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Course

“Civil society in resolving modern conflicts”

Academic year 2024-2025

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Jean Monnet Module Erasmus+

“Civil society in conflict resolution process:

the EU experience for Ukraine”

101084973 — EURoCoRP — ERASMUS-JMO-2022-HEI-TCH-RSCH

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CIVIL SOCIETY IN RESOLVING MODERN CONFLICTS

Course Content (1)

Topic 1: Theoretical foundations of civil society.

Topic 2: Civil society as an integral attribute of modern democracy.

Topic 3: Collective and individual participation in the partnership model of interaction between civil society and state institutions.

Topic 4: Legislative principles for ensuring the functioning and development of civil society.

Topic 5: Political parties as an instrument of civil society participation in government.

Topic 6: Public sentiment, government and civil society.

Topic 7: Modern practices of public activity and self-organization.

Topic 8: Public associations are the basic institution of civil society functioning.

Topic 9: Anti-corruption activities of civil society organizations.

Topic 10: Features of the functioning of civil society in the economic sphere.

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Topic 11: Mass media as a control and information resource of civil society.

Topic 12: Volunteer movement in Ukraine.

Topic 13: The main trends of youth activity and self-organization.

Topic 14: Effective responses to threats to national security: opportunities for civil society.

Topic 15: The Orange Revolution and the Revolution of Dignity as manifestations of the maturity of civil society in Ukraine.

Topic 16: Exercise of the right to civil protest and peaceful assembly.

Topic 17: Identity: the cause or precondition of conflict.

Topic 18: International standards for implementing the right to peaceful assembly and the problems of their provision in Ukraine.

Topic 19: EU engagement with civil society.

Topic 20: Civil society in the Eastern Partnership countries.

CIVIL SOCIETY IN RESOLVING MODERN CONFLICTS

Course Content (2)

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Topic 11: Mass media as a control and information resource of civil society

  • Mass media as a means of formation and channel of expression of public opinion.
  • Mass media as a “control resource” of civil society.
  • Legal principles of mass media functioning in Ukraine.
  • The concept of “citizen mass media” and features of its implementation in Ukraine.
  • Peculiarities of the application of the institution of refutation in the process of mass media activity.

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Mass media as a means of formation and channel of expression of public opinion (1)

Mass Media and Public Opinion

  • Public opinion: collective views of a population on political or social issues. Media shape opinions by selecting and presenting news. Public opinion is dynamic and media-sensitive.
  • Examples: BBC influencing public opinion during Brexit. In Ukraine, "Hromadske TV" increased awareness of civic protests. Opinion polls are often based on media-consumed narratives.

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Mass media as a means of formation and channel of expression of public opinion (2)

Formation of Public Opinion

  • Agenda-setting: media prioritize issues.
  • Framing: how media shape narratives and influence voting behavior and political moods. Media campaigns affect referenda.
  • Examples: Euronews framed COVID-19 as a global solidarity issue. TSN framed war coverage around patriotism.

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Mass media as a means of formation and channel of expression of public opinion (3)

Channels of Public Opinion Expression

  • Public opinion is expressed through various media channels that provide access to information and platforms for public discourse.
  • Traditional media such as print newspapers (e.g., Der Standard in Austria) and television (e.g., RAI in Italy, ICTV in Ukraine) have historically played dominant roles. Radio broadcasters like Deutsche Welle (Germany) and Radio Svoboda (Ukraine) also shape opinion, especially in regions with limited internet. Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter (X), and Telegram allow for more immediate and interactive engagement.
  • Online news portals like Politico.eu or NV.ua aggregate and contextualize news, influencing political orientation. Blogs and forums serve as alternative spaces for civic voices and minority perspectives. Together, these channels reflect the plurality and complexity of public opinion in democratic societies.

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Mass media as a means of formation and channel of expression of public opinion (4)

EU Case Studies:

  • BBC set narratives around EU migration.
  • France24 reported on civil movements and climate change.
  • ARD (Germany) reported on COVID-19 policy disagreements.
  • Spain’s El País shaped debate on Catalan independence.
  • RTÉ (Ireland) emphasized transparency during elections.
  • EU-wide Eurobarometer surveys informed by media framing.

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Ukraine's Case Studies:

  • “1+1” amplified pro-Zelensky narratives in 2019.
  • “Ukrajinska Pravda” investigated top officials’ misconduct.
  • “Espreso TV” supported civic activism.
  • YouTube vlogs shaped youth political opinions.
  • Facebook and Telegram were used for campaign mobilization.

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Mass media as a “control resource” of civil society (1)

Mass Media as Control Resource:

  • Watchdog journalism: exposing government abuses.
  • Transparency tool: revealing hidden agendas.
  • Germany: ZDF investigative reports on state contracts.
  • France: Médiapart reports on political corruption.
  • Ukraine: StopCor tracks illegal deforestation.
  • Control enhances civic empowerment and accountability.

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Mass media as a “control resource” of civil society (2)

Functions of Media as Control Resource:

  • Investigative reporting: Der Spiegel, Bihus.info.
  • Public hearings via media coverage.
  • Fact-checking: EUvsDisinfo (EU), StopFake (Ukraine).
  • Promoting whistleblowing.
  • Encouraging voter oversight of policies.
  • Documenting rights abuses (e.g., Hungary’s media law protests).

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Mass media as a “control resource” of civil society (3)

EU Case Studies:

  • Volkswagen scandal by Der Spiegel.
  • LuxLeaks by French journalist Edouard Perrin.
  • Bulgaria’s BTV exposing election fraud.
  • Politico EU and COVID-19 vaccination transparency.
  • Finland’s YLE media regulation transparency debates.

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Ukraine's Case Studies:

  • Bihus.info: ex-president Poroshenko's offshore ties.
  • Skhemy: exposing elite abuse of state aviation.
  • Slidstvo.Info: medical procurement fraud.
  • Detector Media: media ownership investigations.
  • Texty.org.ua: mapping Russian disinformation.
  • Public broadcasters as democratic control tools.

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Legal principles of mass media functioning in Ukraine (1)

Legal Principles of Mass Media:

  • Freedom of speech: Constitution Article 34.
  • No prior censorship.
  • Right to seek, receive, and impart information.
  • Pluralism of thought protected.
  • Limits only on state secrets, incitement.
  • EU similar: Charter of Fundamental Rights (Art. 11).

Key Ukrainian Legislation:

  • Law on Information (updated 2021).
  • Law on Access to Public Information.
  • Law on Print Media Reform.
  • Digital Media Code (proposed).
  • EU equivalence: Audiovisual Media Services Directive.
  • Cybersecurity Law regulates media digital protection.

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Legal principles of mass media functioning in Ukraine (2)

Regulatory Bodies in Ukraine:

  • National Council of Television and Radio.
  • Ministry of Culture and Information Policy.
  • Independent Media Council.
  • Journalistic Ethics Commission.
  • Cooperation with European Regulators Group for Audiovisual Media Services (ERGA).
  • Complaints can be submitted by citizens and institutions.

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Legal principles of mass media functioning in Ukraine (3)

Challenges and Controversies:

  • Political pressure on editorial boards.
  • Use of media for oligarchic interests.
  • Threats to investigative journalists.
  • Underfunding of public broadcasters.

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Example:

  • Italy’s Berlusconi media conflict of interest.
  • EU debates on media concentration (Hungary, Poland).

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The concept of “citizen mass media” and features of its implementation in Ukraine (1)

Citizen mass media refers to content produced by ordinary individuals who are not professional journalists. These platforms emerged with the rise of mobile technology and digital communication tools, enabling broader participation in media creation. Defined by spontaneity and grassroots activism, citizen journalism fills gaps left by mainstream media. During the Euromaidan in Ukraine, live streams by protesters informed global audiences in real time. In the EU, initiatives like “Eyes on COVID-19” showed how citizens document local responses to crises. The lack of editorial standards in such media raises concerns over accuracy and bias. Despite its limitations, citizen media contributes to democratic transparency and mobilization.

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The concept of “citizen mass media” and features of its implementation in Ukraine (2)

Features of Citizen Media:

  • Real-time publishing.
  • First-person narratives.
  • Lack of formal training.
  • Greater reach during crisis.
  • Enables minority voices.
  • Complement or challenge to traditional media.

Strengths and Weaknesses of Citizen Media:

  • Strengths: Speed and access; Mobilizing public; Authentic storytelling
  • Weaknesses: Risk of manipulation; No editorial oversight; Verification challenges

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EU: regulation under Digital Services Act.

Ukraine: integration with national emergency response.

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The concept of “citizen mass media” and features of its implementation in Ukraine (3)

EU Examples of Citizen Media:

  • Spain’s Catalan referendum livestreams.
  • France: Yellow Vests protests live on Facebook.
  • Italy: Anti-mafia citizen blogs.
  • Germany: Refugee crisis stories via mobile journalism.
  • Greece: Aegean refugee rescue documentation.
  • Estonia: grassroots fact-checking Facebook groups.

