Despite assurances from senior politicians to the contrary, the five-year period of relative media freedom in Ukraine, ushered in by the Orange Revolution, could be coming to an end, journalists and opposition politicians have been saying with a mounting sense of urgency recently. And with the spotlight last week on President Yanukovych´s first 100 days in power both he and Premier Azarov were at pains to reassure people that there are no restrictions or pressure on the media. Azarov assured representatives of the monitoring committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe that the government is not interfering in the media´s functioning. A day later Yanukovych said he was ready to protect freedom of speech and to cooperate with journalists. He even invited them to visit him at his controversial Mezhyhirya residence. "If there are any facts, I would like to learn about them. There will be an instruction to this effect issued to the responsible bodies and these facts will be investigated," Yanukovych pledged.

The relationship between the media and the authorities in most countries is a delicate one and in many it is tenuous. After all, both sides need each other and the relationship is a two-way street. It is no different in the West. Many accusations of pressure or misconduct have been made in the last three months. And some seem stronger than others. Recent statements made by journalists of two nationwide TV channels of pressure spring to mind. The executive director of the Institute for Mass Information, Viktoriya Syumar, said in April that one media regulator, the National Council for Television and Radio Broadcasting, was subject to political influence, and that journalists enjoyed only limited access to officials. This naturally leads to the media resorting to self-censorship, partly as a form of self-protection. Analysis of TV news content by at least two newspapers, albeit opposition-leaning ones, suggests that most newscasts toed the government line, staying silent about its mistakes whilst portraying the opposition as disunited and demoralized. The refusal by 1+1 to show Yuliya Tymoshenko´s one-minute Victory Day address to war veterans as an advert raised concerns, especially as the authorities made so much mileage out of the 65th anniversary. After all, in May 2009, when Yanukovych was in opposition, all channels aired his address.

The vigorous denials by the authorities and media bosses alike that press freedom is in danger did not prevent a group of prominent journalists founding the Stop Censorship! Movement on 21 May. Its aim is to protect the rights of rights of journalists and prevent censorship. However, one of the founders, Mustafa Nayem, suggests that journalists are partly to blame. In his blog on 18 May he wrote that "many fell before the shot". "All attempts by the authorities to control what we do are not yet systemic," he said, adding that many people in the industry were afraid and "their fear passes a truncheon to the authorities and shows them in a servile manner where to hit". And he may have a good point. The political situation and mood have changed. Sure, the owners of TV channels have their corporate interests too. But many in the media are starting to confuse their personal political preferences with basic principles of journalism. And this has nothing to do with editorial policy.

Though the authorities will no doubt continue to dismiss claims of undue influence there is clear evidence to the opposite. However, it would be an exaggeration to say that censorship has become pervasive and pressure on the media overwhelming and conspicuous. The common aim should be to create a mutually beneficial pluralistic relationship away from some sort of "them and us" or "master and servant" mode of behaviour. We clearly have some way to go.

Flying start

Though European football body UEFA last week gave Ukraine three months to meet its requirements for the Euro-2012 tournament, the national team is finally producing the goods on the field. With Ukraine not playing at the World Cup that opens this week in South Africa, all eyes are on new coach Myron Markevych, who has tasted success at Karpaty Lviv and Metallist Kharkiv. And the first signs are good. Markevych, himself a native of Lviv Oblast says, flying in the face of the current political mood, he even speaks to his players in Ukrainian. The national team has won three out of three recent friendly games, including against Romania and Norway in Oslo. The preparations are crucial. Ukraine needs these games as, with staging the Euro-2012 tournament with Poland, it will not play qualifying matches. With all the off-field problems with preparations for the tournament, let´s hope Markevych´s arrival has ushered in a new era of the beautiful game in our country.