MINISTRY OF INFORMATION POLICY OF UKRAINE THE BEST … · for 2015 we are completing the foreign broadcasting reform of Ukraine. It includes 3 satellites, 5 continents, hundreds of

THE BESTCOUNTER-PROPOGANDA

IS TRUTH!MIP progress analysis for the seventh month of activity

September 2015

MINISTRYOF INFORMATION POLICY

OF UKRAINE

MIP

• Launch of Multimedia foreign broadcasting platform of Ukraine

• Program to support journalists

•Discussion of Concept of information security of Ukraine

• Crimean peninsula information support campaign “Crimea is Ukraine”

• Series of international diplomatic and expert meetings

•Restoration of Ukrainian TV and Radio broadcasting

• “Open government” Program

Nataliya KostinaChief Editor on foreign information

Mykhailo ShmatovDirector General of «UTR» TV channel

Oleksandr KharchenkoDirector General of «Ukrinform» news agency

“Our foreign correspondent network is a team of high-level journalists. This is the faster news from abroad and qualitative analytics. This is eloquent photo reportages and exclusives with world outstanding leaders. Now it’s the State’s move.”

“I am absolutely convinced that we have made the best Ukrainian TV product on foreign broadcasting TV channel. We can, we have the desire, we have the potential to create and work for Ukraine and its future!”

“In addition to the experience and traditions, we have a young team. That is why our news is the fastest. We always write about the main thing, not the secondary, showing what reasons are and what are consequences. These days we are launching a Multimedia foreign broadcasting platform of Ukraine and, without a doubt, by the end of the year “Ukrinform” will be the news agency №1 in Ukraine.”

Launch of Multimedia foreign broadcasting platform of Ukraine

Launch of Multimedia foreign broadcasting platform of Ukraine

30 September, during a meeting of the Government, the Minister of Information Policy of Ukraine Yurii Stets reported on the accomplishment of the foreign broadcasting reform of Ukraine. The Minister announced that on 1 October, at 12:00 pm, the Multimedia foreign broadcasting platform of Ukraine will be launched.

Yurii Stets: «In execution of the Coalition agreement and the Government Action Plan for 2015 we are completing the foreign broadcasting reform of Ukraine. It includes 3 satellites, 5 continents, hundreds of the countries and millions of viewers. Today it is not just an ambitious project. Today it is a reality».

Newdraftlaw«Onforeignbroadcastingsystemof Ukraine», developed by MIP, will be the legal

driving force of the Multimedia foreign broadcasting platform of Ukraine.

This regulatory document previously was supported by the Government of Ukraine, and submittedforconsiderationtotheParliament.Thedraftlawprovidesforasystemofstateforeign broadcasting that will enable information delivery about developments in Ukraine to international audiences, including the Ukrainian diaspora.

Program to support journalists

Working group on elaboration of proposals on sanctions against media representatives was established under MIP. In particular, it is about reconsideration of sanction list approved by NSDC in the part concerning journalists.

Working group includes deputies of Ukraine, members of the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Freedom of Speech and Information Policy, the members of the Expert Council under MIP, and the Chairman of the Public Council under MIP Olha Skrypnyk.

Yurii Stets: «Journalists, who follow standards of the profession, should not be subject to sanctions. Sanctions will be applied only to so-called representatives of the media that, in reality, are representatives of FSB involved in destabilizing the country».

AtthefirstmeetingmembersoftheworkinggroupdecidedtosubmitproposalsforMIPdevelopment within the shortest possible time, including the ones from NGOs. They will be processed and submitted by the Minister for discussion at the meeting of NSDC.

The Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on human rights, national minorities and international relations and the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on freedom of expression and information policy unanimously supportedthedraftlaw«OnAmendmentstoArticle 5 of the Law of Ukraine «On Legal Status of Foreigners and stateless persons» regarding the grounds for issuing temporary residence permits to representatives of foreign media.

Thedraftlawprovidesforimplementationofclearlyregulated,transparentandeffectiveproceduresofissuingcertificates.

