On 24 June 2015, a formal awarding ceremony was conducted for the journalists-winners of the contest for best published materials on energy efficiency, alternative and clean energy, advantages of condominiums, tariff reform and social protection for population. The contest was conducted by USAID Municipal Energy Reform in Ukraine Project (MERP) together with the Center for Ukrainian Reform Education (CURE), and with sponsorship of the largest oil and gas company of Ukraine Burisma Holdings. The contest was conducted among the journalists of Vinnytsia, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kyiv, Kherson and Chernihiv oblasts which are partners in implementation of USAID MERP pilot programs.

The contest was conducted in the nominations for the best material in printed and online media, best TV and radio materials. 132 materials from more than 30 journalists from different parts of Ukraine were submitted to the contest – 10 of them were recognized the winners.

The idea of the contest appeared because there are no programs or series of publication in Ukraine devoted to important issues like energy security of Ukraine, tariff and social reforms, natural gas substitution with alternative energy sources. Therefore, objective of the contest was to increase interest of the journalists in coverage of these important issues, increase of high-quality analytical materials based on expert opinions, with regular publication and with public involvement in the discussions and search for solutions in the current situation in the Ukrainian energy and communal services sectors.

Speaking to the audience, Stephen Gonyea, Director of the Office of Economic Growth of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission to Ukraine, said: “The mass media has a critical role to play in providing unbiased and objective information on how and why energy sector reforms and increased energy efficiency will help propel Ukraine’s economy forward.”

“Energy efficient technologies and search for alternative and clean energy sources are among focuses on which attention of Ukraine and our international partners is concentrated. In order to increase awareness of the Ukrainian citizens of these issues, the USAID Municipal Energy Reform Project has implemented a large-scale education campaign through mass media. This important initiative was supported by the Burisma Holdings team. We are interested in quality development of the Ukrainian journalism and professional coverage of the energy efficiency subject because it is the foundation for the country’s energy security and energy independence”, - mentioned Mykola Zlochevskyi, President of Burisma Holdings.

Specifically, in continuation of the contest idea, Burisma Holdings decided to establish a special nomination allowing to praise not only contribution of the journalists but also contribution of media in improvement of energy efficiency, alternative and clean energy sources, advantages of condominiums, tariff reform and social protection of population. The winner in this nomination is the Student TV Studio “Universe TV” from Zaporizhia which not only tries to communicate information professionally but also promotes demand for energy efficiency issues among young journalists.

The contest was conducted in the nominations of best materials in printed and online media, best TV and radio materials. 132 materials were received from over 30 journalists from different parts of Ukraine – 10 of them were recognized the winners. The best works were selected by the experts of USAID Municipal Energy Reform Project, Municipal Development Institute, Association of Ukrainian Cities and the largest private gas company of Ukraine Burisma Holdings.

The key criteria for assessment of the journalist materials taking part in the contest were as follows:

•    Level of journalism skills in presentation of a problem.
•    Importance and urgency of an issue.
•    Depth of problem analysis.

The score on each criterion was from 1 to 10 points. Winners of the contest are participants with the highest score calculated as arithmetic average of the score given by the jury.

As a result, the winners are:


GRAND PRIX FOR BEST JOURNALISTIC ART

Viktoriia Sydorova, journalist of the oblast state TV and radio company “Siver Tsentr”, Chernihiv

Social Protection
Alternative Energy Sources
Condominium Activities
Energy Saving and Energy Efficiency
Tariff Policy
Appointment of Subsidies

NOMINATION: BEST MATERIAL IN PRINTED AND ONLINE MEDIA

1 PLACE

Svitlana Luniova, journalist of "Znamia Dzerzhynky" newspaper, Dniprodzerzhynsk

Works

2 PLACE

Yuliia Synytska, journalist of "Novy Den" newspaper, Melitopol

Hospital Heated by Pellets
Economic Alternative
Melitopol – Leader of Energy Saving in Region
It Is Easier for Building Co-Owners to Save Energy
Condominiums – Way to Solution of Housing Problems
Farewell to Gas Boiler Houses
Gift to School for Saving Electricity

