AIRPPU and MDIF Announce Winners of the Second Round of the Ukraine Innovative Media Program
During the 14th Media Congress, the Association of Independent Regional Press Publishers of Ukraine (AIRPPU) together with the Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) announced the results of the second round of the Innovative Media Ukraine Program — an initiative that supports independent regional media in Ukraine in creating new revenue streams and expanding their audiences.
“Through this program, we aim to empower independent regional media — helping them expand monetization opportunities, develop new revenue streams, reach broader audiences, and, ultimately, drive innovation and deliver high-quality journalism,” said Oksana Brovko, CEO of AIRPPU.
This year, 12 newsrooms that had completed the international Digital ABC course, Module E “The Age of Artificial Intelligence in the Newsroom,” were invited to participate in the competition. Each newsroom is implementing its own business project to promote sustainability and innovation.
Based on the results of the competitive selection, the following media will receive up to €10,000 in funding and expert support:
- Creation of a subscription-based readers’ club on the PECHERA.info platform — Chernihiv Media Group
- Development and monetization of a YouTube video channel — Odesa.Life
- Creation of an interactive map of local brands with video stories and paid partnership packages — 20 Minutes Ternopil
- Establishment of a video production studio for YouTube and external clients — Kremenchutskyi Telegraf
- Creation of video content for a YouTube channel based on the media’s analytical materials — TEXTY.org.ua
“Ukraine remains the most challenging environment for independent media in Europe. Yet during our work to select new grantees we were often amazed with their applications: thoughtful, professional, focused on business, yet so committed to values of independent journalism. In coming years MDIF will be expanding our assistance to media in Ukraine,” said Marcin Gadzinski, MDIF’s Program Director for Europe.
This is the second round of the program. In the first round, five media successfully implemented projects focused on video content development, website optimization, and YouTube channel monetization.
Read more about the results here: Successful video content development strategies in regional media: real cases
Learn more about how the initiative was launched here: New business opportunities for 5 regional media: Ukraine Innovative Media Program
Our partners at Media Development Investment Fund also wrote about it — you can read the article HERE.
Organizers
MDIF — an international nonprofit organization that has supported independent media in Ukraine since 1996.
Association of Independent Regional Press Publishers of Ukraine (AIRPPU) — a professional association representing over 150 independent regional media reaching more than 10 million readers monthly. Our mission is to strengthen the resilience of newsrooms and support independent journalism as a foundation for democratic values in Ukraine.
In 2025, AIRPPU received two prestigious international awards: the INMA Global Media Awards for the Rescuing Freedom campaign, which also won in four categories, including Best European and Global Project. On behalf of Ukraine’s independent media, Oksana Brovko accepted the Golden Pen of Freedom 2025, the top honor of the WAN-IFRA World News Media Congress, for contributions to defending freedom of speech.
AIRPPU and MDIF maintain a long-term partnership dedicated to supporting regional media in Ukraine.
