When I founded the Kyiv Post in 1995, we set out to run a newspaper based on Western-standards of reporting with investigative journalism and an independent newsroom.
Whenever I was questioned about the wisdom of trying to run an independent newspaper in post-Soviet Ukraine, I always answered that we must act “as if” Ukraine had freedom of the press. Kyiv Post journalists did just that, publishing a great newspaper every week now for over 26 years.
Throughout the dark years under President Kuchma, Ukraine most definitely did not respect freedom of the press. Numerous journalists were murdered, most notably Georgi Gongadze. Newspapers, such as Silski Visti were closed for political reasons.
As publisher of the Kyiv Post, I was declared persona non grata and barred from Ukraine and our business was targeted. The Kuchma-gate recordings documented President Kuchma confirming his involvement in that action as well as other ways to pressure the Kyiv Post.
Fortunately, with the support of readers and advertisers, and due to the hard work of journalists and editors, the Kyiv Post thrived, in spite of the terrible and dangerous environment for independent media in the first years of Ukrainian independence.
The Orange Revolution marked a clean break for Ukraine and free press and a new tradition of independent journalism. Sadly, that was hampered and nearly reversed during the Yanukovych years which saw renewed violence against journalists and administrative pressure on media.
Despite the difficulties, the Kyiv Post and many other publications continued to fight for free press. Even after I sold the Kyiv Post, in 2009 to a new owner, the editorial team continued that tradition.
Today, Ukraine has a thriving press. Hundreds of publications, websites, tv and radio stations report each day. But difficulties still remain and building a media business is still difficult with the challenge of finding revenue both from readers and advertisers remains a sore topic for owners and their organizations.
The contrast between the free and thriving press in Ukraine and the docile and pressured media throughout the other countries of the former Soviet Union could not be more stark. In Russia, Central Asia and the former CIS, newspapers are shuttered and cowered. Violence against journalists is a regular occurrence.
In Ukraine, the press faces normal problems: budgets, readership and finding the next good story. It is only due to the hard work of journalists, editors, the commercial team, and the loyalty of readers that Kyiv Post is able to continue to do its work and continue to put out a great paper each week.
The Kyiv Post has faced many challenges over the past 26 years. I am sure there will be many new challenges as KP continues into its 2nd quarter century. Questions about audience, monetization, and chasing down the news remain important factors that need to be constantly assessed and balanced in today’s digital reality. Fortunately, the Kyiv Post is working in Ukraine which has the most free and open press environment in the entire ex-CIS.
