The Commission on Journalistic Ethics continues cooperation with Ukrainian universities that train journalists. Memoranda have recently been signed with the Department of Journalism and Philology of Sumy State University and the Department of Social Communications of Lesia Ukrainka Volyn National University.
Volodymyr Sadivnychyi, head of the Journalism and Philology Department of Sumy State University, said: “Today, Sumy has become an important hub for media and social networks, but there is still fake or twisted news. The media environment is facing serious challenges, especially in the context of the post-war Ukraine. To help students stay on the right track and ensure high standards of journalistic ethics, we believe that close cooperation with the Commission is necessary.”
These memoranda aim to improve the quality of journalistic education and support ethical standards in the media.
The Commission finds cooperation with universities that train journalists crucial for a range of reasons:
- Formation of professional standards. Universities are where future journalists master the basics of their profession. Cooperation with the Commission allows them to build standards of ethics and professional responsibility directly into the educational process, ensuring that students understand the significance of compliance with ethical requirements at the outset.
- Early career guidance. Through such cooperation, students have the opportunity to learn about modern challenges and standards of journalism even before starting practical activities. This helps them better prepare for real work in the media and avoid common mistakes and ethical violations.
- Relevance of knowledge. The media sector is prone to rapid changes, and new trends, such as fake news or disinformation, require that curricula be adapted. Cooperation with the Commission enables universities to update their courses and training materials in line with the current challenges in the media field.
- Preparation of educational materials. The Commission develops and provides manuals on journalistic ethics to universities (e.g., Manual on Journalistic Ethics, Self-Regulation of Ukrainian Media During Martial Law in Ukraine), videos (such as Explainers: Journalistic Ethics and Ethics Code Point by Point). It also organizes lectures with professional journalists and opinion leaders in the media sphere. This helps in creating modern and effective curricula that include relevant topics and practice situations, which can greatly facilitate the learning process and improve the quality of education.
- Supporting professional reputation. Through their cooperation with the Commission on Journalistic Ethics, universities can strengthen their reputation as establishments where highly qualified and ethically minded journalists are trained. It can also improve the credibility of curricula among prospective students and employers.
Overall, such cooperation helps with establishing a strong foundation for future journalists, facilitating the development of professional standards and ethics in the media sector.