ThedraftlawwasdevelopedbyexpertsoftheMinistryofInformationPolicyofUkraineattherequest of journalists of international foreign media, such as a representative of the British news agency «Reuters» Serhii Karaziya, the largest news agency in the USA «Associated Press» Dmytro Vlasov, and the third of the major news agencies in the World «Agence France-Presse» Anna Tsukanova. Anna Tsukanova was delegated by the journalists to direct collaborationwithlawyersofMIPonadraftlaw.


The discussion on issues related to journalists’ work in ATO area, initiated by MIP, precondition ofwhichwasthe«flashmob»ofjournalistsinsocialnetworksagainstrestrictions,washeld.The event was attended by war correspondents of Ukrainian media who work in ATO area, the MinistryofDefenseofUkraineandtheGeneralStaffoftheArmedForcesandpublicmediaorganizations. The working group was established as a result of the meeting.

Deputy Minister Tetiana Popova: «The first step towards achieving understanding between journalists and military was made. Today’s discussion was very productive. All participants are open to dialogue, so together we hope to reorganize journalists’ work in ATO area soon».


Discussion of Concept of information security of Ukraine

Members of the Expert Council under MIP and Yurii Stets held a meeting with Professor Dr. Katrin Nyman-Metcalf, the Tallinn Law School at Tallinn University of Technology, who,attheinvitationoftheOfficeoftheOSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, developed analysis of the Concept of information security of Ukraine.

Dr. Katrin Nyman-Metcalf noted: «There are no fundamental differences in the vision of the document. The problem and the goal, for which it is concluded, are clear. Only treatment needs some adaptation, and a consensus will be found. You must always keep the discussion to improve the legislative base in the field of information and communications. Quick solutions for threats in the information field do not exist».

Minister of Information Policy Yurii Stets said: «To avoid mistakes, we need to have expert opinions from international organizations, but working on a document, Ukrainian specialists are the most motivated and most in-depth, as it is in their home country a hybrid warfare that brings real victims is happening. One of the main vectors of fighting the aggressor is to provide the information security of Ukraine».

Earlier, the Ministry of Information Policy of Ukraine appealed to the Ukrainian editorship “Radio Svoboda” with a proposal to produce radio programsfor“ThefirstUkrainian”radio channel. It has been proposed that such programs will be one more step towards providing the inhabitants of the occupied Crimea with objective, unbiased information about the situation on the peninsula, in the mainland of Ukraine, in the whole world.

In September, the Ministry of Information Policy of Ukraine, the State Committee for television and radio broadcasting of Ukraine and Ukrainian editorship “Radio Svoboda” presented to the CabinetofMinistersofUkraineanewproject–ajointprojectof“RadioSvoboda”and“ThefirstUkrainian” radio channel - «Radio Krym. Realii».

“Crimea is Ukraine” Information campaign

«RadioKrym.Realii»airseverymorningandeveningon“ThefirstUkrainian”radiochannelonafrequency of 549 kilohertz. Ukrainian radio signal covers at least 70% of Ukraine. Broadcasting is made in Russian, Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar languages. There are news and author programs of well-known Crimean journalists among the programs. Currently, the Ministry of Information Policy of Ukraine and the Ukrainian editorship “Radio Svoboda” conduct further negotiations to transform the studio of «Radio Krym. Realii» into a fully-featured radio station.

Director of the Ukrainian editorship “Radio Svoboda” Mariana Drach: «The new project for the Crimean people is a new challenge for editorship, whose mission is to promote democratic values through dissemination of credible information. According to Ukrainian and international human rights activists the situation in the peninsula is deteriorating, so it is important for us to support Crimean people especially at this time».


«Crimean journalists, who work both in the occupied peninsula and in the mainland of Ukraine, run the Crimean project Radio Svoboda «Krym.Realii», — said project manager, editor of Krym.Realii Volodymyr Prytula, who for about 20 years was a correspondent of the Ukrainian editorship of «Radio Svoboda» in the Crimea until the annexation.