3 PLACE

Oleksandr Liaskovskyi, journalist of “Nash Raion” information agency, Dnipropetrovsk

People in Dnipropetrovsk Will Save Electricity Together
Dnipropetrovsk Tells How to Save in Multi-Apartment Building
Problems of Dnipropetrovsk Region. Can We Defeat “Energy Dragon” in Housing and Communal Sector and in Our Life?
Dnipropetrovsk Oblast as Part of Ukraine: How to Implement State Energy Efficiency Program?
Dnipropetrovsk Region. Problems, Tasks and Resolvable Issues of Energy Monitoring
Dnipropetrovsk Region. How to Achieve Improvement of Housing and Communal Services?

3 PLACE

Andrii Osadchyi, journalist of “Ukraina Komunalna” information agency, Kyiv

Supreme Court Will Replace Minregion and NECSRC
Expenses of Communal Utilities Will Be Transparent
Nobody Needs Condominiums in Ukraine?
Changes to State Budget Will Not Address Housing and Communal Services Sector
Incentive Rate of Unified Social Contribution: Communal Utilities “Lose”

NOMINATION: BEST TV MATERIAL


1 PLACE

Creative team of “Important Things about Communal Issues” program, TV channel MTM, Zaporizhia

Release # 3, Important Things about Communal Issues
Release # 4, Important Things about Communal Issues
Release # 5, Important Things about Communal Issues
Release # 6, Important Things about Communal Issues
Release # 7, Important Things about Communal Issues

2 PLACE


Creative team of "Dni-Pro" TV channel, Ukrainka, Kyiv oblast

01. Energy Saving
02. Eco Project
03. Energy Saving
04. Energy Saving
05. Energy Saving
06. Concerned about Energy Efficiency

3 PLACE

Creative team of "YUNIVERS-TV" Student TV Studio, Zaporizhia

Piece # 1 "Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving"
Piece # 2 "Energy Efficiency And Energy Saving"
Piece # 3 "Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving"
Piece # 4 "Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving"
Piece # 5 "Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving"

NOMINATION: BEST RADIO MATERIAL

1 PLACE

Pavlo Solodovnyk, journalist of Chernihiv oblast state TV and radio company, Chernihiv

Savings Causing Millions of Losses
Heat Saving at School!
Dark Nights Continue, Electricity Outages Still HereDark Nights Continue, Electricity Outages Still Here
Covenant of Mayors
Outer Insulation of Apartments

2 PLACE

Myroslav Berezhnyi, journalist of “Radio Zaporizhzhia” TV and radio company, Zaporizhzhia

1. Energy Efficiency
2. Energy Efficiency
3. Energy Efficiency
4. Energy Efficiency
5. Energy Efficiency

USAID MUNICIPAL ENERGY REFORM PROJECT IN UKRAINE was launched in October 2013 for the purpose of reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and increase of energy security of Ukraine by improving energy policy, increase of energy efficiency and attraction of private investments in the energy sector. For fulfillment of these tasks, the Project during 4 years will be assisting 17 Ukrainian cities in attracting investments in the energy efficiency and renewable energy projects from international financial institutions, commercial banks and private investors. Within the framework of MERP, 17 cities of Ukraine will receive technical assistance for development of the Sustainable Energy Action Plans. Most of these cities have signed the Covenant of Mayors and have committed to reduce by 2020 their CO emissions by 20%, and to replace natural gas in the municipal energy balance with alternative and renewable energy sources.

BURISMA HOLDINGS is the largest independent gas extraction company of Ukraine founded in 2002. The holding includes four operational companies dealing with field development and hydrocarbon production: energy service company ESCO-Pivnich, Pari, First Ukrainian Gas and Oil Company and Aldea. In 2014, total natural gas production was 692 million m3, which was 50.4% more than in 2013. Burisma Holdings is operating under 20 licenses for hydrocarbon production in key oil and gas bearing basins of Ukraine. The whole amount of production is sold in the domestic Ukrainian market. #EnergySecurityUkraine