Preserving the Record: The EBU Ukraine Archive and the Future of War Reporting
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has established a thorough archive dedicated to preserving reporting on the Russia-Ukraine War, creating a lasting resource for journalists, researchers, and the public. This initiative aims to safeguard accurate,self-reliant journalism in a conflict saturated with disinformation and to hold “the powerful to account and to make the world a safer place,” as stated by the EBU.
war reporting inherently carries critically important risks for those involved – reporters, producers, camera operators, translators, fixers, and citizen journalists – frequently enough operating in perilous environments. Recognizing this, the EBU Ukraine Archive serves as a “long tail” for some of the most brave and vital reporting from the conflict.
The archive’s core mission is to counter disinformation and propaganda by compiling a factual and detailed narrative of the war. As the saying goes, “Truth is the first casualty of war,” and the EBU aims to ensure a robust historical record is maintained. This resource will be invaluable for journalists, documentary filmmakers, researchers, and others seeking to inform audiences worldwide.
The Ukraine Archive is a collaborative effort,demonstrating how multiple media organizations can combine resources to achieve a greater impact. The EBU’s unique approach to creating a durable archive could serve as a model for future journalistic conflict and war archives, influencing the wider journalism community.
Beyond its immediate purpose, the archive also seeks to bolster public trust in media, a crucial goal at a time when public media faces challenges and journalism’s business model is under pressure.
The project remains ongoing,with reporting and archiving continuing as the Russia-Ukraine war persists. Led by Anne Koch, Ukraine Archive Project Lead at the EBU, the initiative builds on a wealth of experience. Koch previously served as Programme Director for the Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN) and held an award-winning career at the BBC,including roles as Deputy Director of the English World Service and Executive Editor of flagship radio news programs. She also served as Director for europe and Central Asia at Openness International.
This post was originally published by the EBU and is based on details provided by Anne Koch.
