US aid freeze: Poltava media build communities and increase print runs

In view of the US suspending funding for all programs in Ukraine, the online media outlet Poltavska Khvylia has introduced the "Concerned" community where you can support the team with a monthly subscription. The team of the newspaper Visti Plus plans to increase their print run.

Poltavska Khvylia writes on their website: “We strive to continue building independent journalism, reporting on the issues in the city and the oblast, and telling you unique stories. We value our readers and believe that you value us the same.”

By signing up for a monthly subscription to Poltavska Khvylia, readers will get:

• access to a private Telegram channel;
• exclusive events;
• an opportunity to choose and suggest topics for content;
• backstage footage from filming;
• early access to exclusive stories;
• concert ticket raffles.

Poltavska Khvylia owner Vitaliy Ulybin said on Facebook that the media outlet had long abstained from any calls for donations, as donations to the army take priority.

“And we still encourage everyone to do so. But the suspension of funding for various projects pushes us to turn to our readers and viewers for help. We especially could use some help now, as we planned to launch several new formats that should be helpful to the people of Poltava oblast,” wrote Ulybin.

He explained how you can help the media outlet: by making a one-time donation (simply sending any convenient amount upwards of 10 hryvnias to support the team) or subscribing (you can choose a monthly assistance package that you can afford to donate to the team so that it continues to work for you).

Poltavska Khvylia readers can also support a specific journalist: there is a “thank the author/s” button under every news story on the website which you can click and choose the donation amount for a video or article.

Ulybin explained that they do not plan on using this money to pay the team's salaries, but the donations will allow them to pay for:

• office rent;
• utility services;
• internet connection, licensed software subscriptions, website administration costs;
• fuel for the generator, if necessary;
• fuel for business trips and expeditions.

Yulia Shablya, chief editor of the independent regional news outlet Visti Plus, said in a comment to Nadiya Kucher, the Institute of Mass Information representative in Poltava, that the funding suspension jeopardizes not only the projects planned by the team but the very chances of survival of independent regional journalism amid a full-scale war.

“Ukrainian media now play a critically important role in fighting Russian propaganda, spreading verified information, and supporting democratic values.

"We hope that support for Ukrainian journalism will remain a priority for international partners and we expect a reconsideration of the decision to temporarily suspend funding,” the journalist said.

She added that her media outlet covers socially important topics, fights disinformation, and contributes to the democratic development of Poltava district communities. “Thanks to the support of international partners, including USAID, we had the opportunity to raise journalistic standards, learn, investigate important social and political issues, and implement useful projects for local communities, such as improving the people's mental health,” says Yulia Shablya.

Yulia Shablya adds that, as long as the situation remains critical, the only solution she sees is to seek grants from European countries and increase the newspaper's print run revenues, while remarking that this is also near impossible due to Ukrposhta providing terrible newspaper delivery services.

Previously

US President Donald Trump has suspended funding for all projects by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for 90 days. In Ukraine, USAID was supporting hundreds of various media projects.

On January 28, the Media Movement urged citizens and businesses to support independent journalism.

Oksana Romaniuk, director of the Institute of Mass Information, said while discussing the outcomes of USAID suspending funding for all programs and projects that nearly 90% of Ukrainian media survived thanks to grants.

Mykolaiv and Chernihiv oblast media explained what danger the suspension of US grants poses to them. The IMI also asked Luhansk oblast media about the impact of the funding freeze.