In November, the participants of the “Women Leaders in Media — Ukraine-EU Support Program” spent a week in Berlin. It was an intensive professional visit with more than a dozen meetings with German media outlets, foundations, and organisations that support journalism, democracy, and civil society.
The programme was organised by the NGO Women in Media in cooperation with the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) and with the support of the Federal Foreign Office of Germany under the CivilSocietyCooperation initiative. Its goal is to strengthen the role of women in media, support their professional development, embed diversity and inclusion principles in newsrooms, and build lasting partnerships between Ukrainian and European institutions.
The participants are women leaders of major Ukrainian media outlets — from the national public broadcaster to independent newsrooms near the frontline and private media holdings. Out of 115 applications, 10 women were selected. The group turned out to be truly diverse both in professional experience and representation: the youngest participant is 25, the oldest 51. Among them are women with disabilities, wives of military service members, and internally displaced women.
Starting at Publix: A Media Hub Connecting Journalists and the Community
The first working day in Berlin began at Publix — a hub for journalists and the public that opened only in September 2024 and already brings together more than 30 organisations, newsrooms, independent media outlets, and nonprofit initiatives. Here, the group saw how Germany is building a shared space for media, civil society, and audiences, supporting newsrooms and fostering innovation. According to its founders, Publix aims to “remake” journalism — adapting it to modern challenges such as countering disinformation, protecting freedom of expression, and rebuilding public trust in media.
After the tour of the building, the participants spoke with Lea Bayer, Programme and Fundraising Manager at Publix, about programme planning, fundraising, and working with donors and partners. Publix became an example of how programme activities, public events, and the financial sustainability of media initiatives can be successfully combined.
The next visit was to MiCT (Media in Cooperation and Transition), an organisation that works with media operating in challenging environments around the world, including Ukraine. During the discussion, the MiCT team spoke about their approaches to training journalists, producing content in crisis contexts, and supporting partner newsrooms. For the participants, it was an opportunity to compare experiences of working during wartime and to discuss how shared media processes can strengthen societies and support public dialogue.
The day concluded with a meeting at the German Marshall Fund (GMF), where the participants discussed support for independent media, civil society, and democratic leadership. GMF is an influential transatlantic think tank and foundation established in 1972 as a gesture of gratitude from Germany for U.S. assistance under the Marshall Plan after World War II. For more than 50 years, GMF has been shaping policy and building partnerships between Europe and the United States. The Fund’s team presented programmes relevant to Ukraine and discussed with the leaders what support can look like during wartime and throughout recovery.
Independent Media and Models of Resilience
The second day focused on independent media and new formats for conversations about journalism.
The participants visited the newsroom of Taz, an independent daily German newspaper founded in 1978 in Berlin as an alternative to traditional media. It emerged from a civil society movement and positions itself as a left-liberal, environmentally conscious, and socially responsible outlet known for its cooperative model.
Konny Gellenbeck, project manager, shared insights into building the Taz Cooperative and its community-management practices, which have allowed the newspaper to remain financially independent and grow to more than 24,000 co-owners. Each member of the cooperative has only one vote — regardless of how much money they have invested. Gemma Teres Arilla explained how Taz also works actively with young journalists through the taz Panter Stiftung, a foundation that supports journalism.
In the evening, the participants returned to Publix for the Library Chats. The conversation was moderated by Tina Lee, Editor-in-Chief of Unbias the News and a representative of Hostwriter. This series of talks is designed as a safe space for women in media and the civic sector to openly discuss their work, challenges, mentorship, and collective action. The format follows the Chatham House Rules, allowing participants to share their experiences without the risk of public pressure.
After the Library Chats, a networking event took place where women journalists and women media managers from Ukraine and Germany could meet, exchange contacts, and discuss potential future collaborations.
When Foreign Policy Meets the Media: A Visit to the German Federal Foreign Office
A separate, strategically important part of the visit was the day of meetings with institutions that shape policies supporting Ukraine.
The programme participants visited the German Federal Foreign Office, where the Civil Society Cooperation team is based — the fund that supports the “Women Leaders in Media” programme as well as many other cross-border civic engagement initiatives.
