If you are an exiled media professional, you know — or will eventually find out — how challenging setting up a media organization abroad can be. Especially if you don’t speak the language of the country you are now living in. Perhaps the most important decision you will make is the type of organization you want to have: is it a for-profit, a nonprofit, or a combination of the two?
And when all of that is ready, other aspects of the business will come into play, for instance, defining your new revenue model, digital and physical security strategies to keep your team safe, tax payments, opening new bank accounts… you name it. The list seems to have no end, but the work has to be done.
It can be a daunting task. We at the Network of Exiled Media Outlets (NEMO) know that. Our members went through this process one way or another while wishing to have a guide to help them see the light. It would have saved them a lot of time. That’s why, in partnership with the International Journalists’ Network (IJNet), a project of the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ), NEMO created a toolkit for exiled media organizations and media professionals who are in different stages of the exile journey.
This toolkit offers resources and case studies that — NEMO and ICFJ hope — will help you along the way. These are some of the topics you can explore as you visit the toolkit, which is hosted on the website of ICFJ and is available in English and Persian, with more translations coming up shortly:
This article, written by Matt Kasper, publisher at Meydan TV, provides a checklist for those trying to figure out where to start, as well as tips and tricks covering the basics of properly establishing a media outlet in exile. And more specifically, the importance of setting up and running a legal entity, security considerations, and tools to take advantage of.
2. Fundraising basics for exiled journalists
Ole Chavannes, a media professional and former representative of the Democratic Voice of Burma within NEMO, explains why fundraising is essential to cover operational and organizational costs, the difference between core funding and project funding, and the reasons behind doing one or the other, or a combination of both.
3. Building a revenue model in exile
One of the most challenging strategies to develop is perhaps the one that will make you sustainable in the long run. How do you build a reader revenue strategy when you have lost almost all other sources of income? Cinthia Membreño, NEMO’s coordinator and former audience loyalty manager at CONFIDENCIAL, shares several tips based on her own experience. The key component: don’t be afraid to reach out to your readers.
4. How to stay relevant to readers in exile
With this article, Cinthia Membreño makes the case for building a content strategy to serve those audiences who are also in exile, while still reporting for audiences inside your country. Not an easy task, but with careful consideration you might be a case of success.
5. Creating and maintaining a network of journalists in exile
As the editor-in-chief of Meduza, Ivan Kolpakov knows that creating and maintaining a network of reporters within your home country is maybe of of the most important challenges of operating in exile. Kolpavok’s piece provides advice on the strict rules you need to follow to do this while guaranteeing the safety and anonymity of reporters.
6. Measuring journalism’s impact from exile
A lot of people ask exiled media organizations the same question: how can you measure impact when you are not in your country of origin? Sudeshna Chanda, business development manager at Zamaneh Media, explains that this is doable, and which tools can be used to achieve that. If you were thinking of Google Analytics, you are guessing it right, but for those outlets that are banned in their home countries, there are other ways to track success.
7. Mental health support for exiled journalists
Journalists shouldn’t feel that they have to be heroes. While being on the front lines of historical events is part of the job, recognizing that this can take a toll on you is part of being human. In this article, Sudeshna Chanda goes through the three levels of support you need to consider when looking after your mental health as a journalist in exile, or the mental health of your entire team.
For more information on the Exiled Media Toolkit, published in partnership with the International Journalists’ Network (IJNet), visit this website. If you are a member of an exiled media outlet, don’t hesitate to contact us at info@exiled.media.