Internews Ukraine landmark program is the The MediaNext, a New Media Initiative for Ukraine.

At Internews Ukraine we call MediaNext "a project with soul". Not only are we teaching journalists about new technologies and standards in media and internet, we are creating a community of media innovators.

We have managed to bring together excellent journalists and media activists to create a network of people who communicate informally in and outside of our classes. These professionals help each other with contacts, activities, and consultations.
In addition, our members contribute to innovations in media. Some launch online versions of their newspapers, while others conduct flash mob events using new media platforms and technologies.

As organizers, Internews Ukraine also conducted MediaCamp Kyiv 2009, one of the biggest events for media professionals in Ukraine.

So, what is MediaNext? 
We launched MediaNext in April 2009 as a joint Ukrainian-Dutch project from Internews Ukraine and the European Journalism Center.
Our Goal:
To improve knowledge, understanding and practical application of new media tools in the Ukrainian media environment.
Our Objectives:
a) To foster structural changes in Ukrainian society through the widespread use of new media technologies;
b) To enable the public to shape the media's agenda through the use of new media;
c) To improve the professional skills of journalists and media activists and thereby increase the general quality of Ukrainian journalism.
Our Partner:
MediaNext would not be possible without our key partner in the Netherlands: The European Journalism Center.
Funds:
MediaNext is financed by the MATRA program of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

About the project:

MediaNext is conducted on the national level (from Kyiv) and in five selected project locales in Ukraine: Kyiv, Odessa, Donetsk, Kharkov, and Vinnitsa.

Journalists from other regions have also joined in the project, including some from Khmelnitsky, Rivne, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Chernivtsi, and Uzhgorod.

Our target audience:
   Five key target audiences:

 Professional journalists and editors
 Civil journalists and media activists
 Bloggers
 NGO leaders
 Journalism students

Information campaign
MediaNext includes an information campaign aimed at raising awareness of new media among journalists.

Our blog medinext_ua.livejournal.com and our Twitter @medianext_ua allow us to effectively disseminate information.
As part of the initiative, hold press conferences, publish articles, and conduct discussions in the blogosphere.

Web-Portal:
The platform Medianext.kiev.ua  is a social network of MediaNext participants. It includes educational materials and the latest news about new media and highlights global trends as well as the national peculiarities of the formation and functioning of new media. For example:

 News of members and of the project
 Online consultations on new media
 Training materials and presentations
 Success Stories
 Multimedia: video and audio files

Basic modules with new media (Modules I and II)
MediaNext training modules are designed first to: enhance understanding of the practical application of new media in journalism, public service and media activism; to explain the principles and "laws" of the functioning of the blogosphere; and to learn how to operate basic tools of new media, including how to effectively use blogs, multimedia, tags, hyperlinks, and basic services like LiveJournal, Twitter, and Facebook.

The first module is titled, "ABC on new media: New skills for journalists and media activists"

The second module is called, "Course of communication in new media: How to attract new audiences?" and deals with how to effectively disseminate information and how to form and maintain the core audience.

Specialized modules (Modules III and IV)
Specialized intensive training on the subject of new media is provided for managers and highly qualified editorial media. This training on internet and information technology will promote the use of new technologies in the media at the local, regional and national levels. Topics covered in the course focus on an in-depth understanding of new media tools, models for the possible coexistence of traditional media and the blogosphere, as well as the future of journalism considering modern technology development.

Networking for journalists
Internews Ukraine organizes quarterly informal meetings of journalists and bloggers to discuss new media, new technologies, the latest innovations, new projects and most importantly, to share experiences of new media and media activism. These meetings are designed to promote the formation of networks of new media activists.
MediaCamp Kyiv in 2009 was wonderful opportunity for participants fully discover MediaNext, to expand their knowledge, and to debate the convergence of media forms. More can be found on mediacamp.org.ua

Guest lecturers of experts in new media
Guest lecturers provide an opportunity for participants to learn about global trends in modern journalism and the Western experience of new media. Guest lecturers share their knowledge, understanding, creative ideas, and inspiration with participants to give them the courage to implement new projects and expand the vision of Ukrainian media.
The latest guest lecturers include:
Piet Bakker (the Netherlands) and David Brewer (UK).

New Media School for students of journalism
The school strives familiarize students with the latest tools of digital journalism. School participants will receive theoretical knowledge and practical skills to help them succeed in field of new media and digital journalism. The school provides students with an opportunity to gain complex professional knowledge and skills in multimedia, editing, web portals, creating blogs, and using wikis to verify information. Participants in the new media school learn and understand the specifics of converging journalism. Participants include students of journalism departments and media activists.

Contacts:
Our blog - medinext_ua.livejuoural.com
Our Twitter -  @medianext_ua
Our Community - http://community.livejournal.com/medianext_ideas/
Vitaliy Moroz, Head of new media department
vitaliy.moroz[at]gmail.com
+38063 700 22 66