The Ukrainian Media Landscape

Abstract

The author covers the transformation of Ukrainian media from two perspectives: (1) ownership and censorship and (2) media consumption. As Ukrainian media became free and plural after the collapse of the Soviet Union, pressure grew over time, peaking during the Orange Revolution of 2004. Afterwards, journalists experienced less pressure but since 2009 governmental interference began again, mounting until the regime change that followed the Euromaidan protests. Events occurred since, like the annexation of Crimea by Russia and its intervention in Donbas, which have significantly changed the Ukrainian media landscape. Concerning media consumption, the author sheds light on changes in the patterns of consumption of mass media. Television remains the most important, but independent internet media has contributed to strengthening pluralism and freedom of speech.