The results of an experiment by the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation showed that 73% of the 200 surveyed journalists had at least once decided not to publish material during the war.
Source: “Espreso”
A controlled online experiment recorded real editorial decisions regarding news about mobilization. It turned out that the willingness to publish depended on the topic:
- 60.5% of journalists refrained from publishing news about the denial of medical assistance to military personnel;
- 36% avoided materials about the use of force by Territorial Recruitment Centers (TRCs).
In contrast, only 13% of respondents refrained from publishing news about corruption in the Ministry of Defense.
The experiment highlighted that journalists perceived corruption-related materials as socially beneficial, while reports of possible abuses in mobilization structures were seen as riskier and potentially harmful to defense capabilities.
Expected public reaction also influenced publication decisions, especially on topics related to mobilization and military structures.