Editorial: How to stay informed during a time of crisis, Russian invasion of Ukraine
Photo credit: Chloe Fidler
CNN reporter Sara Sidner covers Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “It is a tragedy,” Sidner said.
March 1, 2022
As we scroll through our social media feeds and turn on the news, our timelines are flooded with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The videos consist of anything from missiles exploding in villages and in the capital, Kyiv, to mothers crying while hugging their children. Having the privilege of not being directly impacted by this war geographically, we must stay educated and emotionally sensitive to those affected.
As members of Generation Z, we are accustomed to receiving news through our many social media forums. In this digital age, it can be easy to fall into fake news cycles that have seemingly accurate evidence to support false claims. However, in an event of this magnitude, we implore everyone to rely and look towards reputable sources, not just social media.
Innocent Ukrainian lives are being taken. Civilians are fleeing for safety. Bloodshed and violence are creating everlasting repercussions.
Among residents of Ukraine, journalists from all over the globe are putting their lives on the line to cover the war. Beyond reporting accurate and timely facts, journalists are met with the complexities that come with covering the Russian government, notorious for censorship and propaganda. On the World Press Freedom Index, which ranks countries based on their lack of censorship, Russia is in the bottom 30 of the 180 countries that are ranked.
Along with the omnipresent force of Russian suppression, these frontline journalists are also in the middle of a dangerous warzone. They are putting their lives on the line to seek the truth. The least we can do is give these courageous individuals our attention.
The severity of this war will leave communities devastated, and it is our responsibility as human beings to support and amplify Ukrainian voices and frontline journalists who are covering this event. We have created a list of news sites, point people and organizations to look at while following this breach of human rights. We urge everyone reading, especially those of Generation Z, to use our guide below as a first step to staying informed.
The Kyiv Post is an English-language newspaper based in Kyiv, Ukraine. They cover news throughout the country via their website as well as twitter.
Ponomarenko is currently reporting on the ground in Ukraine. He is a defense reporter with The Kyiv Independent and has been giving frequent updates on Twitter.
“Olga Tokariuk is a Non-resident Fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) and an independent journalist and researcher based in Kyiv, Ukraine” according to CEPA. She has been using Twitter to report, posting coverage consistently along with her own opinions about current events.
Ukrinform is a “Ukrainian multimedia platform for broadcasting.” They have a carousel with the most recent data on casualties and war-related news. Ukrinform also provides quotes and transcripts from officials on events.
Along with being cognizant of the news, if you have the ability to donate to programs to help civilians and soldiers in Ukraine, refer to this article by The Los Angeles Times.
In times of chaos and brutality, it is important for us to honor the sacrifice that journalists are making to document history as it unfolds. Our hearts break for Ukraine, and all the innocent civilians and soldiers whose lives have been taken, not lost.
Bethany Neubauer • Mar 3, 2022 at 4:02 pm
Thanks for this timely article, Chloe! We’re certainly seeing the role of disinformation in the crisis in Ukraine, so these reminders to seek out high quality journalism are especially important.