News Telegram Channels of Western Ukraineas an Alternative Platform in the Hybrid Information Space

Abstract

In the contemporary information space, news Telegram channels occupy a significant niche. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, they have become a popular source of information for audiences, reaching millions of readers and successfully competing with traditional mainstream media. This study focuses on the scholarly understanding of the place and role of news Telegram channels in the information environment, ultimately contributing to the comprehension of transformational processes in the media sphere and the challenges faced by traditional journalism. The object of the study is Western Ukrainian news Telegram channels that position themselves as media outlets. The aim of the research is to provide a scientific understanding of the role of news Telegram channels in Ukraine’s modern information space, particularly in the context of media transformations triggered by the full-scale Russian invasion. The research objectives include identifying the specific features of these channels’ information policies, assessing their impact on audiences, and analyzing the challenges they introduce into the information space; comparing their approaches with those of mainstream media; evaluating the extent to which Telegram channels adhere to journalistic values; and outlining the issue of their identification as media entities. The study employs the following methods: monitoring (quarterly sampling throughout 2024), content analysis of Western Ukrainian news Telegram channels; comparative analysis of the information policies of Telegram channels and mainstream media; framework analysis to identify journalistic norms, values, and standards; and qualitative analysis of amateur and counter-hegemonic content. The findings reveal that news Telegram channels actively compete with traditional media by offering prompt and emotionally charged content; they demonstrate flexibility in their approach to journalistic standards, often combining professional and amateur practices; they construct alternative information narratives that may contradict official sources; and they pose challenges for their identification as full-fledged media entities, which collectively necessitate a rethinking of journalism’s normative framework. The study proposes considering these channels as hybrid-type amateur information platforms that complement and adjust the content of traditional media.