We are pleased to announce that the team of the Association Independent Regional Press Publishers of Ukraine has made it to the list of 200 finalists of the internationally recognized media award INMA Global Media Awards 2025. Since 1937, this prestigious award has been given to media companies as a sign of recognition and gratitude for their outstanding contributions to the development of the media industry and journalism worldwide.
20 categories represented
This year, INMA received 839 applications from 286 media brands across 49 countries. The finalists include media from Ukraine, Africa, the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, Latin America, North America, and South Asia.
In its 88th year, the INMA Global Media Awards feature 20 categories across two segments—national/international and regional.
The categories highlight excellence in media organizations, products, advertising and commerce, and newsrooms. Each category focuses on themes such as the use of artificial intelligence in newsroom innovation and subscriptions, fact-checking and truth verification, the promotion of social campaigns for public benefit, sports, health, and much more.
One first place, second place, and third place will be awarded for each of the 20 categories within each segment. In some cases, judges may omit awards or advise additional awards.
First-place winners, regional winners, and the global Best In Show will be announced May 22 at the Edison Ballroom in New York, as the culmination of the INMA World Congress of News Media being held May 19-23.
«The Global Media Awards are an unparalleled showcase of groundbreaking insights and experiments, illuminating the path the news industry is taking to captivate new audiences while keeping them both informed and inspired», — INMA CEO/Executive Director Earl J. Wilkinson said.
This year’s awards entries reveal where our news media network is heading — pioneering strategies to position their news brands, engage diverse audiences, and continuously innovate the ways they connect — all while staying true to the heart of their brands and the communities they serve. INMA is incredibly proud of the exceptional 2025 finalists and eagerly awaits celebrating the winners this May in New York.
Some 60 media experts from 26 countries judged the entries in February, evaluating on breakthrough results, unique concepts, strong creativity, innovative thinking, and winning synergies across platforms.
Rescuing Freedom…
AIRPPU is competing in the national segment category «Best Public Relations or Community Service Campaign».
«Rescuing Freedom: The Campaign to Save Ukrainian Regional Journalism» – this is how the Association is represented in this nomination.
The full-scale russian invasion of Ukraine created unprecedented challenges for regional and local media: regional newsrooms were destroyed, some of them were occupied, journalists faced violence, displacement, and immense personal risks, business models collapsed, compromising the sustainability of independent media, delivery of paper for newspapers was destroyed and all the journalists, reporters from the frontline, were not insured during their work under the shellings.
This crisis threatened not only the flow of information but also the democratic fabric of Ukrainian society.
The Rescuing Freedom Campaign focused on swift, strategic, and impactful actions to build a strong network of international support to keep the press freedom alive.
Results for this campaign
The Rescuing Freedom Campaign provided essential resources to independent regional and local newsrooms, including safety training, equipment (bulletproof vests, helmets, tourniquets, laptops, mobile phones, generators, satellite internet, paper for the newspapers, etc), and financial assistance for content production, insurance for the frontline journalists. They facilitated the relocation of journalists and newsrooms when necessary, ensuring the continued operation of critical news sources.
The Rescuing Freedom Campaign joint international relationships and new partnerships with media organizations, foundations, and individuals worldwide to build the strong network of supporters of the independent regional media in Ukraine. This network provided crucial financial, logistical, and technical support from 13 countries. Supporters from the media from Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Poland, Switzerland, Germany, France, USA, Australia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia join together the efforts to keep alive the regional press in Ukraine. Over 19 media managers joined as ambassadors, leading efforts and organizing support to uphold press freedom and ensure the survival of independent journalism.
This Means Being Heard
For the Association, it is extremely important to be among the finalists of such a prestigious international award.
— Our work is not just about supporting the media, it is a fight for the right to truth and independent journalism. Being a finalist in the INMA Global Media Awards is a great honor for our team but even more — it is a recognition of our mission and its significance to the global community, — says Oksana Brovko, CEO of AIRPPU. — Today, Ukrainian journalists work under extremely difficult conditions: destroyed newsrooms, lack of funding, threats to their lives, occupation, and collapsed business models. But they do not give up. This is why the Rescuing Freedom Campaign has become a crucial step in ensuring the survival of regional media and protecting press freedom in Ukraine. Being among the finalists of the INMA Global Media Awards means being heard on an international level. This recognition belongs to all Ukrainian journalists, who risk their lives every day to ensure the world knows the truth. We are grateful to every partner, every donor, every editor, and every reporter who makes independent journalism in Ukraine possible.
There are still many challenges ahead, but we know: together, we are stronger; together, we will preserve press freedom!
