JX Fund – European Fund for Journalism in Exile

The picture painted of Afghanistan by Amnesty International on World Press Freedom Day is bleak: the Taliban fiercely repress freedom of expression with all kinds of intimidation, arrests, torture, and media closures. A significant number of media outlets have closed due to Taliban-imposed restrictions and the economic crisis.

Arzu Geybullayeva examines the rising crisis of journalism in exile, focusing on Azerbaijani reporters forced to flee growing state repression. As global press freedom declines, Azerbaijan stands out as increasingly hostile to independent media. Exiled journalists, many now in Georgia or Europe, face surveillance, threats to loved ones, and isolation from sources.

Independent media outlets exiled from Myanmar play a vital role in reporting on the civil war to destruction wrought by natural disasters, while influencing the political culture of the resistance. But, as Crisis Group expert Margarite Clarey explains, mounting challenges jeopardise these organisations’ work.

The Burundian media landscape poses immense challenges for journalists in this Central African country. They often receive death threats and work in a virtually permanent state of insecurity. In this article, Jean Sovon speaks with several journalists about the dangerous climate they face – marked by threats, censorship, and exile.

Since Hong Kong’s 2020 National Security Law, hundreds of media workers have gone into exile, founding independent outlets abroad. Global Voices is showcasing three overseas Hong Kong independent media outlets to help readers better understand the resilience of the journalist diaspora in their struggle for press freedom.

Since 2018, the Nicaraguan government has shut down or confiscated over 60 media outlets, criminalised independent reporting and accused journalists of conspiracy or “spreading false information.” RSF met with exiled journalists in Costa Rica and calls on the international community to urgently strengthen support for exiled outlets and the journalists behind them.

Since Sudan’s civil war began in April 2023, over 400 journalists have fled, and at least ten exile media outlets have emerged, mainly in Egypt, to report on the overlooked crisis. These outlets offer crucial coverage of abuses against civilians, while Reporters Without Borders (RSF) denounces the harassment they face in host countries.

At the 18th Ibero-American Colloquium on Digital Journalism, speakers highlighted how Nicaraguan journalists have endured nearly a decade of repression under President Daniel Ortega. In her coverage of the event, Silvia Higuera captures their ongoing struggle to report the truth.

Jon Allsop reports on the struggles of exiled Myanmar journalists, who, after the military junta’s crackdown, continue to report from abroad despite dwindling support. He details how recent US funding cuts have further strained these journalists and their outlets, making independent reporting even harder.

At a conference last week in Austin, Texas, exiled Russian journalist Mikhail Rubin told the audience how, in hindsight, there was not enough resistance when press rights began going away in his home country. “We did not resist for the small things,” Rubin said.

Matthew Leake speaks with two Syrian journalists about the country’s transition, exploring press freedom, funding challenges, the influence of news figures, and the media’s role during this pivotal time. Their insights shed light on the evolving landscape of journalism in Syria and the obstacles they face in this critical period.

This article discusses how Pakistani journalists exiled due to threats now influence the media landscape from abroad, leveraging digital platforms like YouTube to provide alternative perspectives and analysis. This “diaspora effect” offers more in-depth coverage of events like the Balochistan train hijacking, contrasting with the sanitized domestic media.

How are exiled and hybrid outlets building resilient digitally-enabled outlets? How can these networks be more active in shaping the norms and policies that will shape the digital environment they increasingly depend upon? This lightening-talk panel presents results from CIMA research and a side-line discussion hosted at the ARIJ forum.

In this article, fifteen editors from around the world, including Ukraine and El Salvador, discuss the impact of cuts in USAID and other funding programs on their newsrooms. They share their experiences and strategies for fighting back, highlighting the challenges and the critical need for support to maintain independent journalism.

Ken Bensinger and Benjamin Mullin report for The New York Times on how exiled investigative journalists worldwide are struggling after a sudden cut in U.S. government funding, causing financial instability and uncertainty for many independent newsrooms.

Silvia Higuera discusses the uncertainty faced by Latin American journalists in the US due to tightening immigration policies. She highlights the impact of the Trump administration’s actions, including the elimination of programs like Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

Kate Lamb and Rebecca Ratcliffe describe the challenges faced by Myanmar journalists in Mae Sot. Myanmar journalists in exile explain how Trump’s USAid spending freeze has impacted independent media funding.

The displacement of millions of Ukrainians due to Russia’s invasion is a defining challenge for Ukraine’s identity, economy, and global presence. The Wilson Center explores the war’s impact on Ukraine’s media and exiled communities, highlighting the resilience of independent journalism.