Sofia Shevchenko

Born in Ukraine in 1977. Graduated from the Faculty of Journalism at Odessa National University named after I. I. Mechnikov, where she received a classical journalism education and developed an understanding of the role of the media as an important social institution. While still a student, she worked for a student newspaper and participated in volunteer media projects dedicated to freedom of speech and the development of local journalism. After university, she began her career in print media, where she wrote analytical articles on social policy, education, and cultural changes in the regions. She later moved to digital media, where she focused on creating content for online publications and developing multimedia formats. Her texts have been published in a number of Ukrainian publications, including Dzerkalo Tyzhnia, LB.ua, and Ukrainska Pravda. Zhyttia. Sofia has been working in journalism and media communications for over twenty years, the last decade of which she has spent in editorial roles. She coordinates the work of authors, fact-checks and edits analytical materials, and develops topics for special projects and thematic series. As an author, she writes a column on contemporary Ukraine — its language, culture, social changes, and the challenges facing civil society in wartime. Sofia's professional values include accuracy, ethics, and respect for her audience. She believes that journalism should not only inform but also help society understand itself, seeking a balance between truth, empathy, and responsibility. In her free time, she enjoys documentary films, non-fiction literature, urban studies, and research on local identities. She often travels around Ukraine, collecting stories of people who form the living fabric of the country. She also teaches basic journalism courses for young authors and participates in media literacy training.