JX Fund – European Fund for Journalism in Exile

This paper draws on 68 interviews and a global survey of 177 media outlets and media support organizations to chart the financial, sectoral, and political impacts of terminating most U.S. support for independent media. We find the following: The sudden, ill-planned termination of U.S. governmental support caused harm and waste.

Cyber censorship is quickly becoming a  weapon of choice for Turkish authorities looking to silence journalists in exile. At least five reporters have been targeted online, notably by having their social media accounts censored in Türkiye. Four of them are facing potential prison sentences as they are unjustly prosecuted — some of these lawsuits stretching over a decade.

This portrait is about the media platform Amal, which is produced by refugee and exiled journalists in Germany and provides news in languages like Arabic, Persian, and Ukrainian. It shows how these journalists, often unable to work in traditional media due to language barriers, find new opportunities to continue their profession and serve migrant communities.

The Fix analysed eight autocracies with limited internet freedoms and extensive internet shutdowns across the world, which are also among the largest producers of exiled media we regularly monitor with JXF, to understand the varieties of digital censorship through the Internet shutdowns.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) sheds light on the precarious conditions facing journalists in the African Great Lakes region. The new report details threats from armed groups, state repression, legal harassment and displacement, showing how many reporters are pushed into exile or forced to work underground. It highlights risks to press freedom and the resilience of independent media.

Media makers forced into exile share candid insights on continuing independent work from abroad in this ASC MediaRisk panel discussion. Contributors reflect on safety challenges, digital threats, audience engagement and sustaining journalistic identity while displaced. Their perspectives highlight resilience and the complex realities of reporting beyond borders.

Cuban journalist Ana Rodríguez dismantles official statistics and state narratives from exile, showing how data is manipulated to shape public perception in Cuba. From debates on inflation to poverty figures, she challenges government claims using independent sources, illustrating how exiled media can counter misinformation and offer factual perspectives to audiences inside and outside Cuba.

Paraguayan journalist Jazmín Acuña, co-founder of El Surtidor, reflects on building impactful journalism in challenging environments. She discusses how independent media navigate political pressure, engage audiences and measure real-world impact. Her insights highlight how journalists across Latin America adapt their work under constraints that often push reporters toward exile or cross-border collaboration.

As censorship and political pressure rise, journalism is increasingly taking place outside national borders. Media.am critiques this growing trend, showing how independent reporters are forced into exile to continue their work, and reflecting on the challenges and shifts in storytelling when news is produced away from home.

Authoritarian repression is forcing civic actors out of their countries, yet the support available to continue their work from abroad remains limited and inconsistent. This analysis argues for a comprehensive, systematic framework to help relocated civil society leaders maintain influence, access funding and navigate digital and legal barriers as they work overseas.

In recent years, democracy in West Africa has faced serious setbacks. Countries in the Sahel region, Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, and others like Guinea and Guinea-Bissau have experienced military takeovers accompanied by violations of freedom of expression and press freedom. These violations have been severe enough to force journalists and civil society actors to flee their home countries for their own safety.

Since Beijing imposed the National Security Law in June 2020, Hong Kong has experienced one of the most significant waves of politically motivated emigration in modern Asian history. Human Rights Watch noted that over 100,000 Hong Kongers had fled the city in the years following the NSL’s imposition.

Salvadoran journalist Carlos Dada — co‑founder and editor‑in‑chief of El Faro, now operating in exile due to repression in El Salvador — delivered the 2026 Reuters Memorial Lecture on “Journalism as Resistance.” He reflects on how independent reporting becomes an act of defiance under dictatorship, the challenges exiled newsrooms face, and the vital role of courageous journalism worldwide.

Venezuela’s new amnesty law has led to the release of jailed journalists and other political detainees after months in prison, but activists and rights groups argue it mainly serves the regime’s image rather than addressing systemic repression. Critics say the measure excludes accountability and leaves continued restrictions on press freedom.

Nicaragua’s historic paper La Prensa celebrates its centenary amid ongoing repression, marking 100 years of reporting that now includes operating its newsroom in exile. The anniversary reflects its long struggle for press freedom, the impact of state pressure on independent media and the resilience of journalists continuing to publish from abroad.

This practical guide from LatAm Journalism Review outlines how independent media can prepare stronger applications for programs, grants and funds to support sustainability in Latin America. It highlights why applying helps clarify goals, organize teams and refine business strategies, and stresses diversifying income beyond grants for long‑term viability.

Myanmar’s military regime has established a new multilingual propaganda body to push its narrative and counter independent media coverage abroad. The committee, led by a senior junta official, will publish information sheets in Burmese, English, Chinese and Russian and ramp up social media operations to promote the regime’s policies and respond to criticism from exiled and independent outlets.

New News CN is a solo independent news outlet launched amid China’s tightening press environment. Its founder – operating largely from outside the firewall – aims to carve out an independent Chinese‑language voice, reporting on human rights struggles and censorship while navigating severe restrictions that have forced many journalists into exile or freelance work.