According to head of TV and radio program «Krym.Realii» Oleksandr Jankowskyi, residents of the annexed peninsula, despite the obstacles made by the occupation authorities, will be able to get the full range of information about events in the world, Ukraine, Russia and native peninsula. Journalists of Radio Krym.Realii will strongly contribute to this.


Series of international diplomatic and expert meetings

10-11 September, Advisor to the Minister of Information Policy of Ukraine Dmytro Zolotukhin made a speech on «Information war: the experience of Ukraine» in Vilnius.

During the conference, Dmytro Zolotukhin presented materials, which demonstrated Ukraine’s experience in the information war. Advisor to the Minister told about the project for journalists, bloggers and civic activists with the support of the European Endowment for Democracy fund (EED) in Ukraine that is to be launched.

The main goal of the project is to inform journalists and bloggers of OSINT-techniques that are used by experts of Bellingcat, BBC and OCCRP. Within the framework of the project, trainings onhowtofindandprocessinformationfromopensources,and,withitshelp,howtocheckthefakenews,howtoexposecorruptionmechanismsandcreateuniquecontentforthebenefitoflocal communities, will be conducted.

ThefirsttrainingforlocalactivistsandjournalistswasheldinKharkivincooperationwiththeKharkiv anti-crisis Infocenter. The Institute of post informational society, that implements this initiative, is a partner of the Ministry of Information Policy of Ukraine. The next regional trainings for journalists is planned to be held in Kramatorsk, Sievierodonetsk and Mariupol.

13-19 September, in Lisbon, the NATO conference of communications experts on NATO adaptation to the communication challenges of the changing information society was held. Advisor to the Minister on Strategic Communications Alina Frolova was invited as NATO partner representative.

During the conference Alina Frolova participated in several panel discussions on the challenges communications specialists face in the world of hybrid wars, and made presentations dedicated to trends of information war against Ukraine, and a progress that was achieved by Ukraine in the development of national strategic communications.

During panel discussions devoted to communication challenges of the partner countries and members of NATO, participants expressed support to the position of Ukraine in countering Russianpropagandaonlythroughtruthandobjectiveinformation,andpraisedtheeffortsof the government and public sector, aimed at the development of state system of strategic communications.


21 September, Deputy Minister of Information Policy of Ukraine Tetiana Popova, together with Ambassador of Ukraine in Poland Andrii Deshchytsia, made a speech at the opening of the Warsaw meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in view of the implementation of obligations of states parties in the human dimension, dedicated to fundamental freedoms in the era of new information and communication technologies. 22 September, during the plenary session of the OSCE HDIM, Tetiana Popova made a speech and answered questions about freedom of media.

In the framework of the meeting Ukrainian delegation distributed printed materials on violation of journalists’ rights and freedoms in the Crimea and Donbas.

Tetiana Popova: «Journalists and Ukrainian media have become targets for Russian terrorists. The safety of journalists has become a pressing issue in the conflict in Ukraine, as the level of violence against journalists – including murder, assault with serious injuries, and intimidation significantly increased over the year of Russian occupation. Such media repression has far-reaching consequences».


23-24 September, Advisor to the Minister of MIP on ensuring TV and Radio Broadcasting Oleksandr Brygynets participated in the East Ukrainian Forum «Recovery through dialogue» in Sievierodonetsk, organized by the OSCE Project Coordinator in Ukraine, civil society and local communities in the region.

Oleksandr Brygynets: «Todays interaction of the authorities, public and activists is important for Donbas. It is also important that OSCE acted as a coordinator and a counselor to solve important issues in the region».

During the forum Advisor to the Minister Oleksandr Brygynets also told the participants (representatives of the media, public authorities, NGOs) that one of the most important issues fortheregiontodayisinformationsecurity.«Wemustnotcreateadditionalconflicts,butratherregulate them. These message I also address to media», - said Advisor to the Minister.


24 September, the Minister of Information Policy of Ukraine Yurii Stets and Advisor to the Minister on Strategic Communications Alina Frolova held a meeting with a delegation from Georgia.

