The Media Reform Centre was founded in June, 2002, and is based at the Mohyla School of Journalism at Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. The Academy also hosts the MRC office, the Media Club discussions, conferences, presentations, trainings, etc.

The Media Reform Centre is different from other media NGOs in that we work not only with journalists, but also with politicians, state officials, judges, lawyers, businessmen, well-known personalities – everyone who influences the Ukrainian media sphere. Our goal is to unite their efforts to create a more favourable milieu for free mass media in Ukraine. In the spring of 2005 we started working on the project “People and Power: Dialogue Through the Media". This project is supported financially by the British government. The goal of the project is to initiate livelier and more open communication between citizens and officials, to facilitate the transparency of governing institutions and their accountability to the citizens through the media.

Who are our partners?
Among the partners of the Media Reform Centre are Independent Association of Broadcasters, Ukrainian National Publishers’ Association, Web-publication Telekritika, Mohyla School of Journalism, TeleRadioKuryer magazine, Ukrainian Media Union, with the common goal of introducing new standards in the mass media sphere. In 2005 as part of the “People and Power: Dialogue Through the Media" project, we created a coalition of regional partner organizations which includes NGO Bukovinian Partnership Agency (Chernivtsy), Nova Doba, a weekly regional newspaper (Cherkasy), NGO Civil Services for Legal Assistance (Lugansk). We also work closely with British consultants from TADS.

What we want to achieve
The events of the end of 2004 have brought about radical changes in the Ukrainian media, which media experts often refer to as the “journalist revolution". The new power has stated that it wants to “bring down the wall between power and people" and will facilitate the free existence of independent media, and added that the transformation of the state channel UT-1 into a public service broadcaster has become an urgent need. The “temniks" of Kuchma’s time have been replaced by liberal views, but the promise of a “more favourable climate for media reform" has given way to new concerns and worries.

Today journalists need to work professionally and to work for their audiences, not for the authorities; they need to develop new formats to improve the connection between the citizens and state institutions. To do this, journalists, civil activists and officials all need new skills, and an awareness that the new Ukraine demands constant interactive discussion between people and power.

We undertake to facilitate such a dialogue, attracting MPs, officials, businessmen, NGO representatives, and journalists to participate. The role of free media in this process is vital. Without independent, influential journalism no independent country can develop normally in the modern world.

Our aim is to awake a public demand from the media for reliable information. We journalists are responsible publicly, patriotically and professionally for our actions. Together we will achieve our goal faster, for the mass media must become a joint platform for the whole of society.

What do we propose on our web-site?
Our web-site is a source of information about media problems in Ukraine and attempts to resolve them with public participation. It is also a live communication forum for those who, despite varying political views, share the same ideas about introducing a new culture of public discussion in Ukraine.

Visit our site, learn about the work of the Media Club, participate in training and round tables, make use of legal advice, test your professionalism by participating in journalistic competitions, debate the political and economical independence of the media, the need for legal protection in the sphere, journalistic education, media as business, regulation and self-regulation of the media….. – the scale and scope of the discussion depends on you!

On our web-site you can learn about our partners’ activities, as well as about the media culture in Great Britain and the experience of British media. For top-managers and journalists we also offer a helpful resource – a range of brochures and books, prepared and published with MRC’s assistance. These include a “Manual for heads of TV and radio companies", advice to newspaper editors on how to become a successful manager and entrepreneur,and recommendations to the authorities on how to work with an independent press.

Bring your experience, your new ideas and join us! We will be very grateful for suggestions, comments, questions and advice. And, most of all – your personal participation in the process of reforming the Ukrainian media sphere.