In the spring of 2009, the Institute for Ecumenical Studies held the First All-Ukrainian Journalism Competition, Reporters of Hope in Ukraine. The competition took the pattern of the similar French project (www.reportersdespoirs.org) as its inspiration.

Reporters of Hope in Ukraine is a competition seeking the best article, reportage or program that “delivers information and brings solutions”. The objectives of the competition are to encourage journalists to write engaging material that would not only elucidate problems, but also provide ways to their solution; to encourage every Ukrainian reader/listener/viewer not to be a passive consumer, but to exert influence upon the informational space, by addressing editors’ boards of the mass media, and expressing their comments and suggestions.

Over 700 entries took part in the First Reporters of Hope all-Ukrainian competition, representing every region of Ukraine, and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. The Second Reporters of Hope in Ukraine competition starts in June 2010. The results of the competition will be announced in 2011, in the course of the Third Ecumenical Social Week.