More than a year after the shutdown of the USAID programs, independent Russian media outlets still operate — but with declining funding, there is less room to launch new projects or experiment with innovative formats.

How does a print-first magazine not only survive for 15 years but also thrive by expanding into digital, podcasts, and now video? @neweasterneurope.eu has built a dedicated global audience by being the go-to English-language source on Central and Eastern Europe.

A Swiss local publisher has just launched its third free ultra-local newspaper, a sign that the local press has a real future and that it lies in proximity. The Fix spoke with his editor.

New from The Fix: over a year after the USAID shutdown, independent Russian media outlets keep operating, but there is less room for new initiatives and experimentation, @verosnoj.bsky.social writes.

A local publisher has just launched its third free ultra-local newspaper in the Jura Arc, demonstrating that local press has a bright future and thrives on proximity. The Fix's @romainchauvet.bsky.social spoke with Clément Charles, the editor of three Swiss local newspapers.

A new study highlights the dangerous situation for Russian independent media in exile, showing how censorship now affects not only journalists but also their audiences. Discover key insights from this research by JX Fund, supported by The Fix Research and Advisory, in our latest review.

Users increasingly prefer short video content and spend less time reading articles on news sites. Ukraine's 24 Channel solved this problem by integrating a short-video format directly into its website. We discussed the strategy with their head of digital.

What does diversity in media actually mean in day-to-day newsroom practice — and why does it matter now more than ever?

First, Russia’s censors came for independent journalists; now they are also targeting those reading them. In a new piece, we review key points from a recent study on the state of Russian independent media in exile, published by JX Fund with the support of The Fix Research and Advisory.

@legorafi.bsky.social is betting on print, launching a monthly newspaper to reach readers beyond algorithms and social media. The Fix spoke with its founder, Sebastien Liebus.

Amidst changing news consumption habits, Ukrainian media outlet 24 Channel adapted a familiar social media format to successfully boost retention and viewing depth. The Fix discussed their approach and its pros and cons with Head of Digital Denys Zelenov.

When a conflict occurs, war correspondents often provide the public with insights into the situation. However, in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the number of journalists permitted on the frontlines to report from the Russian side is very restricted to a small group who support the military actions.

New from The Fix – inspired by @theonion.com, France’s top satirical outlet @legorafi.bsky.social is soon launching its print edition. @romainchauvet.bsky.social spoke with founder Sébastien Liebus about how Le Gorafi is doing, and why it chose to venture into print.

In just a few months, Página Internacional, which curates the most insightful and essential journalism from around the world in Spanish, has already gained over 700 subscribers and now plans to expand its audience. It also aims to launch a mobile app, a print edition, and a podcast.

Despite their support of Russia's invasion, “voenkory” – pro-war media makers – offer insights otherwise inaccessible to independent media, Veronica Snoj writes.

After his contract was not renewed by Polskie Radio Trójka in January 2020, veteran journalist Dariusz Rosiak faced an uncertain future. With hesitation, he turned to crowdfunding as a last resort.

Independent newsrooms across the world face mounting financial, political, and digital pressures. But what does effective support actually look like? In this FixEd episode, we discuss this with Ryan Powell, Head of Innovation and Media Business at the International Press Institute (IPI).

Russia’s “voenkory” are a media community of pro-war reporters and bloggers that has gained significant influence since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Despite their ideological bias, they continue to provide information about the war that is difficult to find elsewhere.

In a news ecosystem saturated with content, Página Internacional is betting that curation is the future of Spanish-language journalism.

New from The Fix: In a news ecosystem saturated with content, Página Internacional is betting on curating top-notch international journalism. Romain Chauvet spoke with co-founder and editor Xavier Orri Badia.

As Russia targets energy infrastructure amid freezing temperatures, Ukrainian newsrooms are turning to inverters, coworking hubs, and community support to stay online.

Zetland has been one of the leading reader-funded digital publishers in Europe. Over the past few years, they have successfully expanded their model from Denmark's home market to Finland and Norway by launching sister publications @uusijuttu.fi and Demo, respectively.

Amid Russia’s recent crackdown on Telegram, the loudest complaints didn't come from independent reporters, but from pro-Kremlin military bloggers who had built audiences that only a few major independent media outlets and figures can match on the platform, but now face audience declines of up to 15%

For Ukrainian journalists, winter turned into a battle for both information and basic warmth. As strikes on the grid coincide with record frosts, newsrooms are finding ways to operate in near-total darkness. We discussed how they survive with Cukr's Alona Serhiienko and Babel's Vsevolod Sevastianov.

The MEDIA BLEND HACKATHON 2026 will take place in Vienna on 4–6 May. It is a hands‑on, three‑day event where journalists, editors, and product and business leads prototype new, sustainable business models for their media organisations. 👉 Apply here: forms.gle/5xTJoMi7NgvP...

New from The Fix – in February, Russia began blocking Telegram, one of the country’s most popular messaging and blogging platforms across the political spectrum. The strongest backlash came from platform’s most privileged users: pro-Kremlin voices. @verosnoj.bsky.social looked into this standoff.

