205 Ukrainian media outlets included in the Recommended Media Map by the IMI and DM

205 media outlets from all oblasts of Ukraine made it into the interactive Recommended Media Map, compiled based on the results of the third monitoring wave. The project by the NGOs Institute of Mass Information (IMI) and Detector Media (DM), supported by the international organization Internews Network, aims to identify and support media oultets that adhere to high standards of journalism.

In August–October 2024, experts at the DM and IMI evaluated a total of 274 media resources, including 182 online outlets, 21 radio stations and 71 TV channels.

The media outlets were evaluated following a matrix developed by the IMI and DM in early 2024, which contains 14 indicators for assessing the publications' independence and reputation. The main criteria blocks cover transparency, adherence to professional standards, and journalism ethics. The IMI experts evaluated the online media, while the DM experts evaluated radio stations and TV channels.

The application system allows the media outlets to independently apply for participation in the project, which simplifies the inclusion process and democratizes the selection, opening the door for small and niche resources. The map will be updated continuously, and the next monitoring wave is scheduled for February 2025.

"We are glad to see how regional media strive to improve and meet high journalism standards. This time the results of the monitoring prompted us to exclude some media outlets from the Map, but there were also some new ones included that show professionalism and respect for the audience. This suggests evolution and willingness to change at the regional level. We congratulate the media outlets that have confirmed their commitment to professional standards, and are especially happy for the communities that have access to reliable, high-quality content," stressed Natalia Lyhachova, head of the NGO Detector Media.

"The third wave of our monitoring showed that the project's coverage of the project is expanding: 205 recommended media outlets from all oblasts of Ukraine have already been included in the Map, which is 29 outlets more than in the previous monitoring period. Amid the information war and external threats, this project is of strategic importance, as it serves as a reference point for consumers of information. Moreover, the Map shapes and introduces new industry standards of transparency and accountability of media resources, while creating grounds for discussions and further reforms in the media field, including legislative ones, supporting the constant evolution of a reliable media space in Ukraine," said Oksana Romaniuk, director of the Institute of Mass Information.

Currently, the Map covers 151 online media outlets, five investigative journalism centers, 21 radio stations, and 28 TV channels from all oblasts of Ukraine:

• the most media outlets included in the map hail from Volyn oblast (22);
• followed by Kyiv oblast (20 media);
• Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Rivne oblasts rank next in terms of the number of media outlets included (12 each);
• 10 recommended media outlets are from Ivano-Frankivsk and Odesa oblasts each;
• nine each are from Poltava and Zaporizhzhia oblasts;
• Sumy and Mykolaiv oblasts have eight media outlets each;
• Chernihiv, Luhansk, and Kirovohrad oblasts have seven recommended media outlets per each oblast;
• Chernivtsi, Khmelnytskyi, and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts have six recommended media outlets per each oblast;
• Kherson, Vinnytsia, and Lviv oblasts have five media outlets each;
• Zakarpattia, Ternopil, Zhytomyr, and Cherkasy oblasts have four recommended media outlets per each oblast;
• three recommended media outlets speak in temporarily occupied Crimea.

The project started in September 2023. At the first stage, 142 Ukrainian media outlets were included in the Map, later expanded to 176 media outlets based on the results of the second wave. As a reminder, the Institute of Mass Information conducts biannual monitoring of national online media and compiles the List of Transparent and Responsible Media, also known as the High Quality List. Detector Media monitors regional TV channels.

Earlier, media experts from the Institute of Mass Information and Detector Media explained how regional media outlets can get included in the Recommended Media Map.