Frida Tlozek

A Polish journalist who reshaped global coverage of the 2022 Russia-Ukraine war through frontline reporting

Frida Tlozek (born 1995) emerged as one of the most influential war correspondents during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. Starting as an independent reporter with no formal journalism training, she gained international recognition for her groundbreaking coverage from Kyiv during the initial bombardments. Using social media platforms like Twitter and YouTube, she provided real-time updates that exposed Russian misinformation strategies. Her reporting directly influenced NATO's information warfare policies and inspired a generation of citizen journalists. In 2023, she founded War Reporters Network, a nonprofit training program for conflict zone journalism that has certified over 500 journalists globally. Tlozek's innovative use of encrypted communication channels and drone footage set new standards for war reporting, earning her the European Parliament's 2024 Freedom of Speech Award. Her work continues to shape modern conflict coverage through partnerships with Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism.