Just last Thursday (8 May), while issuing a live radio broadcast, Ukrainian journalist Mariana Chornievich received an anonymous email from an address on the mail.ru domain – banned in Ukraine – sent to her personal email address.
The message was obscene, with a clear threat: stop spreading “propaganda” – or risk having her image inserted into a porn video and posted online.
According to Liza Kuzmenko, head of Ukraine’s Women in Media (WIM), this is just one example of the growing wave of gendered disinformation and online abuse directed at Ukrainian women journalists. She notes a marked increase in Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV), with online attacks often intensifying after female journalists release investigative pieces on critical issues such as war, corruption, or human rights.
“Narratives about Ukrainian women depict them as enemies of Ukraine, and are accompanied with open calls for physical violence against them; the technology of doxing on social media with subsequent dissemination of this information is also employed,” she explains.
In April, Women in Media released a comprehensive report: Her Voice, Their Target: Gendered Online Violence Against Ukrainian Women Journalists, revealing that most women journalists who participated in it had encountered various types of online violence.
WIM also launched an interactive online map to document these incidents.
The NGO was founded in April 2019 by Kuzmenko and fellow radio journalist Viktoriya Yermolaeva, as a Facebook group. Today, it’s a powerful peer-to-peer network, resource and support group for 1,500 female journalists, editors, producers, and other media professionals across Ukraine.
Kuzmenko is an expert in and trainer on issues of gender equality and non-discrimination in media. She is also a member of the Commission on Journalistic Ethics, and a member of the public council under the Committee for Freedom of Speech of the Ukrainian Parliament.
She shared more about her organisation and the work they do to support their national network of women media workers.
How has WIM been impacted by the war, in terms of the activities and functions it serves, and the support it provides?
Since February 24, 2022, when Russia launched its full-scale invasion, life has changed dramatically for all Ukrainians — including women journalists. Many had to relocate, either within Ukraine or abroad, often with children, elderly parents, or relatives with disabilities. Others lost their income, their homes, or even their lives.
One heartbreaking example is journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna. She was declared dead in September 2024 in a brief statement from the Russian Ministry of Defence, and her body was only returned two weeks ago, with visible signs of severe torture.
Despite incredibly difficult circumstances, Ukrainian women in media continue to work. They face not only the everyday risks of war — including occupation, persecution, and trauma — but also the specific challenges women face: doing emotionally demanding journalism while also caring for families, navigating financial insecurity, and working under the constant pressure of hybrid threats and disinformation.
We at WIM have stayed true to our mission — uniting Ukrainian women journalists through solidarity, feminism, and shared professional goals, and advocating for a gender-sensitive media environment.
In 2024, Women in Media reached an important new stage in its development, and we now also support war correspondents reporting directly from the front lines, as well as women in leadership positions.
Tell us more about the work you do and programmes you offer?
We provide legal, psychological, and informational support to journalists affected by war and online violence, while also raising public awareness about these issues.
Our work focuses on two main areas:
- Equality in newsrooms – ensuring women have equal access to leadership positions, fair pay, and opportunities for growth.
- Equality in content – challenging sexism, promoting female leadership, and defending women’s rights through journalism.
We support women in media with everything from organisational help to psychological and financial assistance, much of it offered in peer-to-peer formats. We also conduct research, host advocacy events, honor journalists fighting gender inequality, and provide training.
One of our flagship initiatives is the Caring for Our Health program, launched as a permanent effort to help women media professionals prioritise their health — especially in times of war and chronic stress. In 2025, this work will continue with a series of self-support groups, training sessions, and advocacy efforts.
Women seem to dominate in the profession…
According to our latest annual analysis: Gender Profile Of Ukrainian Media, women form the majority of the workforce – but they are significantly overrepresented in creative roles, such as journalism, and remain underrepresented in leadership positions.
For example, women may account for 70–80% of journalists, but make up just over 50% of those in media management roles.
Interestingly, although men are in the minority across the media sector overall, they make up nearly 50% of those in leadership positions.
A survey we conducted in 2023, found that the size of newsrooms affects not only gender representation, but also the workload of women managers. In small teams, there is a tendency for one person to hold several managerial positions at once, due to the lack of staff and resources.
‘Some interviewees pointed out that it is the low incomes in the media that are the reason editorial offices consist mainly of women, who therefore occupy managerial positions.’
The military draft also significantly impacts the gender composition of newsrooms during martial law and the distribution of responsibilities within the team.
Ukraine media has received immense support, from industry peers, and international community: what has made the most significant difference to you?
The most significant support for me has been the sense that we are not alone. International solidarity – whether through emergency grants, equipment, safety training, or even just messages of support – has reminded us that our work matters and that the world is paying attention.
Personally, it gave me strength to keep going during the hardest moments. Professionally, it helped our organization stay active, support other women journalists, and continue documenting stories that need to be told – even in times of war.
What would you most want to share with global journalists and news readers about life in Ukraine as a working journalist right now?
Being a journalist in Ukraine today means working under constant emotional pressure — but also with an even stronger sense of responsibility.
‘We’re not just reporting on a war; we’re living through it, often while supporting our families, volunteering, or being displaced ourselves.’
And yet, despite the fear, fatigue, and grief, Ukrainian journalists continue to do their work with courage and dignity. We believe in the power of truth — and we know the world is listening.
We also see that women in journalism around the world face many shared challenges — including the rise of Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) and the risks and uncertainties brought by artificial intelligence.
These global issues open up space for shared understanding and common solutions. We didn’t choose this war — but it has accelerated the way we respond to crisis and forced us to find creative, often unconventional solutions.
Ukrainian journalists, especially women, have had to adapt quickly, work under extreme pressure, and invent new ways to stay safe, connected, and effective. This experience may be valuable to the international media community as we all navigate growing threats and uncertainty.