Behind this meeting stands a clear political message: German foreign policy is grounded in the support of democracy, human rights, and a strong civil society. The participants had the opportunity to present the programme, speak about the state of Ukrainian media during the war, the situation of local outlets and women leaders in media, as well as broadcasting in the occupied territories and the impact of Big Tech on content distribution.
It was an opportunity to explain directly why Ukrainian media need institutional, rather than one-off, support — and how sustainable partnerships can amplify Ukraine’s voice in Europe and globally.
Feminist Newsrooms and Journalism Without Bias
Later that day, the participants visited the newsroom of Unbias the News — a feminist, cross-border newsroom platform that provides space for journalists who experience structural barriers in the field, working towards a more equitable and inclusive world of journalism and our study group.
Managing Directors Mercy Abang and Julia Vernersson spoke about the history of Unbias the News, its principles of diversity and collaboration, as well as its anti-discrimination practices in selecting stories, building teams, and working with freelancers from different countries. They also shared their experience of collaborating with women illustrators who create the outlet’s visual style.
The programme participants encouraged Unbias the News to engage Ukrainian women illustrators more actively in their projects — including Anna Sarvira, who also created illustrations for the “Women Leaders” project.
Another important meeting was a discussion round with Neue deutsche Medienmacher*innen (NdM), an organisation that supports journalists with and without migration backgrounds. NdM works to increase diversity in German media — both within newsroom teams and in the content they produce.
The participants discussed how Ukrainian women media leaders can collaborate with the network, share experiences, and create joint opportunities for inclusive journalism. Although Ukraine does not face large-scale external migration in the way many EU countries do, the war has resulted in a significant number of internally displaced people — which also creates a need for sensitive and inclusive reporting on displacement.
Deutsche Welle and EAF Berlin
A separate day was dedicated to the topics of diversity and gender equality in major media organisations and leadership programmes.
During a lunch discussion with Deutsche Welle’s Diversity Department, the participants met with Alexandra von Nahmen, Head of Programming at DW; Inese Lazda-Masula, Anti-Discrimination Officer; and Ulrike Vetter, Equal Opportunities Officer. As an international broadcaster, DW works with a multilingual audience and strives to combine high-quality journalism with inclusive approaches to staffing and storytelling.
The conversation focused on how the Diversity Service supports diverse voices on air and in the newsroom, how equal-opportunity mechanisms function, and which lessons could be valuable for Ukrainian media.
In particular, DW — like Ukraine’s public broadcaster Suspilne — uses the BBC’s 50:50 model to track the representation of women and men experts in its content. The discussion also touched on how artificial intelligence tools can help improve this mechanism.
After that, the group visited the Deutsche Welle office to see firsthand the workflows and environment where these approaches are put into practice.
At the end of the day, the group visited EAF Berlin — an association that has been supporting women in leadership positions in politics and business. It was the first institution ever in Germany to work independently and across political parties to promote more women in leadership positions in politics and business. Founded in 1996, it have steadily grown and developed in terms of content and programs. The organization draw from the expertise of over 25 years of experience in working with companies, academic institutions, administrative bodies, and political parties, combining a know-how with new approaches and discourses on the topics of diversity, equity & inclusion (DEI).
Dr. Helga Lukoschat, Senior Advisor at EAF, shared insights from projects aimed at supporting structurally vulnerable groups. For the participants, this meeting was an opportunity to compare approaches to women’s leadership in media, politics, and the corporate sector, as well as to consider potential joint initiatives.
The final day in Berlin was spent at the Social Hub in a reflection and debriefing format. After a series of intensive meetings, it was important not only to consolidate new contacts but also to reflect on everything they had seen and experienced.
What This Programme Offers: Voices of the Participants
For each leader, this week in Berlin was not only an opportunity for networking, but also a chance to rethink her role within the media community.
Ruslana Bryanska, Executive Director of Hromadske Radio: “I am very grateful for an intense and inspiring week in Berlin. This programme will stay with me for a long time. I’m already revisiting the webinar materials — and I will definitely do so again. I especially connected with the practical insights on communication from Olia Myrovych of LMF — now I always remember that you don’t have to respond to emails instantly, and there is no need to feel guilty if you don’t reply the same day. I’m also grateful for the webinar by biologist Petro Chornomorets — every time I overwork, I recall his warning about the risk of stroke. I truly appreciate that we talked about things that really matter and concern each of us, because the challenges women in Ukrainian media face are largely similar. Thank you for listening — and for being heard!”.
