Calling Ukrainian media experts – applications open for MERIT FORUM

In Ukraine, the media landscape has developed dramatically since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Whilst media outlets and organisations have faced multiple challenges hindering their operationality including ongoing disinformation campaigns, media capture, and compromised media viability, the legislative framework and policies ensuring an enabling environment for media is significantly progressing.  

This development is influenced by Ukraine’s EU candidate status, which has prompted media reforms such as Ukraine’s new law “On Media”, promoting democracy and safeguarding human rights, including freedom of expression and access to information.

The MERIT is an opportunity for media experts from Ukraine to enhance their knowledge of Ukrainian and EU legislation, with a specific focus on measures and opportunities to promote an enabling environment for media and safeguard democracy and human rights.

With a youth focus, the programme seeks to encourage younger media professionals to bring forward innovative approaches and solutions, so that the next generation of leaders is equipped to address these critical issues. This includes exchange trips to Belgium and Denmark where participants have expert discussions with key media professionals, regulatory agencies, policy makers, research and academia institutions.

Participants can expect

• Access to an expert network consisting of Ukrainian, Danish and EU stakeholders and where relevant Eastern Partnership Countries.
• Enhanced knowledge of how Ukraine can draw on EU legislation to safeguard human rights and democracy including from the EU’s Audiovisual Media Services (AVMS) Directive, the Copyright Directive, the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA), and the Digital Services Act (DSA)
• Development and implementation of the transformative initiatives crucial for the Ukrainian media environment
• Introduction to tools enabling practical regulation including mechanisms to effectively defend the information space focusing on FIMI threats.
• Participations in two exchange trips to the EU

The Forum will include

• Kick-off meeting in Ukraine in March 2025
• Exchange trip to Belgium or other EU country in June 2025
• Exchange trip to Denmark in November 2025
• Final meeting in Ukraine in March 2026.
• MERIT Team Meetings (offline and online) during the whole project period of 12 months.  Exact dates to be determined.

Target group(s)

The focus will be on ensuring equal representation from all stakeholders who have applied. The target groups include:

• Media professionals including journalists
• Media lawyers
• Academics
• Government representatives

Criteria

• A professional background and expertise within the media sector
• A minimum of 7+ professional experience
• Strong leadership skills and motivation to improve the media environment
• The delegating organisation should support the employee’s participation in the programme activities, which will approximate 150 hours per year, including travel.
• Proficiency in English at B2 level or higher.

Costs

• The organisers will cover the costs of the program fee, curriculum, meals, accommodation, health insurance and international and local travels.

Application deadline

Apply by submitting your resume and application in English to meritforum@mediasupport.org no later than by 23:59 CET 15 February 2025.

Applicants may be invited for an interview. Only selected participants will be informed.

Background

The MERIT Forum is a component in IMS’s (International Media Support) Eastern Partnership programme REACH: Media partnerships for accountability and trust (hereafter REACH), which is funded by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. REACH aims to contribute to a more democratic, inclusive, and resilient information environment. Through the MERIT Forum IMS will look to facilitate capacity sharing and professional exchange on media laws, policies and practices with EU legislation, in line with international standards and with a strong focus on a Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA) and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).