Ukrainian regional newsrooms are bolstering their resilience through a recent partnership program with Norwegian counterparts, as war-time pressures and disinformation campaigns continue to threaten independent journalism in the country. The initiative, formally launched with an online meeting on February 23rd, pairs four Ukrainian and four Norwegian newsrooms for year-long collaborations focused on digital transformation, financial sustainability, and editorial practices.
The program is part of the broader “Stronger Together” framework, implemented by WAN-IFRA in partnership with AIRPPU (Association of Independent Regional Publishers of Ukraine) and MBL (Norwegian Media Businesses’ Association). Since its inception, “Stronger Together” has supported Ukrainian newsrooms with grants, investigative journalism training, and leadership development, resulting in the publication of over 90 investigative stories, according to program organizers.
The Norwegian Partnerships Programme will witness Ukrainian media managers travel to Oslo on March 16th to observe workflows, monetization strategies, and management approaches within Norwegian newsrooms. They will also share their experiences operating under wartime conditions. The pairings are: Agderposten with Visnyk Ch (Chernihiv); Altignet with Kremenchutskyi Telegraf (Kremenchuk); Amedia and Bergensavisen with RIA+ / 20 Hvylyn (Ternopil); and Fædrelandsvennen with Dostup Media (Kropyvnytskyi).
“Stronger Together speaks for itself – we become stronger when we operate together and learn from one another,” said Randi Øgrey, CEO of MBL, during the program’s opening session. The initiative aims to foster long-term cooperation, open dialogue, and professional solidarity between the newsrooms.
The need for such support is underscored by the ongoing challenges facing Ukrainian media. According to a report from the European External Action Service, Russian propaganda narratives during June-August 2025 focused on undermining Ukrainian-Polish relations and falsely accusing the EU of prolonging the war and pursuing an “aggressive policy towards Russia.” The report also detailed disinformation campaigns spreading false stories about alleged plans to divide Ukraine and schemes involving Ukrainian children, aiming to demoralize the Ukrainian public and manipulate perceptions of EU integration.
WAN-IFRA’s commitment extends through the end of 2027, recognizing that strong local journalism is essential for democratic stability and civil society in Ukraine. The program’s focus extends beyond immediate emergency assistance to address long-term financial sustainability and resilient leadership within the regional media landscape.