It was four days of learning, sharing, being inspired, and gaining new ideas, all aimed at giving a new push for the development of environmental journalism in Ukraine
From August 5 to 8, Media ReCamp, a camp organized by Greenpeace Ukraine, took place at the Mala Richka campsite in the Lviv region, bringing together 15 journalists from national and regional media outlets. The event was dedicated to the topics of energy, the environment, and the state of green journalism in Ukraine.
Over the course of four days, media professionals immersed themselves in the world of renewable energy through activities and lectures, discussed stereotypes and facts about wind and nuclear energy, talked about biodiversity and the fight against Russian crimes against nature. The journalists also learned about the history and values of Greenpeace, actively participated in discussions, shared their own experiences, and worked with the organizing team to find common ground between activists and the media.
Photos: Daria Shakulova
The camp was aimed not only at learning, but also at relaxation — organizers and journalists went on a joint hike in the mountains, practiced yoga, had dinner in a friendly circle, played an “energy” quiz, and gathered around the campfire, where new ideas for future publications were born.
“Media ReCamp is about mutual trust between journalists and environmental activists. When we talk about the environment, it is important to have not only facts, but also people who are ready for honest conversation and deep analysis. I am incredibly grateful to the journalists for their willingness to immerse themselves in camp life and for their truly valuable insights. I hope this is the beginning of a meaningful dialogue that will raise the visibility of environmental issues in Ukraine,” said Natalia Gozak, director of Greenpeace Ukraine.
Photos: Daria Shakulova
Media ReCamp became a place where journalists could recharge, find like-minded people, and look at “green” topics from a new angle. This is the third recovery camp organized by Greenpeace in Ukraine: the first one took place in 2023 for community representatives, in 2024 — for organizations involved in recovery, and this year it was dedicated to the development of environmental journalism. This format proves that environmental journalism in Ukraine is becoming stronger, louder, and even more necessary.
“Ecology and the environment are not a narrowly specialized field, but a topic that is directly related to politics, economics, and the quality of everyday life for every Ukrainian. This is what we tried to convey to journalists, and I think we succeeded. At this camp, we saw how materials are created that can change public attitudes toward ‘green’ topics and make environmental journalism in Ukraine more influential and visible,“ said Polina Kolodyazhna, leader of Greenpeace’s ”Green Recovery of Ukraine” program.
