Media Camp on frontline reporting takes place in Ukraine

As part of the Fight for Facts! project, n-ost hosted a practical media camp for aspiring war correspondents from Ukraine’s regions. The training took place on 12–17 October 2025 in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast and brought together 11 journalists from Sumy, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, Kherson, and other cities.

The media camp focused on responsible and safe reporting from combat zones and frontline communities. Throughout the programme, participants worked closely with experienced war reporters: Diana Butsko (Hromadske) and Francis Farrell (The Kyiv Independent). The trainers guided their colleagues through key editorial and practical challenges of covering the ongoing war.

The group explored topics such as gaining access to locations and sources, navigating trauma-informed interviewing, finding the right angle for their stories, and producing materials in various formats.

A significant part of the discussions was dedicated to safety issues, particularly the recent increase in drone attacks. Participants talked about how this affects access to locations and work on the ground, and discussed ways to assess risks and adapt to emerging threats.

In addition to professional discussions, participants took part in a one-day practical training on pre-medical assistance, conducted by a volunteer from the Ukrainian medical battalion Hospitallers. Participating journalists learned how to help themselves and others in cases of life-threatening injuries — including severe bleeding, airway blockages, and more.

During the camp, all participants were also invited to pitch story ideas and receive both financial support and editorial mentorship to develop them further. As a result, seven journalists were awarded mini-grants and given the opportunity to work on original reports within the project framework.

Fight for Facts! is a joint project by n-ost, Lviv Media Forum (Lviv), and the Institute of Mass Information (Kyiv). The initiative supports regional media outlets in Ukraine in their efforts to combat fake news and disinformation – ongoing threats to journalistic integrity and informed public discourse.

Through workshops, a grant programme, individual consultations, and other tailored activities, participating media outlets gain tools and support to strengthen their capacity and become even more credible and trusted sources of information within their communities.

The project is financed by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) of Germany.