Countries

NEED FOR ANALYSIS

JOURNALISM IN EXILE: A COMPLEX PHENOMENON

While the topic of exiled media is receiving more and more attention in civil society, politics and research, there is a great need for a structured overview of regional exiled media scenes and a necessity to continuously assess this dynamic field.

The JX Fund Country Profiles contain insights into the diversity of the exiled media landscapes, concise explanations of the regional contexts, as well as reliable audience reach figures based on the data from our Exiled Media Dashboard.

Also take a look at our comprehensive country studies and the collection of publications on exiled media worldwide.

COUNTRIES

The JX Fund currently provides comprehensive overviews of independent exiled media landscapes from four countries.

169

MEDIA OUTLETS

From these four countries, the JX Fund closely monitors the development and performance of 169 independent exiled media outlets.

158

MILLION

In November 2024, the independent exiled media monitored by the JX Fund achieved a cumulative total of 158,395,912 views on YouTube.

COUNTRY PROFILES

The Country Profiles provide an initial overview of the exiled media landscape from a specific country. They include: Description of the country’s media sector; current statistics on exiled media; comment by an expert on the current situation and the challenges facing exiled media; further literature tips. We look forward to your feedback and additions!

SYRIA

Syrian independent media in exile emerged primarily in response to the 2011 uprising, an offshoot of the Arab Spring, and its subsequent brutal repression. Throughout this period, the sector was marked by its transition from grassroots citizen journalism to professionalized outlets. The current state of Syrian exiled media is uncertain following the collapse of the regime of the country’s dictator Bashar Al-Assad.

Countries
December 20, 2024
JX Fund

RUSSIA

The history of Russian independent media operating in exile is at least a decade old. But the mass exodus – counting dozens of outlets and hundreds of journalists – only started after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the related crackdown on free speech. The number of media operating outside Russia has since proceeded in waves – driven by growing repressions, both administrative and physical, as well as rising digital censorship.

Countries
December 19, 2024
JX Fund

AFGHANISTAN

Following the Taliban’s takeover in 2021, Afghanistan witnessed an exodus of independent journalists and media outlets. This event triggered the closure of many media as well as the departure of over 30 outlets as well as scores of journalists and media managers, many of whom established new media in exile. Currently, about 47 exiled independent Afghan media outlets serve millions of Afghans through digital platforms and satellite TV.

Countries
December 17, 2024
JX Fund

BELARUS

Following the crackdown on the independent media sector in the second half of 2021, most independent media left Belarus. It is estimated that at least 42 active independent media currently operate from exile, with at least 400 media workers who fled the country after 2020. Most of the Belarusian media in exile have found their new homes in Poland and Lithuania, from where they continue to serve Belarusian audiences.

Countries
December 18, 2024
JX Fund

CRITERIA & DEFINITION

WHAT WE CONSIDER INDEPENDENT MEDIA IN EXILE

The terms “independent,” “media,” and “exile” are not always easy to define. Very often, they depend on the context and must be considered on a case-by-case basis. As a rule, the JX Fund works with media outlets that meet the criteria listed below.

MEDIA

“Media” for us means:

Self-identification: The organization identifies itself as a media outlet; it produces its own content or transforms existing content.
Content: The published content is journalistic, i.e. non-fictional and not purely informative (e.g., an event platform); new content is published regularly (at least once a month); a minimum scope of an audience can be defined (considering country specifics).
Journalistic approach: The published content does not justify violence, extremism, or terrorism (according to common standards).
Relevance: The published content covers current affairs and has significant social relevance.
Publisher: The outlet is not a media arm of a non-media organization.

EXILE

“In exile” for us means:

Self-identification: The country in question is seen as the media organization’s country of origin; the media organization does not identify itself as primarily focused on the diaspora.
Risk in the country of origin: The conditions in the country of origin make it impossible to work there; employees in the country of origin are or would be threatened by administrative measures, prison, or physical violence.
Audience: The majority of the media organization’s audience is located in the country of origin; the media organization is technically able to reach its audience in the country of origin; the content is published in the native language(s) of the country of origin; the published content is related to current events in the country of origin.
Operation: A significant part of the editorial team/management comes from the country of origin but operates outside it.

INDEPENDENCE

“Independent” for us means:

Connections: The media organization is not or has not been primarily affiliated with a state actor, a politically exposed person, or a political party; the media organization was not founded and is not operated by a political party or a non-media entity; the media organization has not been accused of spreading propaganda.
Finances: The media organization is financially independent of political parties, politically exposed persons, and state funds (over longer periods of time).

OUR TOOL

EXILED MEDIA DASHBOARD

The Exiled Media Dashboard is a comprehensive database containing essential information for understanding the media landscapes, including current distribution figures, audience reach, team allocations, market overviews by country, and legal designations pertaining to media in various jurisdictions. The database allows current trends to be analyzed at any time.

This tool was developed and continues to be maintained in collaboration with The Fix Research & Advisory.