The Minister spoke about Ukraine’s experience in countering information aggression, MIP activities, presented the Multimedia foreign broadcasting platform of Ukraineandsuggestedtouniteeffortsinprovidingaccessto alternative sources of information for Russian-speaking population worldwide. In turn, Deputy Georgian State Minister Mariam Rakviashvili shared developments on promotion of European values, the strategy of the Ministry for European and Euro-Atlantic integration on information support of the occupied territories.

Representatives of the Georgian delegation stressed the importance of the current visit to Ukraine, which will contribute to bilateral cooperation and exchange of experience aimed to support and develop dialogue between Ukraine and Georgia.

Theparticipantsagreedonfurthercoordinationofeffortstoimplementjointcommunicationprojects.


Deputy Minister of Information Policy of Ukraine Tetiana Popova delivered a welcoming speech at the opening of the conference «Information policy in times of crisis: how to ensure national security, preserving the guarantees of human rights and democratic freedoms?» organized by the OSCE Project Coordinator in Ukraine.

«Freedom of speech is the foundation of a democratic society. Under the conditions of modern information realities it is very important to distinguish the real journalistic activity from information-psychological special operations. That is why the Expert Council under MIP worked out the draft Concept of information security of Ukraine, which we, for the purpose of the right for freedom, gave for the verification to the specialists involved by the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media. We are very grateful to Dunja Mijatovic, Jeffrey Ehrlich, Maryna Bezkorovayina and to all who contributed to the project. We hope it was only the first step towards long-term and far-reaching cooperation.»


Restoration of Ukrainian TV and Radio broadcasting

Pursuant to MIP request the programs of the firstchanneloftheNationalRadioCompanyofUkraine was restored on medium, ultrashort and FM waves.

Shutdown of transmitters of the Ukrainian radio occurred because of the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine to cut funding, and inconsistent decision of NRCU to retrench on broadcasting. Such situation happened almost forthefirsttimeinmanyyearsofactivityofthe oldest Ukrainian broadcaster. Since this situation at the time of actual war is simply catastrophic, Yurii Stets addressed the State Committee for television and radio broadcasting of Ukraine to restore broadcasting in the previous capacity. This was done the next day.

Prime Minister of Ukraine supported the project developed by MIP that will prevent the recurrence of such a situation in future.

15 September, in the Ministry of Information Policy of Ukraine, during the regular meeting of the Commission on Ensuring Stable Operation of National Television and Radio Broadcasting the question of the broadcasting restoration of “ATR” Crimean Tatar TV channel was discussed.

The meeting was attended by the National Television and Radio Broadcasting Council of Ukraine, the Concern of Radio and Television broadcasting, the Ukrainian State Centre of Radio Frequencies, and CEO of “ATR” TV channel Lyenur Islyamov.

The Commission decided to allocate analogue TV transmitters to restore “ATR” Crimean Tatar TV channel, and proposed 4 hours of radio broadcasting on medium waves on a frequency of 549 khz.

Also, the Commission allocated 5 transmitters for “IRTA” TV channel, which has already started their installation.



9 and 10 September, in Krasnoarmiisk and Sievierodonetsk press events of Advisor to the MinisterOleksandrBrygynetswereheld.Inparticular,abriefingandajointpressconferencewith ATO spokesman in Luhansk region lieutenant-colonel Ruslan Tkachuk and head of sector «A» civil-military cooperation lieutenant-colonel Ihor Koropatnik took place.

During the event, Advisor to the Minister Oleksandr Brygynets informed the audience on the results of the «Commission on Ensuring Stable Operation of National Television and Radio Broadcasting» under the Ministry of Information Policy of Ukraine.

Currently, a funding to restore broadcasting was allocated to regional TRC of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Oleksandr Brygynets: «European partners give us powerful analog TV transmitters to restore broadcasting of Ukrainian TV channels, including local ones. That is why I urge representatives of local authorities to contact us so that we can provide them with these transmitters. It is very important for this issue to be decided not in Kyiv, but here, on-site».

9 September, the Concern of radio and television broadcasting brought online TV transmitter with the capacity of 200 W on Volnovakha radio Station for programs of Donetsk RSTRC on the 30th TV channel, and 10 September – a TV transmitter for programs of UT-1 National Television Company of Ukraine on the 12th TV channel.