Yelyzaveta Nechyporuk, The Kyiv Independent, Head of Social Media: “For me, this was my first experience participating in such a programme, and it left a lasting impression. It was fascinating to meet all the participants in person, hear their stories, and learn about different approaches to work — it really makes you rethink your own perspective on media in Ukraine (and in Germany!). The programme helped me understand myself better as a professional: what truly inspires me, which skills I want to develop, and which direction I want to grow in. I gained more clarity, inner confidence, and a sense of space for growth. Yes, Berlin was exhausting, but it was the right kind of exhaustion. I returned home with new motivation and new ideas. Thank you!”.
Oksana Davydenko, Deputy Director for Legal Affairs at Starlight Media: “What inspired me the most were the networking opportunities with German women journalists, the experience of Unbias the News, and the discussion at EAF Berlin. After these meetings, I now have several ideas to discuss with colleagues about developing or launching new directions within Starlight Media.”
Anastasiia Ravva, Executive Producer at Espreso.TV:
“Taking part in the programme was an extremely valuable experience for me — primarily thanks to our incredible group. My main expectation was about people: to find like-minded women, to align our perspectives, to feel supported. ‘I’m here with my girls’ — this phrase describes the whole process perfectly. The atmosphere we created was friendly yet highly professional. We managed to build a real community — and Ukrainian media will only benefit from that.
The webinars on women’s leadership, the history of Ukrainian feminism, partnerships, burnout, and media development were particularly useful. The study visit to Berlin was intense and sometimes challenging, but every meeting proved valuable. GMF, the MFA, MiCT — all of these offered important insights into media support and understanding the Ukrainian context. Publix, Unbias the News, taz, DW, and EAF demonstrated different models of resilience, inclusion, and team management. It was important to see that in Germany, gender equality and inclusion are embedded in daily work, not just written on paper.
The visit left me with the feeling that Ukrainian voices need to sound louder and clearer in Europe — especially now, when Russian presence is still strongly felt there. Thank you for the excellent organisation and a well-designed programme that provided so many useful contacts! It is truly inspiring to move forward.”
Margarita Buhaichuk, Editor-in-Chief of Ukrainian Week:
“In Berlin, I was once again convinced that journalism around the world faces the same challenges and undergoes changes similar to those we are experiencing now in Ukraine. It was valuable to hear how newsrooms address gender inequality, how rapid technological development affects their work, what formats of cooperation exist between civil society organisations and media, how they cover the war in Ukraine, and what they communicate about us to their audiences.
It was also very encouraging to meet Ukrainian women who are part of major teams in Berlin and can therefore advocate for Ukrainian interests. At the same time, we saw that Russia continues to successfully advance imperial narratives — not without the help of journalists ‘in exile’. This once again proved that we need more Ukrainian voices in the world.
I want to end with a thought shared by Nataliia Pryhornytska, co-founder of the Alliance of Ukrainian Organisations in Berlin (we met her during the networking event). She said something along these lines: ‘It’s “Ukraine and other European countries”, not “Ukraine and Europe”. We must finally recognise that we are part of Europe.’ I sincerely thank all the organisers and the women who took part. It was an amazing time together!”
Next Steps
The study visit to Berlin was intensive yet strategically important: the participants deepened their professional connections with European foundations, media, and organisations; explored different models of resilience and inclusion in the media — from cooperatives to international broadcasters; discussed the challenges Ukrainian newsrooms face during the war directly with those shaping support policies; and outlined areas of cooperation that can help amplify Ukraine’s voice in the European information space.
The programme has several clear goals: to strengthen the role of women in media and support their professional growth; to promote the integration of inclusion and diversity principles within media organisations; to build partnerships with European institutions; to support participants through community, mentorship, and the power of sisterhood; and to jointly develop women’s leadership policies for Ukrainian media.
The study visit to Berlin became an important step in this process — a step that is already evolving into new ideas, partnerships, and collective documents that will contribute to the resilience of Ukrainian media and the visibility of Ukrainian voices in Europe.
Following the visit, the participants are preparing a joint policy paper — a document that will outline their conclusions and recommendations on supporting women in media, strengthening the institutional resilience of newsrooms, and advancing partnerships between Ukraine and the EU.