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Panorama of Exiled Independent Media: Amid Global Geopolitical Turbulence in 2026
Deep Insights

Berlin: JX Fund (2026), 29 pp.

"Exiled Independent Media (EXIM) are no longer a marginal or transitional phenomenon. They have become a permanent and structurally significant part of the global media landscape – and the forces that lead EXIM to appear are, if anything, growing stronger. The sustained rise of authoritarian regim ... more

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Innovation as the Driving Survival Force: The State of the Russian Independent Media in Exile

Berlin: JX Fund (2025), 46 pp.

"Exiled Russian media persist as resilient voices for truth despite repression and funding cuts. Over the past year, the exiled media sector has faced several new restrictions in form of legal pressure on media teams, their audiences and advertisers. As YouTube traffic dropped significantly with abo ... ut 60%, following the last year’s slowdowns, the Russian authorities put pressure on other platforms, for example, WhatsApp, requiring them to share users' data with FSB. Introduction of the state messenger MAX marked another step towards an attempt to reroute the consumers towards state-allowed content only. Despite unprecedented repression, financial hardship, and isolation, the Russian independent media in exile have demonstrated remarkable resilience, continuing to expose state abuses, inform audiences inside Russia, and strengthen democratic discourse abroad. Sustained international support and recognition of their role as part of Europe’s broader security and information ecosystem are now essential to ensure their survival and impact. The abrupt withdrawal of U.S. funding in 2025 has severely undermined the stability of Russian independent media in exile. With the abrupt cuts in major U.S. funding sources, exiled Russian outlets have lost on average 6% of the funding as compared to the last year (when an average annual budget for a medium to large media was €902,778). This is a significant drop. However, comparing to the consequences faced by other countries, it is a smaller funding cut than expected. The media sector faces stronger competition as the media development intermediaries are themselves under the shutdown. Many media have been forced to downsize, cut projects, and rely on unstable ad-hoc grants, revealing both their extraordinary resilience and the fragility of their dependence on external support. The Kremlin’s toolbox expands with growing investment into propaganda, censorship automation and sanctions against information consumers. As the Kremlin censorship has expanded to target content consumers, independent outlets lost about 22% of readership on their webpages. Additionally, the censors continued to introduce new legal restrictions for the advertisers collaborating with independent media, as well as to recognize the independent media as “foreign agents”, “undesirable organizations” and even “terrorists.” Meanwhile, the Kremlin increased its investments into propaganda machine with 7%, including the additional $65 million to Russia Today that targets foreign audiences; as well as innovated automated means of identify and flag an undesired content. Against this backdrop, supporting secure access to information and amplifying independent media must remain central to countering authoritarian disinformation and defending the right to alternative independent information. Independent media innovate to maintain trust and engage audiences. Amid censorship, audience fatigue, and shrinking online space, the 63 Russian independent media in exile continue to reach millions by diversifying platforms, introducing more personalized content, and rebuilding trust through human-centered personalized journalism. Over the last year, the media have compensated the loss of audiences on their webpages via Instagram (+108%), TikTok (90%) and YouTube (+11%). AI empowers exiled newsrooms while exposing new ethical and security challenges. As Russian independent media in exile navigate scarce resources and digital insecurity, artificial intelligence emerges as both a lifeline and a liability. AI currently empowers most of the media teams in exile, and assists in transcription, content creation, data collection for investigative reporting, data analysis, and audience engagement. Yet, AI also exposes the media to new challenges, such as security & privacy, verification & accuracy. Building collective AI literacy, shared standards, and secure innovation support would allow strengthening media resilience. " (Executive summary) more

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Space for freedom: An assessment of the professional and operational requirements of exiled journalists from Belarus and Russia

Diana Shahbazyan

Bonn: Deutsche Welle DW Akademie (2025), 30 pp.

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Gespiegelte Wirklichkeit: 'Osteuropa' und Öffentlichkeit im Wandel

Manfred Sapper (et al.)

Osteuropa, volume 75, issue 1-3 (2025), 472 pp.