24 September, an analog TV transmitter with the capacity of 5 kW, received from Poland, was launched. It is used for TV programs broadcasting of Luhansk RSTRC.

The work of the transmitters provided media access for the residents of the southern regions to Ukrainian state TV channels, rather than separatist «Oplot» and «Lifenews».

Transmitters started to work pursuant to the decision of the Commission on Ensuring Stable Operation of National Television and Radio Broadcasting, which was established under the Ministry

of Information Policy pursuant to the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers from 10 March 2015.

The Concern of radio and television broadcasting resumed broadcasting using transmitters received from the Republic of Lithuania, and antenna-feeder track was made from reserved and second-hand materials.


28September,abriefinginATOpresscenter,Kramatorsk,forrepresentativesofUkrainianregional media (Odesa, Kherson, Kharkiv, Rivne, Donbas, etc.), with the participation of Advisor totheMinisterofInformationPolicyofUkraineOleksandrBrygynetsandmembersofATOStaffin Donetsk and Luhansk regions was held. Later, Advisor to the Minister together with the journalists visited Karachun Mountain where the TV tower is located.

Oleksandr Brygynets: «We run this TV tower to restore broadcasting of Ukrainian TV channels. Now, in the framework of the Commission on restoration of TV and radio broadcasting under MIP, projects on building of new TV towers in the liberated territories were worked out».

At the end of the visit, journalists and representatives of ATO headquarters, and Oleksandr Brygynets honored a memory of heroes - members of anti-terrorist operations, who died during the liberation of Sloviansk.


MIP Social Responsibility

Ministry of Information Policy of Ukraine joined a number of presentations of «Airport» novel by Serhii Loiko: the true story of the events about the Donetsk airport, about «cyborgs» and Ukrainian will to victory.

5 September, on the territory of 169th Training Centre of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (Desna, Chernihiv region) the author of the «Airport» novel Serhii Loiko handed over books to the soldiers - members of the antiterrorist operation in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, with the participation of the Deputy Minister Tetiana Popova. The event was held with the participation of famous «cyborgs»: the commander of the Land Forces Training Center «Desna», Major-General Oleh Mikatsa and Mykhaylo Kucherenko, 74th separate military reconnaissance battalion.

Well-known journalist Michael Schur, who works with the «Embedded journalism» program, also got an autographed copy of the book.

Advisor to the Minister of Information Policy of Ukraine Oleksandr Brygynets took part in the public debate «Condition, problems and issues of national-patriotic education of the youth of Donetsk» in Kramatorsk. Oleksandr Brygynets is permanently in ATO area within the monitoring mission of MIP. During the meeting he underlined the importance of media coverage of news, which forms opinion and patriotism through the population, particularly among young people who are the future of the country.

«If everybody in Donbas was such a patriot - there would be no invasion and no casualties suffered. It was tested by local residents. Therefore, the role of media in patriotic education is extremely high. Media which are not patriots in journalism are weakening the patriotism of the whole community and, thus, create the basis for the bloodshed», - said Advisor to the Minister.

The event was organized by Ukrainian peacekeeping school and Information Center «Maidan Monitoring».


MIP Management used its salaries for printing guidance on overcoming combat stress and its psychological consequences (A6, 3000 pcs), on the work with the military, prone to alcohol abuse (A5, 200 pcs.), feedback questionnaires on «Psychological preparation to military to warfare» training (A4, 2000 pcs.) and report on ongoing group work (A4, 250 pcs.)


Facebook, VKontakte

The page materials of UIA in Facebook and VKontakte for September covered an audience of approximately 1 300 000 users

Other web pages

Amount of users covered by other pages, spreading UIA materials, is approximately 650,000

Ukraine Information Army

Letters

Number of letters that were read per month is 39,607

Activity

The main work in September was dedicated to dissemination of information about developments in Ukraine and refutation of lies around Minsk agreements which come from the Russian Federation.

