Ukraine on 6 June marks Journalist Day – a professional holiday honouring those who work daily to ensure society receives truthful, high-quality, and timely information, which is particularly vital in wartime.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine actively supports the development of quality journalism and improving journalists’ media literacy, recognising these as key elements for building an information-resilient society. For two consecutive years (2023 and 2024), with financial support from the Government of Japan, UNDP in Ukraine has backed the “Reporter” national student video competition. The competition is organised by the Filter national media literacy project  run by the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine.

Each year, hundreds of students in years 9–11 from across Ukraine take part, creating unique video reports on topical issues. The jury selects the ten best works from among 50 finalists, who receive valuable prizes and an opportunity to further develop their journalistic skills.

To mark Journalist Day, we’re sharing the stories of several winners, which show how taking part in “Reporter” changed their lives.

Diana Kolomiichenko, Borzna, Chernihiv Oblast

Diana was one of the winners in 2023. After the competition, she recorded her first real interview – with Uliana Pcholkina, a Ukrainian public figure, on the topic of accessibility.

“That interview helped me truly feel what journalism is – with all its nuances, challenges, and advantages,” Diana says. “Most importantly, I had the chance to speak with professional journalists, whose advice I’ll probably remember for the rest of my life.”

In autumn 2024, Diana also took part in filming the National Media Literacy Lesson:

“We applied everything we learned at Reporter.Camp, met well-known figures, and saw how large-scale events are filmed. It was an incredible experience, and unforgettable!”

“Has my life changed after ‘Reporter?’ Absolutely! It’s not just a competition – it’s a push that gives you the strength to move forward. Thanks to the opportunities it opened up for me, I now know exactly who I want to be. I’m moving only forward – and believe the best is yet to come!”

Roman Baliuk, Varash, Rivne Oblast

Roman was a competition winner in 2024. He believes “Reporter” fundamentally changed his life.

After winning, he began receiving invitations to city events as a journalist. The intensive learning at Reporter.Camp (a practical training course for competition winners), significantly sharpened his skills.

“My work became brighter, bolder, and more confident,” Roman says. “I won the national competition Cosmic Fantasies run by the Ukrainian Youth Aerospace Association Constellation, where I interviewed my astronomy teacher. I also won a prize in the ‘I Am a Journalist’ national student creative competition, taking second-place in the ‘Video Report’ category.”

Daryna Kozyr, Kharkiv

Daryna was one of the 2023 winners. Like Diana, she recorded her first interview after the competition – with Jaco Cilliers, UNDP’s Resident Representative in Ukraine.

She also interviewed Volodymyr Kokhan, creator of the popular YouTube project “Khashchi” as part of a training programme. This experience deepened her understanding of the journalist’s role.

After the competition, she firmly decided to pursue a degree in journalism. She is now completing her first year at the Institute of Journalism at Kyiv Taras Shevchenko National University.

“I’m sincerely grateful to the Filter media literacy project, UNDP in Ukraine, and the Government of Japan for the chance to be part of ‘Reporter,’” Daryna says. 

“It’s an amazing opportunity to express yourself, show your strengths and creativity, and work towards changing the world. Journalism isn’t just about covering current events – it’s about analysing data, verifying facts, and communicating the truth.”

Liliia Lehka, Vyshneve, Kyiv Oblast

Liliia was one of the 2024 winners. She was a college student while participating in the competition, and remains so today. 

This year, she plans to apply to university to study journalism – specifically media production – a decision she credits to the positive experience she had with “Reporter.”

Her proudest achievement is co-founding the Osonnia community (Instagram: @osonnia.project) with a fellow “Reporter” winner and a friend who was a national history Olympiad champion.

“Together, we created something more than media – it’s a community of people with shared values, which we cultivate in ourselves and share with others,” says Liliia. 

“My role in Osonnia is creating new formats and offline events that bring people together – that’s what inspires me! We aim to spread national consciousness and reject apathy, because we believe ‘Ukraine isn’t someone else, somewhere – each of us is Ukraine.”

Kostiantyn Klova, Kherson

Kostiantyn won the competition in 2023. He says the experience boosted his confidence and encouraged him to share media literacy knowledge with his peers.

“One of the most memorable moments was participating in the filming of the National Media Literacy Lesson – it was watched by thousands of students across Ukraine, including in my hometown of Kherson,” Kostiantyn says.

“Being part of such a large-scale project is a great honour and responsibility.”

He says this experience inspired him to study media more deeply and affirmed the importance of every voice:

“I realised that every voice has power – you just need to find the courage to speak up. I’m now preparing new ideas for local initiatives.”

Anastasiia Lavrenchuk, Kyiv

Anastasiia was one of the 2024 winners.

“After winning ‘Reporter,’ I felt for the first time that journalism wasn’t just a dream – it was my path,” Anastasiia says. “The competition gave me the courage to tackle difficult topics – war, memory, human stories.”

For her entry, she created a video report featuring Vasilisa Stepanenko, the producer of the Oscar-winning documentary film “20 Days in Mariupol.”

“That project was special,” Anastasiia says. “Vasilisa not only inspired me – she became a close supporter and a role model showing how truth can change a country. ‘Reporter’ taught me not to stay silent, and to trust my own voice. I’m now preparing to apply for journalism studies and planning my future project as a war correspondent. I believe this competition gave me my foundation.”

Iryna Deineka, Kovel, Volyn Oblast

After winning “Reporter” in 2023, Iryna received a scholarship to study at a UWC college in the Netherlands, where her studies included filmmaking. The project inspired her to explore international opportunities for growth.

She is especially drawn to the interview genre – since the competition, she has conducted several interviews with celebrities, applying the skills she gained through “Reporter.”

“After winning, I continued doing journalism,” Iryna says. “I was especially interested in interviews and managed to carry out several – a great chance to put what I learned into practice.”

Another significant experience was her training in self-presentation, which boosted her confidence in public speaking. Today, she gives lectures to young people in her hometown of Kovel.

Looking ahead, she plans to pursue journalism or a related field:

“Even if life takes me in a different direction, the microphone and camera will always be part of me – even if not the main part,” Iryna says.

Daryna Pustovit, village of Pishchane, Cherkasy Oblast

Daryna won “Reporter” in 2024. Even before entering the competition, she had begun producing animated videos on Ukrainian history – and she continues to do so.

She now runs a blog called Director of History, where she tells the stories of prominent Ukrainian figures and cultural phenomena in her own animation style. She has already created over five videos, three of which were cross-posted by the Filter national media literacy project.

“Reaching the ‘Reporter’ finals confirmed for me that I should keep creating historical videos in my own style,” says Daryna.

She has applied to a video blogging scholarship programme to expand her reach and skills.