"Der 100. Jahrestag von 'Osteuropa' bietet allerdings Anlass, in drei Bereichen das Verhältnis von Osteuropa und Öffentlichkeit zu analysieren. Der erste ist ein kritischer Blick auf die Geschichte und Gegenwart der Zeitschrift. Seit ihrer Gründung bewegt sich Osteuropa an der Grenze zwischen Wis ... senschaft, Journalismus und Politik. Das ist ein Balanceakt. Jens Bisky und Cord Aschenbrenner als Beobachter von außen machen sich Gedanken, ob er funktioniert, und Mitglieder der Redaktion blicken von innen auf die Vergangenheit, die Konstruktionspläne der Gegenwart und den künftigen Reformbedarf. Noch steht Osteuropa quer zum herrschenden Trend der Fragmentierung und Parzellierung der Öffentlichkeit. Interdisziplinarität bleibt fester Bestandteil des Osteuropa-Gens. Der zweite Bereich ist der Frage gewidmet, wie „der Osten“ in den deutschen Horizont kommt und wie aus Informationen Wissen wird. Welche Themen kommen an, welches Erkenntnisinteresse steht hinter der Beschäftigung mit Geschichte, Politik, Literatur oder Musik Osteuropas? Eine Pionierfunktion zur Vermittlung von Informationen aus anderen Ländern haben Korrespondenten. Sie registrieren als erste politische und kulturelle Trends vor Ort, sie sollen durch verlässliche Informationen Öffentlichkeit herstellen. Doch das ist nicht so einfach. Christian Neefs Portrait der drei „Korrespondenten-Promis“ Paul Scheffer, Hermann Pörzgen und Gerd Ruge sowie Markus Ackerets Schilderungen aus dem Moskau von heute veranschaulichen, wie politische Rücksichtnahme, Restriktionen, Einschüchterung und Selbstzensur die Arbeit an der Aufklärung beeinträchtigen. Gleichzeitig zeigen die Rezeptionsanalysen in diesem Bereich, wie stark die historische Osteuropaforschung und die deutsche Aufnahme von Literatur und Musik aus dem Osten Europas von der politischen Großwetterlage bestimmt sind. So spiegeln sich die politischen Brüche des Jahrhunderts 1:1 in der deutsch-deutschen Rezeption sowjetischer Musik. Und das literarische Osteuropa, das lange Zeit terra incognita war, wurde über die besondere Gewaltgeschichte der Region sowie die Verarbeitung der existenziellen Gewalterfahrung im Holocaust oder im Gulag geprägt. En passant zollen wir auf diesem Wege auch einigen jener Personen Anerkennung, die mit ihrem Wirken viel für die Osterweiterung des deutschen Horizonts und für die publizistische Qualität von Osteuropa getan haben und nicht zufällig unter den Autoren dieses Bandes sind: den Historikern Karl Schlögel, Dietrich Beyrau und Gerd Koenen, der Lektorin Katharina Raabe, dem Slavisten Ulrich Schmid, der Musikwissenschaftlerin Dorothea Redepenning und dem Ökonomen Roland Götz. Danke! Im dritten Bereich nehmen wir den Wandel der Medienlandschaft, der Öffentlichkeit und der Gesellschaft in den Kernländern Osteuropas, in Russland, der Ukraine und Belarus in Zeiten von Diktatur und Krieg unter die Lupe. Während es in der Ukraine allen kriegsbedingten Einschränkungen zum Trotz nach wie vor einen relativen Medienpluralismus gibt, sind die Medien in Belarus und Russland weitgehend gleichgeschaltet, Freiräume für Öffentlichkeit und Gesellschaft zerschlagen. Damit wächst die politische und gesellschaftliche Bedeutung des Journalismus, der Publizistik und des Verlagswesens im Exil. Sie sind das Surrogat der öffentlichen Sphäre und Pfeiler der Gegenöffentlichkeit. Und gleichzeitig sind auch sie Barometer zur Prognose der politischen Großwetterlage." (Editorial) more

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Navigating instability: A five-phase approach to supporting exiled media
Key Guides

David Lush, Clare Cook

Copenhagen: International Media Support (IMS) (2025), 33 pp.

"In recent years, IMS has seen a steady increase in the number of its media partners forced to flee their home countries to avoid persecution and closure as the democratic space globally has shrunk. IMS expects this trend to continue, with “exiled media” becoming the main – and, in some cases, ... more

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Kulturtätige aus Belarus, Russland und der Ukraine zwischen Diaspora und Exil: Herausforderungen und Potenziale in den 2020er Jahren

Klara Koszarek

Stuttgart: Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen (ifa) (2025), 66 pp.

"Die vorliegende Studie untersucht die Entwicklungen der Diasporagemeinschaften aus Osteuropa, die in Deutschland und seinen östlichen EU-Nachbarländern seit 2020 an Größe und Bedeutung gewinnen – bedingt durch politische Krisen und Repressionen im autokratisch regierten Belarus und Russland u ... more

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El periodismo nicaragüense está vivo

Julio López (ed.)

