Coverage of Judicial Issues: Perspectives from Both Sides Results of a Unique Study on Communication Between Courts and the Media Published
The Human Rights Vector NGO presents the report “Coverage of Judicial Issues: Perspectives of the Judicial and Journalistic Communities. Results of a Survey on the Communication and Dialogue Needs of Media and Court Representatives.”
The report was prepared within the framework of the project “Dialogue Between the Media and the Judiciary to Enhance the Transparency of Justice,” implemented by the NGO Human Rights Vector in partnership with the Council of Judges of Ukraine and the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine, with the support of the CEELI Institute (Prague).
This is the first comprehensive study in Ukraine that examines judicial communication simultaneously from the perspectives of the judiciary and the media community. Unlike previous surveys that focused separately on courts or journalists, this report combines both perspectives in a single analytical document, creating opportunities for comparison, dialogue, and overcoming mutual biases.
The report makes it possible to:
As part of the research, the following were analyzed:
Representatives of both the judiciary and the media acknowledge that recent years have brought progress, although changes remain uneven.
The study shows that the problem of communication between courts and the media is not about “who is right,” but about systemic conditions, resources, rules, and mutual understanding of roles. Especially in times of war, there is an even greater need to unite efforts to build a free, rule-of-law state.
For this reason, the report is not only an analytical document but also a tool for further change — for the development of training programs, dialogue platforms, and recommendations for the judiciary, the media, and donor organizations.
The project “Dialogue Between the Media and the Judiciary to Enhance the Transparency of Justice,” within which this report was prepared, operates at one of the most vulnerable points of a democratic system — where trust, openness, and accessibility of justice for society are formed.
Further details on the report and the survey conducted are available on the official website of the NGO Human Rights Vector in the Publications – Reports section:
https://hrvector.org/zviti/26-01-15-dialogue-report
Authors:
Valeriia Rybak, Director of the Human Rights Vector NGO, OSCE court monitoring expert; and
Olena Bondarenko, Advocacy Coordinator at the NGO Social Action Center, expert of the Council of Europe and OSCE/ODIHR, Assistant Professor of Social Sciences.
The report was prepared within the framework of the project “Dialogue Between the Media and the Judiciary to Enhance the Transparency of Justice,” implemented by the NGO Human Rights Vector in partnership with the Council of Judges of Ukraine and the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine, with the support of the CEELI Institute (Prague).
This is the first comprehensive study in Ukraine that examines judicial communication simultaneously from the perspectives of the judiciary and the media community. Unlike previous surveys that focused separately on courts or journalists, this report combines both perspectives in a single analytical document, creating opportunities for comparison, dialogue, and overcoming mutual biases.
What makes this report unique?
The report makes it possible to:
- compare the expectations, experiences, and challenges of courts and the media in the field of communication;
- identify common ground for cooperation despite different professional roles;
- demonstrate that many challenges are shared rather than the “fault” of only one side;
- lay the foundation for systematic dialogue and training formats instead of sporadic contacts.
About the study
As part of the research, the following were analyzed:
- 97 questionnaires from representatives of the judiciary from 22 regions of Ukraine (administrative, commercial, local, and appellate courts, as well as the Council of Judges of Ukraine);
- 59 questionnaires from media representatives from 22 regions of Ukraine and from abroad.
Key findings: what the study revealed
Representatives of both the judiciary and the media acknowledge that recent years have brought progress, although changes remain uneven.
- Courts generally assess their interaction with the media as neutral or positive; however, 70% identify the low level of legal awareness among media representatives as the main challenge.
- Journalists, in turn, most often point to limited or unpredictable access to information, difficulties in obtaining comments, and the uneven performance of press services.
- The experience of interaction between courts and the media is inconsistent and often depends on the human factor rather than on established procedures.
- Under martial law, communication has become significantly more complex due to security restrictions and the sensitivity of certain topics, particularly war crimes.
- Both courts and the media demonstrate a strong demand for regular dialogue, training, standardized communication practices, and methodological support.
“The development of judicial communications must be supported on an ongoing basis. For the judiciary, this is a challenging task in conditions of war, staff shortages, and limited resources, yet it is vitally important. There are already positive examples to build upon, including cooperation with civil society and joint efforts to ensure openness and transparency of judicial proceedings. The report highlights the communication needs in covering judicial issues from the perspectives of both the judiciary and the journalistic community, the challenges involved, and positive practices that can inspire further work. The NGO Human Rights Vector continues, within its capacities, to facilitate dialogue between the judiciary and society,”
said Valeriia Rybak, Director of the Human Rights Vector NGO and one of the authors of the report.
Why is this report especially important now?
The study shows that the problem of communication between courts and the media is not about “who is right,” but about systemic conditions, resources, rules, and mutual understanding of roles. Especially in times of war, there is an even greater need to unite efforts to build a free, rule-of-law state.
For this reason, the report is not only an analytical document but also a tool for further change — for the development of training programs, dialogue platforms, and recommendations for the judiciary, the media, and donor organizations.
The project “Dialogue Between the Media and the Judiciary to Enhance the Transparency of Justice,” within which this report was prepared, operates at one of the most vulnerable points of a democratic system — where trust, openness, and accessibility of justice for society are formed.
Further details on the report and the survey conducted are available on the official website of the NGO Human Rights Vector in the Publications – Reports section:
https://hrvector.org/zviti/26-01-15-dialogue-report
Authors:
Valeriia Rybak, Director of the Human Rights Vector NGO, OSCE court monitoring expert; and
Olena Bondarenko, Advocacy Coordinator at the NGO Social Action Center, expert of the Council of Europe and OSCE/ODIHR, Assistant Professor of Social Sciences.
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