INFORMATIONAL IMPACT OF TELECONTENT ON VIEWERS’ PSYCHE IN COVERING THE RUSSIAN-UKRAINIAN WAR (CASE STUDY OF ALL-UKRAINIAN CHANNELS
Authors:   Lviv Polytechnic National University, Putsіata Iryna 
Published: July 2024

The purpose of this article is to study the informational impact of television content on the psyche of the viewer in the coverage of the Russian-Ukrainian war (on the example of all-Ukrainian channels). Research methodology. Intelligence is based on the following methods: analytical-synthetic, generalization, modeling, forecasting, evaluation of the artistic and informational value of the material, etc. The novelty of the study. The article proves that TV channels, forcing viewers to become virtual witnesses of war events, broadcast stress on them, which can often cause mental trauma or posttraumatic stress disorder. Conclusions. During hostilities, information security becomes especially important, as incorrect or erroneous information can lead to panic, influence the course of events, accelerate internal migration of the population, and negatively affect the image of the state’s top military-political leadership. It can also undermine trust in politicians, their statements and messages, which in turn can affect the conduct of hostilities and harm the expected results of a military conflict. The above fully applies to the audience’s reaction to the coverage of war events by domestic TV channels. Since February 24, 2022, Ukrainian television has been constantly covering events at the front and in the occupied territories, reporting on the enemy’s losses and the successes of the Ukrainian military, recording the crimes of the Russian army, and also telling the stories of war witnesses. In the first weeks of the aggression, Ukrainian television quickly changed its thematic priorities, preferring materials about military events to news about politics, community life, culture, and ecology. This was caused by the fight against Russian propaganda and caused an increase in the quality of Ukrainian television products. In a situation of uncertainty and anxiety, when the picture of the day changes rapidly, the demand for a high-quality analytical product is increasing. Thus, from February 25, 2022, all channels joined the joint project called «Single Marathon», which is coordinated on the basis of the parliamentary TV channel «Rada». Among the factors that increase the traumatic nature of the materials of domestic television channels about the war with Russia: showing a person «by surprise» in a moment of acute grief or despair; demonstration of torture, moral and physical abuse; direct or indirect justification of the aggressor’s actions, showing his triumph and impunity; emphasis on the uncertainty, absurdity of the situation taking place, on the disorganization, chaotic nature of the applied measures; relishing cruelty, giving «bloody» details; disbelief in the future, the image of the situation as hopeless (any possible solution is a tragedy). Among the factors that weaken trauma: faith in the future (orientation on overcoming the tragedy, affirming the possibilities of a better future); clear moral orientation of the audience, emphasis on the basic values of life; examples of resilience and courage of people who got into the war, a description of cases of active resistance; expressing support for the Armed Forces; a call for the unification of all the forces of society, a demonstration of the solidarity of people within the country, a demonstration of the support of the world community