Is it applicable to speak about new tendencies within the media throughout a time of struggle? The reply is sure it’s, and furthermore we should always.The world is consistently transferring ahead and growing, and happily that features the Ukrainian media. If any journalist tells you the opposite, or that the Ukrainian media has ceased to exist, they don’t seem to be following an ongoing scenario.
Quite a lot of media shops have certainly turn into defunct due to the struggle, however new ones have emerged and maintain rising, largely on-line. Ukraine’s Nationwide Union of Journalists, along with worldwide companions, continues to supply invaluable assist to the nation’s media.
Listed below are some new tendencies within the Ukrainian media.
1. Journalists are creating their very own on-line platforms
Many journalists who’ve misplaced their jobs have created their very own on-line platforms, comparable to Telegram and YouTube channels. In some circumstances, these have turn into very fashionable, and have taken the journalist to a brand new stage of their profession. Some journalists merely use their private Fb pages as media shops. Nevertheless, such private media is clearly a type of running a blog. It might be higher if it have been complementary to conventional journalism. I’m satisfied that it’s attainable to stay an expert journalist provided that one works for or cooperates with skilled media shops.
2. Publications with out unique content material haven’t any prospects
Journalists with out media organisations is a tragic actuality. However the scenario is much more paradoxical: there are additionally media shops… with out journalists. Many such publishers are actually prioritising content material writers whose job is to extend site visitors with a purpose to entice promoting. Journalists have usually turn into “superfluous”, underestimated in each sense. There may be one vital twist, although: Google attributes a poor rating to media shops which don’t publish unique content material (interviews, investigations, and so forth.) as a result of it doesn’t contemplate such publications worthy of consideration. Such shops haven’t any prospects.
3. In the present day’s foremost subject is struggle, however peacetime subjects aren’t any much less fashionable
After all, readers are fascinated by struggle information, interviews with navy consultants, and so forth. However peacetime subjects are additionally in demand. These embody economics, sports activities, tradition, science, life-style (gastronomy, trend, design, and so forth). For instance, the subjects of residence renovation and inside design have large viewing numbers on on-line media. Why? Individuals have began to worth household life and residential comforts in a particular manner. Those that have been compelled to go away their houses miss them and need to return as quickly as attainable. Life goes on regardless of the struggle.
For my part, it has turn into extraordinarily vital to protect the skilled specialisation of journalists. For instance, sports activities journalists ought to maintain protecting sports activities, and financial journalists ought to maintain protecting financial information. In the present day there’s an pressing want to debate the rebuilding of Ukraine and the restoration of its industries after the struggle is over. As a way to do that successfully, skilled journalists must know their topic inside out, to observe what is occurring of their area.
4. Give attention to fact-checking
The checking of info is each vital and in demand. For instance, Ukraine’s Ukrinform information company has a piece known as “Factcheck”. “Ukrinform ensures its readers 100% accuracy and helps them recognise and debunk fakes”, it says. The company says that its fact-checking is carried out by a bunch inside its international part. Coaching in fact-checking abilities was supplied to the editorial employees by consultants from the AFP information company, which has world-leading experience in info verification, and the Austrian information company APA.
5. Probably the most promising subject is IT
Nearly each generalist media outlet now has a piece dedicated to expertise. As well as, new skilled IT publications are being launched in Ukraine. The recognition of the subject is defined by the truth that IT is an financial powerhouse. It will likely be vital for Ukraine’s improvement now and after the struggle.
6. Enterprise content material
Enterprise information has turn into one other focus of the Ukrainian media. The topic is clearly important for the nation’s restoration. Typically the topic is the development enterprise, agriculture, or the hospitality trade. A associated journalistic area of interest is materials on life-style subjects (trend, meals, design, tourism, and so forth). This sort of content material ranks properly on the social web, which helps to draw promoting. As the primary lifestyle-specialised editor in Ukraine, the subject of tendencies and life-style is particular to me. It’s a new area of interest in Ukrainian journalism, the topic of a lot curiosity and potential. Understanding social tendencies, even on the forecasting stage, is a key to the success of companies and the nation’s financial system as a complete.
7. Amount determines high quality
A current phenomenon within the world media is so-called gatekeeping. That is about avoiding an overabundance of stories and deciding on it extra rigorously. It might additionally improve views on on-line media, together with in Ukraine. Articles in main publications are merely turning into shorter, whereas remaining simply as informative.
8. Welcome, AI! However reside journalism is extra vital
The affect of synthetic intelligence (AI) is being felt everywhere in the world. Main media shops are beginning to deploy content material administration programs that suggest high-profile subjects for publications, that choose tags, headlines, and so forth. AI is beginning to substitute writers. On the identical time, reside journalism, which can’t be changed by AI, is turning into more and more helpful.
This text is printed in partnership with the Voices of Ukraine mission by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom.