JX Fund – European Fund for Journalism in Exile

In his article, exiled journalist Kyaw Min Swe highlights how, in war-torn Myanmar, radio remains one of the last lifelines to factual, independent information. He warns that recent cuts to U.S. aid are threatening the survival of these crucial radio stations, putting access to truth at even greater risk for people inside the country.

With the announcement of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Iran and Israel (one both governments pledged to uphold conditionally, contingent on the other’s restraint), speculation has begun to shift from whether the conflict would escalate into full-scale regional war to whether this pause might create space for diplomacy, reconstruction, or even domestic reform in Iran.

“This is evidence for the future. It’s critical to document these crimes now, even if justice is delayed,” says Maria Zholobova, a Russian journalist in exile and an ICFJ Jim Hoge Reporting Fellow, who investigated how the son of Ukraine’s ousted president allegedly profits from Ukraine’s Russian-occupied territories.

In a new study from DW Akademie and IPLEX, Central American women journalists in exile explain the challenges they face – and their resilience. Being a journalist in Central America is challenging enough, but the difficulties facing a journalist in exile can be even greater. For women journalists in exile in Central America, their work can be overwhelming.

Once in exile to escape threats and danger, journalists soon face a new set of challenges: how to sustain their careers, communities and reporting from afar. ICFJ’s International Journalists’ Network (IJNet), in collaboration with the Network of Exiled Media Outlets (NEMO), has expanded its Exiled Media Toolkit to include a comprehensive section on viability, produced by ICFJ Knight Fellow José J. Nieves.

As the world marked World Press Freedom Day on May 3, journalists, scholars and artists gathered at the Haus am Dom cultural center in Frankfurt this week to discuss growing pressures on journalism from political repression, digital censorship and the challenges faced by journalists in exile.

If Trump shuts down RFE/RL, thousands of exiled journalists could lose their platform, and Russian-speaking audiences may lose a vital independent news source. RFE/RL’s reporting from hubs like Riga offers rare, high-risk journalism in local languages, countering Kremlin propaganda in ways few other outlets can.

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.

LatAm Journalism Review (LJR) presents eight essential tools—some new, others well established—that are transforming investigative journalism. Used by leading reporters, these tools help uncover corruption networks, analyze data trends, and tell complex, impactful stories with greater precision.

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.

Alesya Sokolova on how the relatively low popularity of independent media may be influenced not only by censorship but also by the choice of topics and the tone of content. While censorship remains the biggest obstacle, audience fatigue with negativity and a narrow thematic focus may also push even opposition-minded readers away.

This guide presents a practical template that helps anyone in newsrooms come up with promising ideas and turn them into strategic solutions, breaking through traditional hierarchical barriers. In doing so, it can reshape organisational culture, creating an environment where each staff feels valued, heard, and empowered to contribute to meaningful innovation.

Next-IJ is empowering European journalists, newsrooms, and media outlets with a combination of advanced tools (including artificial intelligence), data, training, legal and ethical guidance, and hands-on investigation opportunities to uncover and investigate corruption and organised and financial crime in multilateral cooperation and partnerships.

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.

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.

In this article, Izabella Tabarovsky explores how Putin’s war in Ukraine depends on silencing independent media. She examines the struggles of Russian journalists in exile, who, despite immense challenges, are now producing groundbreaking reports and creatively circumventing censorship.

Lina Chawaf, founder of Radio Rozana, reflects on Syria’s uncertain future after Assad’s fall. While celebrating his ousting, she voices concerns about the new Islamist regime’s media stance. Her team continues reporting despite risks, navigating a volatile landscape for independent journalism.