The value of credible news in a time of crisis
The war in Ukraine has shocked the world.
It can be difficult to know how to support in times of such conflict and human suffering. As organizations like The Red Cross, UNHCR and others provide much needed aid, it is also crucial that we have factually accurate information flowing out of Ukraine to relay the reality of the situation and help communicate the need for support on the ground.
Credible, trusted news sources have become increasingly more important in recent years and never more so than right now. Practicing good media hygiene – being responsible for checking the credibility of our sources before we like, comment and share – ensures we are all playing our part in stopping the spread of misinformation.
Beyond the traditional news outlets, we are also witnessing another historical moment for citizen journalists as Ukrainians are sharing powerful accounts of the conflict through social media. They have helped to mobilize the world by telling stories of regular citizens from all segments of society fighting back to defend themselves, their families and their country.
Working in the world of communications, we are in awe of the bravery and commitment required to provide true and thorough reporting. In support of this bravery, we wanted to share some credible sources that our team has been following to keep up to date on the evolving conflict on the ground. Read more below:
The Kyiv Independent is Ukraine’s English-language media outlet, created by journalists who were fired from the Kyiv Post for defending editorial independence. In November, more than 30 journalists from the Kyiv Post launched the Kyiv Independent. They are currently funded completely by donors and through their GoFundMe page.
Salwan Georges is a staff photojournalist at The Washington Post currently working on the ground in Kharkiv, Ukraine.
Ukraine Crisis Media Centre is the only press center in Ukraine that provides full-circle support of press events – briefings, conferences, presentations, round table and panel discussions.
Olga Rudenko is the chief editor of Kyiv Independent and has been sharing photos on social media of the ongoing destruction being caused in Kyiv. On February 24 she shared a video of herself reporting live outside of a university in Kyiv during the Russian invasion.
Mark MacKinnon is the Globe and Mail’s senior international correspondent. He has worked in Moscow, the Middle East, and Beijing, and is currently in Ukraine.
Nataliya Gumenyuk is a journalist specializing in international security, conflict reporting and human rights. Co-founder of the Ukrainian-British venture Public Interest Journalism Lab, Nataliya is based in Kyiv.
Nolan Peterson is a conflict journalist and author who has been based in Kyiv since 2014. A former US Air Force special operations pilot and a veteran of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, Nolan is now a senior editor for Coffee or Die Magazine and the author of Why Soldiers Miss War.
Jessica Yellin is an American journalist who is focused on sharing #NewsNotNoise. Focused primarily on politics, she was the Chief White House Correspondent for CNN in Washington, from 2011 to 2013. Over the last few months, she has been sharing realtime updates about the crisis and invasion in Ukraine on her Instagram account and on her podcast, News Not Noise.
Terrell Jermaine Starr is the host and founder of Black Diplomats Podcast, where he publishes weekly episodes about Ukraine, Russia and Eastern Europe. He is also a regular contributor to Foreign Policy Magazine, where he covers Eastern European politics and the intersection of foreign policy and race. He is currently on the ground in Ukraine, providing updates via Twitter.
If you’re looking for other ways you can help the Ukrainian community during this time, consider donating to the following organizations:
Canadian Red Cross is the Canadian arm of the international emergency-relief organization. The federal government will match individual donations by Canadians up to $10M.
Canada-Ukraine Foundation coordinates Canadian charitable aid to Ukraine. They are based here in Toronto.
Voices of Children offers mental health and psychological support to children affected by the conflict in Eastern Ukraine.
Phoenix Wings is a charitable foundation that supplies the Ukrainian army with medical treatment and defensive equipment such as vests and helmets.
