‘Reporters Without Borders’ has called on the government of Ukraine to stop the telethon and return to media competition

“Reporters Without Borders” has called on the government of Ukraine to stop the telethon and return to media competition to strengthen pluralism.

The international human rights organization notes that the viewership rating of the telethon has reached a record low of 10%, with only 20% of those surveyed still considering it relevant. It is criticized for being lenient towards the government and for journalists practicing self-censorship.

“The telethon was useful and effective in combating the unprecedented wave of Russian disinformation that swept the country in February 2022, but it is now outdated and, above all, undermines media pluralism,” said Jeanne Cavelier, head of the “Reporters Without Borders” branch for Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

It is worth noting that recently, the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine has considered changing the format of the telethon or adding new television channels to it.