"What's Going On": joint project by IMI Mediabaza and Suspilne premiers

Participants of the political talk show "What's Going On?". Photo by Mediabaza Chernihiv

On May 22, the new political talk show "What's Going On?" (joint project by Suspilne Chernihiv, IMI's regional hub "Mediabaza Chernihiv", and the NGO "Chernihiv Education Center 'Initiative'".

The talk show was created with support by Internews. The first episode was dedicated to the course of mobilization in Chernihiv oblast following latest law amendment came into effect on May 18, 2024.

Four experts participated in the discussion:

• OC "North" serviceman Valentyn Buryachenko;
• lawyer Alina Urozhay;
• public activist and a serviceman's wife Olha Palkova-Svirchevska;
• the head of the Kyiv recruiting center for the assault brigade No. 3 (call sign Rusyn), who joined via video call.

The discussed topics included:

• changes in the conscription procedure following the new law's entry into force, Chernivtsi's opinion on it;
• where does the aggression towards enlistment center employees come from;
• is mobilization without human rights violations possible;
• how to restore conscripts' motivation to defend their country.

"Frank, honest, expert opinions on the pressing issues, on what is happening in our dynamic society, in our country, is exactly what we need," says guest Olha Palkova-Svirchevska. "Because there are many myths, fears, prejudices and psyops going around which impact our country's chances of survival. A straightforward, adult conversation with the society is what we need."

The talk show premiered on the YouTube channel "Suspilne Chernihiv". The livestream's maximum simultaneous audience reached 219, with the viewers proactively participating in the discussions and asking the studio's guests questions in the comments. As of the morning of May 24, the video had 5,900 views.

"I am glad that we were able to attract additional resources to support independent journalism in Chernihiv oblast. And the audience's response and demand for the first episode shows that such product is needed now," says Pavlo Pushchenko, IMI's regional representative in Chernihiv oblast and the Mediabaza Chernihiv coordinator.

Alla Skoryk, the chief editor of the north-eastern hub and "Suspilne Chernihiv", explains that launching the new talk show was important because there is a lack of live broadcasting in Chernihiv oblast.

"We are launching 'What's Going On?' to fill the empty niche in the Chernihiv oblast media landscape. We don't have live region-wide discussions on sensitive topics that require detailed analysis and study, and urgently," says Alla Skoryk.

The political talk show will be released twice a month on the YouTube channel "Suspilne Chernihiv". A total of 14 episodes are planned before the end of 2024.