Контент: TV

The Power of Women: Women’s Visibility and Leadership During Wartime

Context

Russia’s full-scale invasion has radically transformed women’s roles in Ukrainian society — in sports, the military, volunteering, civic life, and professional spheres. At the same time, women are often portrayed in the media as part of the “background of war” rather than as active participants. The Vikna STB team chose a systematic format to consistently highlight women’s leadership and agency during wartime.

What has been done

Within the framework of the news and current affairs program, the team created the thematic video playlist “The Power of Women,” which brings together television stories about Ukrainian women from different fields — athletes, professionals, activists, and servicewomen.

Each episode centers on a woman’s personal story, her decisions, inner transformations, fears, and the responsibilities she has taken on during the war. One of the protagonists is Alina Shukh, a multiple world champion in athletics with an American education, who left her sports career and became a service member of the Khartiia Brigade in the Kharkiv region.

How it was implemented

The stories were produced as television reports for the national telethon “United News.” After broadcast, the reports were compiled into a dedicated playlist and adapted for digital audiences on YouTube, extending the lifespan of the content and expanding its reach.

“It was crucial for us to speak about women’s leadership not as a one-time topic but systematically, so that it becomes part of the everyday news agenda rather than an exception,” says Tymur Levchuk, Head of Diversity and Inclusion at Starlight Media.

Impact

The playlist increased the visibility of women in traditionally “male” fields such as sports, the military, and public leadership. Audiences were offered concrete examples of women’s agency and active participation in defending the country.

The project contributes to an alternative narrative about women in wartime — not as passive witnesses to events, but as full-fledged agents of change and decision-making.

What other newsrooms can learn

  • Work in series rather than through isolated stories; regularity helps establish a new narrative instead of presenting exceptional cases.
  • Portray women through their decisions and responsibilities, not only through emotions or suffering.
  • Repurpose broadcast content for digital platforms and new audiences.
  • Integrate women’s leadership into mainstream news coverage rather than confining it to special projects.

Increasing Inclusion and the Visibility of People with Disabilities Through Rehabilitation and Community Participation

Context

In the context of the full-scale war, the number of people with disabilities in Ukraine is increasing, including as a result of injuries, trauma, and deterioration of health. At the same time, media coverage of this topic is often limited to emotional stories or focuses on disability as a “problem” rather than on rights, opportunities, and systemic solutions.

For regional media, it is especially important to discuss inclusion in practical terms—to show what services exist at the local level, how rehabilitation works, and what opportunities people with disabilities have for full participation in community life.

What Was Done

The information and television agency VITA produced an episode of the talk show On Time dedicated to the inclusion of people with disabilities in Vinnytsia.

The program:

  • discussed key aspects of social integration, including rehabilitation, vocational education, employment, and family support;
  • emphasized that people with disabilities have the right not only to basic assistance but also to a full life and participation in social processes;
  • presented the issue through a discussion of opportunities, services, and community responsibility rather than through pity or dramatization.

How It Was Implemented

The talk show was organized as a studio-based expert discussion hosted by Oleksii Litvinov. Professional speakers were invited, including Roman Shtohryn, Director of the Podillia Comprehensive Rehabilitation Center, which made it possible to:

  • discuss rehabilitation on the basis of practical experience;
  • present concrete examples of available services and support programs;
  • explain the importance of a comprehensive approach that combines psychological, professional, and social assistance.

The talk-show format allowed the editorial team to combine informational and educational goals, making a complex topic understandable for a broad regional audience.

Impact

The program contributed to strengthening public discussion about the accessibility of urban services and the need for systematic support for people with disabilities at the community level.

The episode:

  • demonstrated positive examples of cooperation between civic organizations and public institutions;
  • shifted the focus from limitations to opportunities and rights;
  • increased audience awareness of rehabilitation and social services available in the region.

What Other Media Can Learn From This

  • Discuss disability within a human-rights framework, emphasizing rights, dignity, and opportunities rather than pity or charity.
  • Engage qualified experts and practitioners working in rehabilitation, education, or employment so that discussions are grounded in real solutions.
  • Show local services and support tools relevant to a specific community instead of relying on abstract discussions about “the disability problem.”
  • Use studio discussion formats for calm and constructive conversations about complex social issues, allowing space for explanation and clarification.
  • Avoid language that reinforces stigma, including wording that defines a person solely through disability rather than through their roles, experience, and participation in society.
  • Highlight the comprehensive nature of support, showing that rehabilitation is not only a medical process but also psychological, social, and professional integration.
  • Present inclusion as a shared responsibility of the community, not solely as an issue for individual people or families.