Amplifying Voices from Occupation: Introduction of a Special Nomination Within the 'Honor of the Profession' Journalism Award
Behind every story about life under temporary occupation are the voices of people whose experiences must not go unnoticed. Media attention is critically important to ensure their stories are heard and made visible to both Ukrainian and international audiences.
Ukraine’s international partners, through the Partnership Fund for a Resilient Ukraine (PFRU), support initiatives that help amplify the voices and lived experiences of Ukrainians living under temporary occupation or forced to leave their homes, while strengthening journalism as a tool for telling these stories responsibly and professionally. Together with Detector Media, PFRU supported the launch of the special nomination ‘Best Story on the Lives of Ukrainians under Temporary Occupation’ as part of one of the country’s leading journalism awards, ‘Honor of the Profession’.
The award ceremony was attended by Tesh Ross, Acting Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy in Ukraine, representing PFRU financing partners, who highlighted the professionalism and dedication of Ukrainian journalists, noting that their work contributes to sustaining international support for Ukraine. She also emphasized that journalists covering life under russian occupation demonstrate extraordinary courage and commitment to the truth, amplifying the voices of those affected by russian aggression.
The special nomination received 91 submissions, ranging from investigative and documentary stories to multimedia projects and field reporting. The award was presented to Oleksandr Nosok, journalist at the online media outlet ‘Pershyi Zaporizkyi’, for his story ‘A Nuclear City in Chains: How Russia Persecutes, Tortures, and Illegally Imprisons Residents of Enerhodar and Workers of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.’
The special nomination underscores the importance of supporting journalists working on complex and sensitive issues and helps ensure that the stories of Ukrainians living through the consequences of occupation are heard more widely both in Ukraine and internationally.