Ukraine Information Army

“Open government” Program

Ministry of Information Policy supported the international Davos Communication Forum KWCF Davos Kyiv 2015 «New Communications: government, business, media and innovation». Advisor to the Minister on Strategic Communications Alina Frolova opened a meeting with introductory speech.

Advisor to the Minister on the implementation of the «Open government» program Ivetta Delikatna: «MIP initiates amendments that will shift the balance of interests of journalists and owners from the current 50/50 to 75/25 in favor of journalists».

During the Forum, Deputy Minister Tetiana Popova presented the award in the category «Trust of the Future» to the chief editor of Delo.UA, ON Air project Kateryna Venzhyk.

AnofficiallaunchoftheReformProjectOfficeasanofficialMoDdepartment,withthecommunicational support by MIP, took place. It will coordinate the implementation of reforms. OfficeReformProjectisagroupofprofessionalmanagerswhocamefrombusinessandvolunteer environment, with quality education and experience of project management.

Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Yurii Gusev: «Our task is to change the system so that, whoever may come after us, the system was already built on completely different principles: principles of transparency, anti-corruption, clarity and effectiveness».

ProjectOfficeteamisresponsibleforcoordination of the development process of reform, the fund raising, the implementation of changes, and monitoring of their results. All the

reformsareimplementedintheformofprojects,aftersuccessfultestingtheyarerelayedtothe Ministry of Defense as turnkey solutions for further implementation at all levels.


Ministry of Information Policy of Ukraine and the NGO «Security and cooperation in Ukraine» signed a Memorandum on cooperationinthefieldofdevelopmentof information society in Ukraine and protection of the national information space, that will allow to disseminate information from the website «Stop-terror».

Deputy Minister of Information Policy of Ukraine Tetiana Popova: «Immediately after its appearance, the «Stop-terror» project drew my attention and the attention of the

public. It will be useful to us, to the «Stop terror», and to society to spread their information as much as possible».

Chairman of the NGO «Security and cooperation in Ukraine» Semen Kabakayev: «There are plans to implement the goal of this Memorandum, and for our part, as a public organization, we will do everything possible to facilitate the work of journalists, public figures and experts in the field of information security».


Ministry of Information Policy of Ukraine and the Association of European Journalists signed a Memorandum of Cooperation aiming to enhance the level of journalism in Ukraine and organize press tours for journalists from EU countries.

Artem Bidenko: «The Memorandum establishes a partnership between MIP and the Association of European Journalists. This will help to spread the information about developments in Ukraine among the journalist community in Europe. MIP will support socially significant projects of the Association in accordance with the duties assigned to the institution as a central executive body».

President of the Association of European Journalists Artur Rudzytskyi said that, henceforth, the Association, thanks to the signed document, will implement projects and engage journalists from European sections of AEJ for experience exchange, and enhance level of journalism, what is also a tool for information security.


“Open Government” Program

In the framework of the «Open government» Program the Ministry of Information Policy of Ukraine launched a monthly public reports:

•PressconferencesforUkrainianandforeignmedia;

•Establishmentofcooperationwithrepresentatives of regional media in order to establish feedback;

•Regularmeetingswithdiplomaticrepresentatives of foreign countries;

•CoordinationoftheMIP’sactionswithrepresentatives of international non-governmental organizations, including the «Renaissance» International Fund;

•OnlineinformingofNGOs’representatives;

•Publicationofreportsonthemip.gov.ua officialsite.

Action Plan for the Eighth Month of Activity

• The expansion of the coverage of Multimedia foreign broadcasting platform of Ukraine

• Communication support for the Government initiatives

• Coordination of the Government communications reform

• Approval of the Concept of Information Security and development of regulations based on it

• Expansion of the «Embedded journalism» Program

• Series of international diplomatic and expert meetings

• “Open Government” Program

MINISTRY OF INFORMATION POLICY

OF UKRAINE

MINISTRY OF INFORMATION POLICY OF UKRAINE

Documents

MINISTRY OF INFORMATION POLICY OF UKRAINE THE BEST … · for 2015 we are completing the foreign broadcasting reform of Ukraine. It includes 3 satellites, 5 continents, hundreds of