to avoid retraumatization when reporting on domestic and gender-based violence, and clear guidelines for covering conflict-related sexual violence. We don’t chase sensationalism; we first assess the potential impact of a publication. One of our core standards is ‘do no harm.’”
The policy is public, written, and mandatory for all team members, regardless of employment status. Hromadske Radio incorporates it into daily editorial work and conducts regular internal monitoring to assess its implementation.
Liza Kuzmenko, head of Women in Media and a member of the Commission on Journalistic Ethics, emphasizes: “This is a strong message to audiences, the team, and partners: the media stands for human rights and professional standards. It also serves as a reminder that editorial policies must be regularly reviewed and updated. New challenges arise, terminology evolves, and society’s understanding of ethics and sensitivity continues to grow.”
“I’m grateful to Women in Media for developing these policies and for consistently highlighting gender equality issues in the media. Since the beginning of the full-scale war, Ukrainian newsrooms have had to work in new conditions and rapidly acquire new skills. That’s why reviewing editorial policies is such a crucial part of our work. This is what distinguishes responsible newsrooms that follow standards and recognize the impact of their content,” commented Hromadske Radio’s editor-in-chief.
It’s worth noting that other media outlets, including Ukrainska Pravda, LB.ua, Espreso, Kyiv24, Channel 5, and others, have already adopted the Gender Equality Policy in Media Content.
If your media is also interested in adopting or updating a gender equality policy and needs assistance, feel free to contact ngo.womeninmedia@gmail.com. Women in Media offers support tailored to your editorial needs.