Mediazona turns 10. And now we need our readers’ help to survive

A decade ago, in September 2014, we launched Mediazona—a small outlet dedicated to reporting on the Russian state’s relationship with its people, ranging from indifferent and alienating to brutal and downright criminal. For ten years, we’ve chronicled our country’s descent into dictatorship and war. Throughout this journey, our Russian readers’ monthly donations have been our lifeline.By February 24, 2022, we had the support of 10,000 readers. But Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, followed by the exodus of Visa and Mastercard and a wave of repressive legislation, decimated our funding. Today, as we mark our 10th anniversary, we face a stark reality: without your help, we cannot make it. If we fail to rebuild our subscriber base, Mediazona may cease to exist. We’re asking you to help us survive.

A decade of Mediazona should be cause for celebration. Instead, we find ourselves bearing witness to Russia’s relentless slide towards authoritarianism. We’ve meticulously documented each step, even as we felt powerless to halt the decline.

Our long-standing motto, “It’s about to get worse,” was bleak but prescient—yet even in our deepest pessimism, we couldn’t have imagined the current levels of worse.

“Terrifying. Grim. Sickening.” These words, once scrawled on a board in our tiny Moscow newsroom, captured the essence of what we reported. Today, they echo the sentiments of millions.

We used to say we longed for the day when Mediazona would have nothing left to report—when we could close our doors, our mission complete.

It’s now September 2024. Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine enters its third year. Our nation is plagued by political prisoners, censorship, fabricated criminal cases with harsh sentences, and the torture and murder of dissidents. Our work is far from over.

Yet today, we face closure not due to a lack of stories, but a lack of funds. We’re uncertain if we’ll see 2026.

Before the invasion, your donations were our primary source of funding—a model we believed in for its clarity and honesty. By early 2022, nearly 10,000 of our Russian readers supported us monthly. Words cannot express our gratitude for your trust and support.

Your contributions allowed us to evolve from a small publication focused on courts and prisons into a comprehensive media outlet. We now produce in-depth reports, data investigations, documentaries, livestreams, and breaking news across multiple platforms.

The invasion of Ukraine devastated our funding. When Visa and Mastercard exited Russia, our donations plummeted. Today, we survive on support from about 1,500 readers using non-Russian cards and 2,000 brave contributors within Russia. We’re profoundly grateful to each of you.

But as the state escalates its war on independent media, we can’t rely on domestic funding—these lifelines could be severed any moment. That’s why non-Russian donations are now critical to our survival, our best defense against state interference, and our only path to continuing our vital work.

For two years, we hesitated to ask for help. Amidst the horrors of war and widespread suffering, it felt wrong to focus on our needs. But now, we have no choice.

For two years, we’ve been running Mediazona English to bring our crucial reporting to global audiences. We take immense pride in our team and our body of work. We desperately want to continue our mission.

So we ask: please help save Mediazona. Subscribe to donate at https://donate.zona.media/en

To survive, we need 5,000 regular donors.

To be effective, we need 10,000 supporters. More, and we can thrive and expand our coverage.

Even the smallest monthly contribution makes a difference. Regular donations are our lifeline—they allow us to plan for the future, maintain our independence, and ensure consistent coverage.

As the nightmare around us intensifies, it’s tempting to look away. The media landscape is saturated with grim coverage, and many seek refuge in distraction, succumb to apathy, or simply grow weary of the same topics. But we believe that only by facing reality head-on, can we collectively navigate this dark chapter of Russian history. Our work goes beyond mere reporting—it’s about building bridges. By providing accurate, unfiltered information, we’re hoping to foster understanding and create vital connections between Russians and the world. Through these connections, we can rebuild the trust that’s been shattered. This is how we lay the groundwork for a different, connected future.

The nightmare engulfing Russia won’t simply vanish. But with eyes and voice, we can make it less scary—and that’s how we begin to turn the tide: by refusing to look away, by continuing to speak out, and by helping others understand.

Please, help Mediazona survive.

Your Questions Answered

What will my money be used for? Your donations will be used primarily to fund salaries for our team: reporters, editors, developers, as well as payments to freelance journalists, photographers, illustrators, and designers who make Mediazona happen.

Is subscribing to donations safe? Yes. Mediazona doesn’t have access or store your payment information. Monthly payments are processed by Stripe, a secure payment processing company. We can cancel your subscription anytime upon request.

How do I cancel my monthly subscription? To cancel, email us at [email protected] with “Cancelling Subscription” in the subject line. We’ll cancel your subscription and send a confirmation email.

How do I update my subscription? For changes to billing date or payment amount, email us at [email protected]. For security reasons, we can’t increase payment amount, change card info, or email address on your behalf. If you need to make any of these changes, please create a new subscription and send us a request to cancel the old one.