Living Under Threat: Ukraine, Russian journalists share struggles of wartime reporting

One year into Russia’s full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine, journalists in both countries have responded valiantly in insisting on their right to provide independent, accurate, and piercing news coverage that serves the public’s interests. 

As so many of the region’s journalists have pushed themselves to the limit in covering the war and its many ramifications, the physical, mental, and emotional toll is growing. Ukrainian journalists have worked to provide coverage of the war’s ruinous impacts on their communities despite risks to their personal safety, emotional trauma, and uncertain financial prospects. And Russian journalists have made the difficult decision to leave their families, flee Russia, and make a new life abroad rather than submit to the Kremlin’s propaganda machine demands.

On Thursday, March 2, the National Press Club’s Press Freedom Committee and the National Press Club Journalism Institute will host a virtual discussion with Russian and Ukrainian journalists to discuss the ongoing challenges to their work, including: 

• their daily struggles under fire,
• threats from the Russian government, and
• efforts to seek asylum abroad and maintain a journalism practice. 

Registration for the virtual discussion, which will be from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. ET on Zoom, is open. 

Confirmed speakers include:

Elizaveta Kirpanova, who worked as a special reporter of the Russian independent newspaper “Novaya Gazeta” for the past five years. In her articles, she covered problems in health care, education system, charity, and immigration. The Russian government recently revoked the newspaper’s media license for its position on the war in Ukraine.

Olga Rudenko, the editor in chief of The Kyiv Independent. Prior to 2022, she was the Managing Editor of The Kyiv Post.

Anastasia Tishchenko, a human rights reporter and news presenter with Radio Svoboda, RFE/RL’s Russian Service based in Prague since 2021. She joined RFE/RL in Moscow in 2017 as a reporter covering the deteriorating rights situation in Russia. She also has spent significant time in Ukraine. 

Jessica Jerreat, who leads Voice of America’s award-winning press freedom coverage, will moderate the discussion. With a background in press freedom and international news, Jerreat has worked for organizations including the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists and The Times of London. She has a master’s degree in War, Media, and Society from the University of Kent at Canterbury, with a focus on propaganda, the press, and conflict.

More panelists to be added.

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