At the beginning of the year, a comprehensive review was conducted of 124 new applications together with 40 final reports submitted by Year 1 participants, in order to assess performance and confirm the selection of media organisations for participation in Year 2.
Following a transparent and structured selection process, 22 Ukrainian media outlets were confirmed for institutional capacity support, while 18 media organisations were selected to receive investigative journalism grants. These selections reflect both demonstrated progress in Year 1 and readiness to further strengthen sustainability, editorial impact, and organisational resilience in 2026.
Strengthening investigative journalism
As part of the Stronger Together: Transparency and Anti-Corruption initiative, an Investigative Bootcamp was organised from 2-6 March, bringing together nearly 40 journalists from 18 regional newsrooms across Ukraine.
The intensive, practice-focused programme strengthened investigative reporting skills through hands-on workshops on data analysis, hypothesis development, fact-checking, and working with open data sources.
Participants trained on data scraping, automation tools, and database analysis, and developed skills in data visualisation using tools such as DataWrapper and Flourish.
Sessions also addressed investigations into illicit enrichment and misuse of public funds, with experienced investigative journalists sharing practical methodologies and case-based learning.
The bootcamp emphasised practical application, with participants developing their own investigative ideas and plans under mentor guidance.
By the end of the programme, journalists were equipped with new tools, analytical techniques, and collaborative approaches to produce at least six investigative stories per newsroom over the coming year – reinforcing the role of regional media in promoting accountability and transparency, particularly in the context of wartime reconstruction.
The original article (in Ukrainian) is available by clicking here.
Norwegian Partnerships Programme launches
A delegation of Ukrainian media managers and journalists travelled to Norway in mid-March as part of the newly launched Norwegian Partnerships Programme.
The visit began in Oslo with a presentation reflecting on the first year of the programme and highlighting how independent Ukrainian media continue to operate under wartime conditions. Partners emphasised the importance of collaboration, solidarity and long-term cooperation in strengthening regional independent journalism.
The programme formally launched in Oslo, with the signing of partnership memoranda between four Ukrainian and four Norwegian regional newsrooms.
During the rest of the week, Ukrainian participants were embedded in Norwegian newsrooms for hands-on exchanges, exploring editorial workflows, digital transformation strategies, subscription models, monetisation approaches, and newsroom management practices.
The initiative is designed as a year-long collaboration, fostering open dialogue, professional exchange and mutual learning – reinforcing resilience, press freedom and sustainable development of independent regional media in both countries.
This programme moves beyond introductory exchanges. It is designed as a sustained partnership model, including reciprocal visits, hands-on newsroom immersion, structured peer dialogue, and practical knowledge transfer.
Throughout 2026, participating newsrooms will work closely together, strengthening professional ties and learning from one another’s experiences.
WAN-IFRA’s CEO, Stig Ørskov, during the launch of the Norwegian Partnerships Programme in Oslo in mid-March.
The original article (in Ukrainian) is available by clicking here.
New handbook showcases the power of regional investigative journalism in wartime
During the kick-off event in Oslo, participants have also received printed copies of the newly published handbook “Investigative Journalism and Democratic Accountability During Wartime.”
The publication documents how 18 regional newsrooms, supported by six investigative mentors, strengthened their capacity in data analysis, hypothesis development, legal review and evidence-based reporting.
Within six months, participating teams produced 105 investigations, with 12 selected cases featured in the book as practical examples of how regional journalism safeguards public accountability during wartime.
Structured around themes such as public finance oversight, the wartime economy, and information influence, the handbook highlights the role of investigative reporting in strengthening democratic resilience at the local level.
In April, the programme will further strengthen investigative capacity by supporting the participation of 10 Ukrainian journalists from 10 regional media outlets at the SKUP Conference in Norway, the country’s leading annual investigative journalism festival.
Alongside attending the festival, participants will take part in a dedicated masterclass designed to deepen their practical skills and expose them to new investigative methods, tools and cross-border collaboration models.
The visit offers an opportunity to engage directly with experienced investigative reporters, explore emerging techniques, and bring back concrete knowledge and inspiration to strengthen accountability reporting within their own newsrooms.