Since April 2022, Fondation Hirondelle, together with its local partner the Institute for Regional Press and Information (IRMI), has been implementing a multi-faceted project to support Ukrainian media. This project aims to provide the communities on the frontline and internally displaced people (East and South-East) with access to reliable information on subjects of public, humanitarian and social interest, as well as content on war crime trials.
The editorial, managerial and financial reinforcement of 23 local media outlets is at the heart of a mentorship programme rooted in our partners’ realities, enabling us to continuously assess and respond to the priority needs of journalists and media managers. The aim of this work is simple: to ensure their survival by adapting their mission to provide information to the existential constraints of war.
Key Figures 2024
23 media partners
93 pieces of war-crime trial content
134 media professionals trained
Financial Volume 2024
1,577,464 CHF
Sources of Funding
• Swiss Solidarity (Chaîne du Bonheur)
• Switzerland (SDC Programme Contribution)
• Fondazione Aiuto alla Cooperazione e allo Sviluppo (Italian name preserved)
• Michalski Foundation
• Sandoz Family Philanthropic Foundation
• Sauvain Petitpierre Foundation
STRENGTHENING THE LINK BETWEEN AUDIENCES AND THE MEDIA IN WARTIME
Since 2022, in partnership with its local partner the Institute for Regional Press and Information (IRMI), Fondation Hirondelle has been assisting Ukrainian media to enable them to continue informing the population despite the ongoing war. In the face of destruction, displacement of editorial teams and funding collapse, our support has been focused on maintaining media activities, adapting to new digital formats and strengthening their role in social cohesion. In 2024, Fondation Hirondelle strengthened its commitment to Ukraine, focusing its efforts on reconnecting media with their audiences. The Reconnecting Audiences study conducted in local communities shed light on the public’s expectations of regional media and the social divides intensified by the war. These results enabled our media partners to adapt their content, integrate more citizen testimonials, and provide news that is more reflective of local realities.
Another major focus of the project was to extend coverage of war crime trials. A network of specialised journalists received support from Justice Info (the media outlet specialised in covering transitional and international justice issues created and managed by Fondation Hirondelle) to document these trials rigorously and independently. A key improvement was the increased visibility of statements from the defence, leading to a more balanced coverage in line with legal journalism standards. Lastly, our 23 media partners attained new levels of cooperation in 2024. In addition to sharing content, several editorial collaborations were created, leading to shared productions. This not only strengthened cohesion among editorial teams but also cemented their role as key players in maintaining social ties during wartime.
Thanks to the quality of your support, we not only survived: we actually became stronger and have become one big media family.
Svitlana Karpenko, Editorin- Chief of the newspaper Trudova Slava (Orikhiv)
In 2024, our media partners broadcast vital information on security and access to basic services, thereby improving the resilience of the population. Their coverage of war crime trials improved people’s understanding of legal issues and paid more attention to the defence. The adoption of interactive formats such as short videos and solutions journalism increased audience trust and amplified the role of local media in public debate.
In 2025, Fondation Hirondelle, in partnership with IRMI, NUJU and Justice Info, is strengthening its commitment to Ukraine in order to guarantee access to reliable and useful information for the populations hardest hit by the war.