The Fix Foundation & @ecpmf.bsky.social continue providing technical assistance to Ukrainian media through the “Voices of Ukraine” program, with the goal of ensuring uninterrupted work for journalists at risk.

In 2022, the priority for Ukrainian media was survival – helmets, bulletproof vests, and emergency funds to keep the lights on. Today, the challenge has shifted to long-term sustainability.

Slovakia's @dennikn.bsky.social says its Ukraine frontline coverage is better than most English-language media – and now it's bringing that to Brussels through @euobserver.com. Tomáš Bella expains what changes will occur after the acquisition.

Audience fatigue and economic disruption are among the most serious challenges Ukrainian publishers face 48 months after Russia's full-scale invasion, Anton Protsiuk writes.

Resilience is often discussed in abstract terms, but for Ukrainian publishers in 2026, it is a daily operational requirement. Amid a winter of targeted infrastructure attacks, the industry is managing to innovate.

“Only if you're profitable can you be truly independent,” @dennikn.bsky.social co-founder Tomáš Bella on acquiring @euobserver.com and turning it from an NGO into a commercial company.

Another year has passed since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Today, we're thinking about Ukrainian freelance journalists. They often work alone on the frontlines, without the protection of a major outlet. They choose to face the war's horrors head-on, ensuring the world cannot look away.

Russia’s strategy is to grind Ukraine down. For Ukrainian media, that means the most serious challenges are audience fatigue and shrinking revenue. We reflect on four years of the full-scale invasion.

Last week, Slovakia’s @dennikn.bsky.social announced its acquisition of Brussels-based @euobserver.com. We spoke with Tomáš Bella, Denník N’s co-founder & EUobserver’s new CEO, about the intricacies of the deal, team’s plans to grow EUobserver, and his thoughts on making an acquisition in Brussels.

To stay relevant, news media companies should work with news creators – or at least learn from them to borrow the most successful tactics while maintaining journalistic integrity. We spoke with media industry journalist Simon Owens about key lessons publishers can learn from the creator ecosystem.

As long-standing trends such as (self-)censorship persist, Russian media outlets are embracing new technologies by integrating AI into their newsrooms.

The "intelligent inbox" is now a reality. As AI-powered filters and agentic assistants become the new gatekeepers of deliverability, the gap between personality-led newsletters and generic link collections is widening.

Demo, @zetland.dk’s sibling in Norway, successfully brought over 5,000 paid members at the launch, Zetland’s editor-in-chief @leakorsgaard.bsky.social writes on LinkedIn. The launch comes on the heels of the company’s successful launch in Finland earlier.

Since its 2016 debut, @investigate-europe.eu (IE) has become a model for cross-border journalism. As a cooperative, IE's members participate directly in decisions like hiring and funding. The Fix talked with Editorial Director Mei-Ling McNamara and audience engagement producer Andrea Abellán.

Want a clearer view of where the media are heading next? Our members get in-depth analysis on experiments like @NU.nl’s homegrown social feed & La Provence’s AI-powered audio, plus reporting on audience, product & revenue innovation. Join to unlock all member-only articles👉 thefix.media/membership/

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has led to significant changes in the Russian media landscape. What were its main developments in the fourth year of the war? @verosnoj.bsky.social reports in her latest piece for The Fix.

In a world of TikTok creators and Telegram channels, being "just" a media outlet is a recipe for extinction. Tribuna set an ambitious target: 50 million audience members in under five years. But hitting those KPIs requires more than just high-volume production. It requires a shift in philosophy.

100 days post-launch, @jetzt.at founder Florian Novak reflects on the "exhausting" sprint to 5,000 paid members. Hleb Liapeika dives into their innovative, audio-first membership model.

The Dutch investigative outlet Follow the Money has achieved what many modern media organisations strive for: a sustainable, member-funded business model. Since its strategy shift a few years ago, the platform has grown into a formidable newsroom known for holding power to account.

Internship programs can truly energise newsroom innovation, but only when they are thoughtfully designed. Our listicle suggests how publishers can go beyond simple tasks like coffee runs and develop a structured, meaningful internship experience that advantages both students and the brand. #ICYMI

How do you turn sports journalism into a global, tech-driven community? In the new FixEd podcast episode, our host Orsolya Seregély talks with Iryna Chernukha, Head of Partnerships at Tribuna — the 200-strong Ukrainian publisher reaching 12 million readers monthly.

Last week’s biggest media news story was the dismantling of @washingtonpost.com. The paper laid off over 300 out of its 800 reporters. International coverage was hit particularly hard, including in Europe, with the Post’s excellent Kyiv bureau shutting down.

Austrian outlet @jetzt.at has an innovative (for Austria) membership-only model and bets big on audio. As it marks 100 days after launch, Hleb Liapeika spoke with founder Florian Novak.

“Lazy Women” isn’t just a name — it’s a statement. In our latest FixEd podcast episode, we explore how challenging it is to build a productivity culture and to stay true to feminist values, and how these are shaping a newsroom's mission. Learn more about their approach 👉 thefix.media/2026/02/05/f...