Reporting Together: German and Ukrainian journalists formed cross-border teams

The project brings together journalists from Ukraine and Germany to collaborate on stories from Ukraine for German media, aiming to deliver first-hand, in-depth reporting for German audiences and foster lasting professional exchange.

During the meeting in Berlin, participants delved into the German public discourse on Ukraine and how it changed since the beginning of the war in 2014 and since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Historian Franziska Davies recounted key events that shaped the modern history of Ukraine, and diagnosed an unwillingness among many German decision-makers to reckon with the past which hinders understanding of Russia's war of aggression.

The collapse of the German government and possible stances Germany might take towards Ukraine after the snap elections coming up in February has been a recurring topic throughout the four days, particularly at Zeit Online at a roundtable with Anna Sauerbrey, Alice Bota and Michael Schumann. Long-serving correspondent for Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung Konrad Schuller shared insights on what approaches to military support for Ukraine that competing political parties might take in the election campaign. The group visited the newsroom of Die Welt, and head of the foreign desk Caroline Turzer spoke about the stories that have resonated with her readers.

In a workshop with Correctiv fact-checker Max Bernhard, participants identified the most prominent propaganda narratives about Ukraine finding fertile ground in Germany. He noted that the authorities could do more to combat disinformation, but also highlighted there must be limits to state control over information. How to report stories that will convey the horrors of war without retraumatising survivors? It’s important to give interviewees a choice and a sense of agency over what to share and when to stop the conversation, advised Gavin Rees from the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma.

The fourth day was dedicated to group work facilitated by Anastasia Rodi, who shared her experience both as a freelancer pitching stories to German media but also receiving pitches as an editor. Participants workshopped their story ideas, formed teams and began planning their research. In the coming weeks, participants from Germany head to different parts of Ukraine – depending on the story they had chosen as a team – where they will meet their Ukrainian colleague to conduct research and produce collaborative pieces for German media.