Ukrainian Citizen Media:

  • Maidan SOS Facebook reporting (2014).
  • Citizen TikToks during Kyiv bombings (2022).
  • Telegram channels in occupied territories.
  • Use of drone footage by activists.
  • Coordination of humanitarian aid via Instagram.
  • Regional bloggers exposing local corruption.

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Peculiarities of the application of the institution of refutation in the process of mass media activity (1)

Institution of Refutation in Mass Media:

  • Refutation: correcting or withdrawing false information.
  • Legal basis in Civil Code of Ukraine.
  • Also regulated in the EU by national press councils.
  • Key to protecting reputation.
  • Ensures transparency of editorial standards.
  • Strengthens trust in journalistic integrity.

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The process of refutation in media involves several legal and procedural steps aimed at correcting misinformation. First, an affected person submits a request for correction or retraction to the media outlet. Second, the outlet has a specified time (up to 30 days in Ukraine) to respond, either by publishing a correction or rejecting the claim. If the dispute remains unresolved, the matter can proceed to civil court. EU countries apply varied mechanisms: Sweden offers fast-track refutation, while Germany relies on press ombudsmen. This process protects individual rights and reinforces the responsibility of journalists. A functioning refutation mechanism is essential for preserving trust in democratic information systems.

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Peculiarities of the application of the institution of refutation in the process of mass media activity (2)

Refutation Process:

  • Step 1: Request by injured party.
  • Step 2: Publisher’s response.
  • Step 3: Court procedure (if unresolved).
  • Step 4: Publication of refutation.

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The refutation mechanism is essential to safeguarding democratic standards in journalism. It provides legal and ethical avenues for correcting false or damaging information that may harm individuals or mislead the public. A robust refutation system builds trust between media institutions and society. In the European Union, voluntary correction cultures are encouraged alongside formal mechanisms. Ukraine is gradually aligning its legal practices with European norms, though gaps in enforcement persist. Strengthening media self-regulation complements legal processes and reinforces accountability. Overall, the availability and effectiveness of refutation procedures contribute to media credibility and the protection of human dignity.

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Peculiarities of the application of the institution of refutation in the process of mass media activity (3)

In Ukraine, the right to refutation is enshrined in Articles 37-39 of the Law on Information. Corrections must be as visible and accessible as the original false material. Despite the legal framework, enforcement remains weak and inconsistent due to judicial delays and lack of awareness. Many citizens are unfamiliar with how to request corrections or what rights they have in such cases.

NGOs such as the Institute of Mass Information play a vital role in educating the public and advocating for reform. The rise of online media has increased the number of complaints regarding digital misinformation. Strengthening the refutation system is crucial for defending journalistic standards and citizen dignity.

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Peculiarities of the application of the institution of refutation in the process of mass media activity (4)

The European Union provides a range of models for implementing the right to refutation and correction in mass media:

  • In the UK, the BBC maintains a public online corrections archive, ensuring transparency in its reporting.
  • In France, the CSA (Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel) enforces TV refutation rules to protect individuals from defamatory or false information.
  • Austria’s Broadcasting Act mandates that broadcasters issue corrections in the same format and reach as the original error.
  • Belgium uses a Press Council to mediate disputes between individuals and media outlets, promoting out-of-court resolution.
  • In Germany, the Press Code offers a detailed framework for voluntary corrections and ethical accountability.
  • Finland promotes a culture of self-regulation, with its Council for Mass Media serving as a respected body to handle complaints and publish findings.

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Peculiarities of the application of the institution of refutation in the process of mass media activity (5)

Mass media today face complex challenges that threaten their independence and effectiveness. One major issue is the proliferation of fake news and disinformation campaigns, often coordinated by foreign actors. Journalists increasingly face intimidation, especially in conflict zones such as Ukraine. Algorithms on platforms like YouTube and Facebook create echo chambers, distorting users' perceptions of reality. Political influence over media ownership undermines pluralism and editorial autonomy. The EU is responding with new regulations, such as the proposed Media Freedom Act, aimed at protecting press independence. Ukraine, meanwhile, must balance national security needs with fundamental freedoms in a wartime context.

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Sources

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Jean Monnet Actions

Useful links

EURoCoRP

Ostroh Academy, NU

European Commission

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�Thank you for attention!

Prof. in charge – Sergii Ishchuk, Doc. Sci.

Co-Lecturer - Dmytro Shevchuk, Doc. Sci.

Co-Lecturer - Tetiana Sydoruk, Doc. Sci.

Co-Lecturer - Kateryna Yakunina, PhD

Co-Lecturer - Olena Shershnova, PhD

The National University of Ostroh Academy

https://www.oa.edu.ua/

https://eurocorp.oa.edu.ua/