The meeting opens with journalist Vitaliy Portnikov, Ukrainian publicist and writer, reflecting on his sources of information. Portnikov shares his early experience reading newspapers in different languages and notes that the advent of the internet fulfilled his childhood dream of global media access. With the growth of social networks, some of the audience now receives news not only from traditional media but also from platforms like Telegram and Facebook.
Portnikov emphasizes that classical journalism is critically losing authority and is gradually being replaced by bloggers and new formats of authorial content. The main advantage of traditional media remains professional verification and public trust, but even large corporations are forced to apologize for errors or manipulations. The functions of journalism are increasingly divided among bloggers, social media, traditional media and artificial intelligence.
The war in Ukraine has increased government control over information, but the problem of consuming unreliable news existed before. Anonymous Telegram channels now pose a special threat. Meanwhile, personalized journalism mainly serves as commentary rather than a factory of news.
Portnikov believes that verification and personal author responsibility are the key value. He draws attention to the lack of clear military censorship in Ukraine and the dangers of self-censorship and errors that may harm the state. The issues of journalistic standards, impartiality and verification of sources remain fundamental, although some formalities and standards should be reconsidered.
In responding to questions about the role of journalism during war and political scandals, Portnikov stresses the critical importance of honest public information and a critical approach to any sources—official or alternative. He highlights the dangers of looting and corruption in wartime.
The discussion concluded with reflection on journalists' civic responsibility, the boundaries of objectivity, the role of standards and the changing media landscape. Portnikov expresses confidence that professional journalism will remain relevant if it is able to meet new challenges by working honestly and responsibly for society.