Bogotá: Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), FES Comunicación (2025), 73 pp.

"En este libro, 12 periodistas nicaragüenses exiliados relatan sus historias y su pasión por el periodismo. A pesar del dolor, el desarraigo y la separación familiar continúan su labor informativa, denuncian las agresiones contra la prensa y los abusos a los derechos humanos. Además, presenta u ... more

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Media in exile: Resilience mechanisms and survival strategies when covering Afghanistan and Myanmar

Karen Williams, Sandy Soe

Bonn: Deutsche Welle DW Akademie (2025), 46 pp.

"This study explores the resilience and success factors of exile media in Asia, focusing on Afghanistan and Myanmar — two countries where independent journalism has collapsed under authoritarian regimes. Once seen as regional media success stories, both nations have experienced drastic political s ... more

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The critical online diasporic infosphere and counter-public sustenance in an autocratizing society

Francis L. F. Lee, Chun Hong Tse

Information, Communication & Society, volume 28, issue 9 (2025), pp. 1590-1607

"This article conceptualizes the critical online diasporic infosphere as an online space constituted by diasporic media, exile media, and overseas-based influencers who share an oppositional orientation toward the home state. The infosphere proffers a constant stream of critical information and pers ... more

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Kremlin Media Wars: Censorship and Control Since the Invasion of Ukraine

Aleksandra Raspopina, Wendy Sloane (eds.)

London: Routledge (2025), xiv, 174 pp.

"This unique volume brings together academics of Russian journalism and media with journalists and editors who reported or continue to report on the country, to explore and reflect on the changing landscape for journalists in Russia or covering Russia, and the increasing control exerted by the gover ... more

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Silenced But Resilient: Belarusian Exiled Media since the 2020 Revolution

Berlin: JX Fund (2024), 45 pp.

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An unbroken spirit: Afghanistan exiled media since the Taliban takeover
Deep Insights

Berlin: JX Fund (2024), 44 pp.

"A large portion of independent media has relocated to United States of America, Canada, and European countries such as Germany, France, UK, Ireland after the Taliban took over. The teams of many of these outlets operate in a hybrid model with editorial leadership in exile and staff members and free ... lancers in Afghanistan. Just over half of Afghan exiled media (57%) were founded in Afghanistan before the Taliban took over, but others (42%) were established in exile after August 15, 2021. Exiled media publish their content in multiple languages, including both the official languages of Afghanistan: Pashto and Dari (Farsi). Out of 47 media surveyed, 35 also publish their content in English. Afghan women journalists have founded several media outlets spanning various platforms, including online publications, radio and television channels, social media platforms, and podcasts. Through these outlets, they amplify the voices of Afghan women and shed light on the challenges they face under Taliban rule. In exile, ethnic, religious, linguistic, and political affiliations continue to influence the content and ownership of some media outlets, with direct consequences on their credibility. Afghan exiled media mostly aim for nation-wide coverage (90%). Only 10% of exiled media focus on regional coverage. Media consumption in Afghanistan has shifted towards exiled media. In addition, since the Taliban takeover, audiences increasingly relied on the internet, particularly social media platforms, to access information and entertainment programs. The study reveals that Facebook, X, and YouTube are the most popular social media platforms for exiled media outlets – both for audiences to consume content and interact with publishers. Television still stands as the predominant broadcasting platform in Afghanistan, with urban areas exhibiting a higher prevalence of household TV ownership compared to rural regions. Television coverage extends to nearly 40 percent of Afghanistan’s population. At least 12 Afghan TV exiled projects are accessible via satellite, web, social media, apps and streaming platforms. Fact-checking information coming from on-the-ground sources is becoming harder. The Taliban severely restricted information flows. Most Afghan exiled media rely on citizen journalism and anonymous sources. Lack of financial sustainability is a major concern. Afghan exiled media have lost their previous funding opportunities and need to cover budget gaps from international organizations or other philanthropic sources." (Executive summary, page 3) more

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Women and the media in Afghanistan: How to support female media workers in a challenging landscape

Catharine Buckell, Mahdi Zaki, Shukrana Azizi Suzanne Devai

London: BBC Media Action (2024), 50 pp.

"Women in Afghanistan continue to have less access to information than men, particularly through TV and the internet. At least 33% of women (more in rural areas) rely on family as a key source of information, while men prioritise other information sources. Yet Afghan women’s information needs have ... never been more pronounced – due to restrictions on their activities, many are confined to their homes. Women in Afghanistan with media access rely on this more than ever to keep updated on issues that concern them, and spend more time accessing and using media: "Now women are in the confines of their homes… The virtual space is the only window for us to learn about what is happening." (Female FGD participant, Herat). Two-thirds (65%) of female survey respondents say that the media is “very important” in their daily lives, compared with half (51%) of male respondents. Despite various efforts to cater to female audiences, 67% of female and male respondents feel that Afghan media only “somewhat” or “rarely” meets women’s needs. Reflecting restrictions on media content, respondents complain that domestic media contains too much religious content and not enough entertainment. However, educational content is still allowed, providing women and girls who are denied access to schooling with a vital source of education. Respondents are more satisfied with the balance of content in international media and media run by Afghans in exile, and they are more likely to watch some types of entertainment, such as movies, on international than domestic TV. However, a number of international media outlets are inaccessible from Afghanistan. Journalists inside Afghanistan are banned from working with international TV/radio channels or news sites, and some have been arrested for doing so. 87% of respondents say the presence of women in the media in Afghanistan has decreased since August 2021. Only 41% could name a female presenter or journalist. Almost all of those named by respondents worked in the media before 2021, or currently work from outside Afghanistan. Audience members support women featuring in news and educational programmes but are less supportive of them featuring in comedy and sports content. Over half (54%) of the general survey respondents say they would support a female relative to work as a journalist. A further 12% would support a female relative under certain conditions, including wearing the hijab and travelling with a mahram (women cannot leave their home without a male chaperone)." (Executive summary, page 6) more

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Voices from Exile: The Safety Needs of Myanmar Women Journalists

Yucca Wai, Joseph Andersson

Exile Hub (2024), 104 pp.

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Breaking newsrooms: Are Myanmar’s exiled journalists getting a fair deal?

Ye Mon, Ben Dunant

Frontier Myanmar, September 9 (2024)

"Journalists are allegedly suffering exploitation and abuse at exiled news outlets, but there’s debate over whether the responsibility to respond falls on donors or a media industry that is taking gradual steps to self-regulate." (Introduction)

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Expat Afghan Media and Local Media amidst Taliban Constraints

Ahmad Zubair Jamshidi

International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research, volume 12, issue 1 (2024), pp. 141-149

"This research study delves into the intricate landscape of media in Afghanistan after 15 August 2021, focusing on the coexistence of local and Expat Afghan Media within the challenging context of Taliban constraints. In the wake of the Taliban's resurgence and control of Afghanistan, The challengin ... more

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Bound by Exile: Exploring Kinship Dynamics and Role Perceptions among Diaspora Journalists

Tomás Dodds, Rana Arafat, Wang Ngai Yeung

Journalism Studies (2024), 20 pp.

"The escalating dangers journalists face globally have led to a marked increase in media professionals seeking safety away from their home countries. As a result, journalists are increasingly forced to choose between silence and survival, with many opting for the latter in the form of diaspora reloc ... more

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‘Journalism in another form’: How exile experiences from Burundi renegotiate key elements of journalism

Louisa Esther, Richard H. Thomas

Media, War & Conflict, volume 18, issue 2 (2024), pp. 273-294

"Since the renewed outbreak of the ongoing crisis in Burundi in May 2015, triggering a media crackdown, over one-third of the country’s reporters have gone into exile. They therefore joined an increasing number of journalists worldwide who are forced into exile. Between 2015 and 2021, many of the ... more

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Flight and Fight: Supporting Exiled Media to Survive and Sustain

Isabelle Schläpfer, Rosie Parkyn

London: Internews (2024), 63 pp.

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Russische Medien außerhalb Russlands: Wer liest sie, und wozu benötigt man sie?

Ksenia Luchenko

Bonn: Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) (2024), 10 pp.

Panorama of Exiled Independent Media: Amid Global Geopolitical Turbulence in 2026 Deep Insights

Navigating instability: A five-phase approach to supporting exiled media Key Guides

An unbroken spirit: Afghanistan exiled media since the Taliban takeover Deep Insights

Panorama of Exiled Independent Media: Amid Global Geopolitical Turbulence in 2026
Deep Insights

Navigating instability: A five-phase approach to supporting exiled media
Key Guides

An unbroken spirit: Afghanistan exiled media since the Taliban takeover
Deep Insights