A new study, published in the Journal of Public and Nonprofit Affairs, examines how Ukrainian news media portray nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) from 2019-2024, analyzing 306 news articles to understand media representation patterns. The research reveals that while NGOs received generally positive coverage and were frequently used as information sources, they were predominantly framed episodically rather than thematically and often portrayed as story attributes rather than primary subjects. This framing pattern may limit public understanding of NGOs' broader societal impact, despite their crucial role in Ukrainian civil society.

The findings highlight important implications for both NGOs and journalists working to strengthen civil society in challenging environments. NGOs should engage more proactively with media to promote deeper, thematic coverage of their work, while journalists should consider how their framing choices affect public perception of civil society organizations. This research contributes valuable insights for stakeholders working to support Ukrainian civil society and demonstrates the critical importance of strategic communication for NGOs operating in complex political contexts.