How to rebuild trust and maintain audience engagement with people living under the bombardment of state propaganda, which often portrays independent or foreign media as “fake news”, “foreign agents”, or “enemies”?

This is the question I hear a lot from journalists, who were forced to leave their countries and now work abroad for the audiences remaining under authoritarian regimes.

As the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance noted in a study of the global state of democracy in 2022, “Over the past six years, the number of countries moving toward authoritarianism is more than double the number moving toward democracy.”

Journalists with whom we worked over the last year have different personal stories, different circumstances under which they had to leave their undemocratic countries, they might even have opposing political views, but they have one common challenge: how to stay relevant to their audiences back home while producing content from abroad.

How can they be of interest and value to audiences living in fear and fatigued by negative news and state propaganda?

If you find yourself asking the very same questions as a journalist/content creator, or if you live in a country with an authoritarian regime and do not know anymore who to trust, which media source to go to for verified information, you may be interested in our upcoming podcast.

We have collaborated with and interviewed over 50 journalists, producers and editors from diverse countries, such as Afghanistan, Sudan, Russia, China, Hong Kong, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Burma, Mexico, Iran and the list goes on and on.

Here are five tips we’ve gathered on how to continue producing independent journalism, maintain your sanity, and stay relevant to your audience in a different country.

1. 1. Focus on accountability stories. As an exile media outlet, you can report what local journalists may no longer be able to. Your verified investigations hold immense value for people who have limited access to independent information.
   2. Establish a network of local sources and informants who are unaware of each other to verify information whenever possible. One interviewee shared their experience: “We created a Telegram channel that became a popular crowdsourcing tool. Local individuals transformed into citizen journalists, providing us with daily news leads.” Although verification poses challenges, the channel’s popularity often leads officials who cannot verify publicly to do so privately through encrypted messaging.
   3. Recognise the significance of both local sources and editors based outside the country who are not influenced by the regime. If feasible, create a private internet portal where anonymous correspondents/informants within the country can share information with editors abroad. This hybrid model allows exile outlets to pursue stories that local media can no longer tackle.
   4. Embrace encrypted messaging apps and other digital platforms accessible to your audience. Utilise these channels to distribute your content, engage with your audience, and build a community of like-minded individuals.
   5. Seek funding from international philanthropic organisations and NGOs, but remember that your long-term success relies on a sustainable business model. Our experts provide consultation to media start-ups worldwide, offering proven strategies for developing agile and commercially viable content.

Reach out to us for more information if you’re ready to commit to creating a sustainable future for yourself and your audiences.