How the Work of Ukrainian Journalists Has Changed During the War

On February 24, 2022, Ukraine awoke to a new reality called «full-scale war» The war has affected nearly everyone in the country in various ways. Journalism during the war plays a key role in shaping public opinion, reporting on events that, in fact, determine the existence of the nation. Difficult times demand tough decisions, and journalists had to adapt to new conditions, which led to a redistribution of journalistic standards—changes that cannot go unnoticed. The war alters journalistic activity, which acquires the traits of social responsibility, meaning that, in wartime conditions, journalists have a moral obligation to filter materials and impose certain restrictions.

The complex political situation has changed the demands of society, which requires up-to-date and timely information, preferably with accompanying photos or videos. The versatility of modern Ukrainian journalists lies in the fact that the political situation requires them to use all possible tools to influence their audience. We live in a digitized society where the «effect of presence» created through interactive and digital communication channels, is an important competency for a journalist. Journalists now need to be able not only to write articles but also to work as photographers, camera operators, editors, and, when necessary, record audio synchs. Today, the Ukrainian media worker is truly a universal journalist, as the war demands the full range of professional skills, knowledge not only of journalistic standards but also of modern methods of influencing the audience: convergence, multimedia content creation, and various types of journalistic content, including subjective journalism, gonzo journalism, interpretative journalism, and others.

It is also necessary to mention war correspondents. A journalist on the front line carries a huge responsibility for the information they disseminate. Prominent examples of war correspondents include Andriy Tsaplienko, Denys Kazanskyi, Yuriy Butusov, and others. The process of understanding what can and cannot be shown, how to properly communicate with the military, and where potentially unacceptable content begins are skills that journalists acquire through experience. Sometimes, journalists make mistakes: to avoid harming national interests, the government has imposed legislative restrictions on the collection of materials. For example, under Order No. 73 of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine dated March 3, 2022, «On the Organization of Interaction Between the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Other Components of the Defense Forces, and Representatives of Mass Media During Martial Law» rules were established for the photo and video documentation by the media, leaders, influencers, and bloggers, provided they have accreditation.

To analyze the changes in the media during the war, we conducted a sociological survey through online questionnaires, where respondents answered questions about the transformations, roles, and changes in the rhetoric of journalists from the audience's perspective. The sociological survey was conducted among Ukrainian students from various educational institutions in Ukraine to find out what they consider to be the most important transformations in journalists' work during the war. The sample consisted of 131 people aged 16 to 35.

Among the proposed responses to the question, «What is the main element you can identify in the work of Ukrainian journalists at this stage?» the largest number of respondents (38.2%) chose the ability to bear great responsibility for the information they spread. One in five (20.6%) considered the ability to be a «universal» journalist as the most important element of their work.

62.6% of respondents noted that the media language has changed since February 24.

In response to the question «What specific changes in media rhetoric have you noticed?» the most common responses were a shift in the agenda toward the war, more relaxed language from presenters, and the consolidation of domestic media against Russia. It's impossible not to notice how the rhetoric of journalists has changed since February. The formal, sometimes pompous language has been replaced by a conversational style of reporting, sometimes even using slang, neologisms, and even profane language, which may conflict with journalistic standards that primarily emphasize objectivity and impartiality.

The main characteristics of the current state of journalism, according to the respondents, include:

1.     The development of military journalism and an increase in the number of war correspondents — 63.4%.

2.     The «effect of presence» through quick access to news, photos, and videos from the front lines — 61.8%.

3.     The audience becoming accustomed to «potentially unacceptable content» — 59.5%.

However, only 26.7%—nearly every fourth respondent—noticed an increase in propaganda in the mass media.

Modern realities dictate new rules for journalists. A key aspect of their work is the pursuit of conveying truthful information that reflects the real state of affairs. The war has influenced this process by adding new elements: changes in the agenda, censorship, and propaganda. Transformations in journalism are associated with the ability of journalists to quickly respond to the current situation, using material and technical means to create the highest quality content. Language standards are also changing, with violations becoming important tools of influence. The new language of journalism leads to the audience becoming accustomed to unacceptable lexicon, slang, and linguistic errors.

During the war, the publication of materials by war correspondents has increased. Reporting from the scene has become the most influential genre of journalism. A significant number of respondents consider the ability to bear great responsibility for the information being disseminated to be the main criterion of Ukrainian journalists' work. The audience, in general, sees changes in rhetoric, an increase in the use of «presence effects» in reporting, elements of propaganda, adherence to general standards, the presence of «potentially unacceptable content» and improvements in visual content among Ukrainian journalists.