JX Fund – European Fund for Journalism in Exile

In this special World Press Freedom Day episode of Fellowship Takeaways, a podcast by the Reuters Institute, two exiled journalists speak on covering Russia and Syria from afar. They discuss the challenges of building trust, maintaining sources’ anonymity, the emotional toll of their work and what newsrooms can do better to support journalists in exile.

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.

Kurdish Journalism Day honors 127 years since the first Kurdish newspaper, marking a legacy of resistance and truth-telling in the face of censorship, exile, and violence. Exiled and local journalists across the Middle East continue the struggle for press freedom, using journalism as both activism and cultural preservation.

Turkish journalist Cevheri Güven, living in Germany, continues to face constant threats to his life despite seeking asylum. Under 24/7 police protection, he must inform authorities whenever he leaves home. He also wears a security bracelet, designed to look like a watch, that allows him to send an alert if he faces danger.

The “She Speaks Sudan” initiative has provided a critical platform for training, mentorship, and collaboration. Among its participants is Amal Mohamed Elhassan Ali, a Sudanese journalist now based in Kenya, who continues to document war crimes, human rights violations, and political struggles. In this interview, she reflects on the resilience required to report on Sudan’s conflict.

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.

Amid funding shortages, AI disruption, and rising threats to press freedom, Latin American journalists are launching innovative projects to rebuild trust and connect with audiences. At the ISOJ 2025 Colloquium, seven media outlets shared how they’re using collaboration and creative storytelling.

Taha Siddiqui’s haunting, inspired graphic memoir The Dissident Club: The Chronicle of a Pakistani Journalist in Exile follows his early childhood in Saudi Arabia through his career as a dissident journalist and exile from his native Pakistan. Trevor Corkum interviewed him to understand why he chose to tell his life story in the form of a graphic memoir.

At this year’s International Journalism Festival, journalists from around the world gathered to discuss the future of journalism. The Reuters Institute has published key takeaways, offering insights into a range of pressing topics, including journalism in exile, local news, reader revenue, news avoidance, and the impact of AI.

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.

The new digital platform from Casa para el Periodismo Libre supports journalists in Latin America and the Caribbean who have been forced into exile. More than a website, journalists will find a one-stop shop for information and access to important resources that can help them fight persecution, censorship and violence.

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.

The founders of the media outlet Divergentes share their struggles in continuing independent journalism from exile. Despite facing immense financial and emotional challenges, they remain committed to exposing the authoritarian regime in Nicaragua.