Ethical aspects of television coverage of the war in Ukraine (2022 – 2025)
Students Name: Stashchenko Mykyta Viacheslavovych
Qualification Level: magister
Speciality: Journalism
Institute: Institute of Jurisprudence, Psychology and Innovative Education
Mode of Study: full
Academic Year: 2025-2026 н.р.
Language of Defence: ukrainian
Abstract: Relevance of the Research. The full-scale military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, launched in February 2022, fundamentally changed the operating conditions of the domestic media space, bringing critical ethical challenges to the forefront. In the context of total hybrid warfare, where information serves as a weapon, television mass communication media have found themselves at a complex crossroads between the necessity of providing maximally objective information to the public and fulfilling the role of a mobilizing, patriotic resource. This environment demands a deep and unbiased analysis of how Ukraine’s leading television channels (including TSN, 24 Channel, ESPRESO) have adhered to or violated professional ethical standards in their coverage of the 2022–2024 events. A critical analysis of these practices is essential for developing updated ethical norms for journalism that are adapted to the realities of war. The purpose of the study is to comprehensively analyze the specifics of television coverage of the war in Ukraine during the 2022–2024 period from the perspective of media ethics, identify key ethical dilemmas, classify the forms of violation or adherence to professional standards, and develop practical recommendations for optimizing the activities of domestic media outlets. Methodological Framework. The research is based on systemic, comparative, and content-analytical methods. The systemic approach allowed for the consideration of ethical practices as an element of the media’s overall functioning system during a crisis. Comparative analysis was used to contrast Ukrainian practices with international ethical norms enshrined in the Codes of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and UN guidelines. The key empirical method was content analysis of a sample of television news and programs, aimed at recording specific instances of adherence to/violation of standards (accuracy, balance, humanity, privacy). Main Findings. The study establishes that the activities of Ukrainian television channels during the full-scale war are characterized by a constant balancing act between two main imperatives: the informational function and the mobilization/patriotic function. It was found that this balancing often leads to a number of ethical challenges: 7 1. The problem of traumatic content: The need to report on war crimes and destruction conflicts with the principle of ‘Do No Harm’, which requires careful use of graphic, shocking images. 2. Privacy and identification: Cases of insufficient protection of personal data belonging to victims, military personnel, and their family members frequently occur, representing a direct violation of the right to privacy. 3. Bias and propaganda: In the context of national information consolidation, particularly within the ’United News Telethon’, there is a noticeable tendency towards reinforcing patriotic rhetoric, which occasionally compromises the principles of balance and objectivity. Instances of manipulating audience emotions were identified. 4. Specifics of the ’United News Telethon’: The impact of the consolidated broadcasting format on the pluralism of opinions and its role in shaping a single national narrative was analyzed. The scientific novelty of the work lies in the development of an updated classification of ethical dilemmas in wartime television journalism, adapted to the unique realities of the Russian-Ukrainian war, and in providing a critical assessment of media practices within the context of nationwide broadcasters. The practical significance of the work lies in formulating concrete recommendations for the editorial policies of Ukrainian television channels. The recommendations are aimed at strengthening ethical self-regulation mechanisms, training journalists for safe and humane coverage of traumatic events, and improving internal guidelines regarding the preservation of privacy and minimization of manipulative techniques. Key words: media ethics, war journalism, military conflicts, television, professional standards, United News Telethon, traumatic content, information security.