THE PRICE OF TRUTH: THE IMPACT OF WAR ON JOURNALISTIC FREEDOM AND NEWS CONTENT IN UKRAINE

Vadym Halaziuk

doi:10.23856/6616

Vadym Halaziuk Kyiv University of Culture https://orcid.org/0009-0006-9636-9145

Keywords: censorship, self-censorship, information access, media independence, reporting challenges, wartime journalism, public perception, truth-telling

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to analyze how the ongoing war with Russia, starting on February 24, 2022, has influenced the freedom of journalistic activity and the content of news in Ukraine, using the example of the publication "Ukrainska Pravda." The study examines the specific challenges that have emerged under the conditions of military aggression, including legal restrictions, economic pressures on media outlets, and the ethical dilemmas faced by journalists in balancing the public’s right to know with considerations of national security. The paper explores how censorship and self-censorship have impacted independent media in Ukraine, altering both the accessibility and depth of information available to the public. Methods applied in this research include general scientific approaches (such as analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction), theoretical frameworks (from abstract to concrete), and the historical method, enabling a comprehensive view of the shifts in Ukrainian journalism in wartime. Through this examination, the study highlights the sacrifices and complexities involved in maintaining the integrity and independence of journalism under extreme political and social conditions.

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