During her official visit to Australia, Olha Herasymiuk, Chair of the National Council of Ukraine on Television and Radio Broadcasting, delivered two lecture-dialogues to students at the University of Melbourne. The discussions focused on Ukraine’s experience in countering Russian information aggression, the dangers of the media environment during wartime – particularly the role of Telegram channels — and the daily challenges Ukrainian journalists face.
A lively meeting with students of the Global Crisis Reporting course was moderated by lecturer and former Financial Times journalist Lucy Smy. The conversation began with an emotional moment – a screening of a clip from the documentary “20 Days in Mariupol”, which set a deeply resonant tone for the entire discussion.
Olha Herasymiuk shared real-life stories from Ukrainian media working under the extremely challenging conditions of full-scale war. She spoke about how Ukraine is building information resilience in its confrontation with the aggressor.
“We talked about journalism during wartime – about how we cope. About what the war with Russia really means. Being a journalist in these times is not just about facts. It’s about making a choice: to remain human and not betray the truth.”
The students’ reaction was especially moving, with attendees from China, Saudi Arabia, the United States, and France among them. For many, it was the first time they heard what is truly happening in Ukraine.
“I saw before me the wide-open eyes of grown-up children – filled with wonder, empathy, and a sincere desire to understand. I was especially moved by the students from China, who thanked me after the lecture, asked for a hug, and admitted that they had heard something completely different back home – and now want to seek the truth,” shared Olha Herasymiuk.
Another meeting with future journalists from the School of Culture and Communication focused on countering Russian propaganda was moderated by lecturer Louisa Lim. Professor Lim, who teaches courses in audio journalism and podcasting, emphasized the uniqueness of Ukraine’s experience amid armed conflict and the importance of personal testimony for aspiring journalists. The discussion touched not only on Ukrainian realities but also on the universal challenges facing modern journalism. The discussion went beyond Ukraine’s current reality to explore universal challenges facing modern journalism:
- How to uphold professional standards even in survival conditions
- Why Ukraine consciously chooses not to replace journalism with propaganda
- How to effectively counter Russian information attacks
- What Telegram channels represent today: a tool for speed or a source of danger
- How to begin a professional career in a reality where truth is rarely clear-cut
“The students asked difficult and honest questions: where to begin a career in journalism, and how not to lose oneself in a world where war is not only fought with weapons, but also with information,” said the Chair of the National Council.
Olha Herasymiuk emphasized that it is the younger generation – not only in Ukraine, but around the world – that carries hope and holds the key to change.
“My hope is with them. And, of course, above all – with our students, who today are defending not only on the front lines, but also on the cultural, educational, and informational fronts,” she concluded.
As a reminder, the Chair of the National Council is currently on an official visit to Australia. The head of Ukraine’s media regulator met with colleagues from the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), where they discussed strict regulations on gambling advertising and children’s access to social media. She also held a meeting with members of the Australia-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group and spoke at the inaugural Ukrainian-Australian Book Festival.
