Survive and Thrive: The Media Viability Podcast

"Media outlets the world over are fighting to survive challenged by violent conflicts, the pandemic, natural disasters and economic downturn - all that, while digital disruptions and authoritarian regimes continue to erode public trust."



This podcast series features interviews with media managers from around the world who share their experiences in developing innovative and sustainable business models. Interviewees talk about how they survive in challenging media landscapes and what motivates them. They also share the funding models they use, best practices, and recipes for success, as well as some of the difficulties they have faced and bad decisions they have made. The goal of the podcast series is to strengthen independent media, fact-based journalism, access to information, and freedom of expression.  



The podcasts, which are published monthly, are hosted by Janelle Dumalaon, journalist and DW Business anchor. They are between 25 and 35 minutes long.

• Survive and Thrive Episode 1 - This episode features an interview with Iryna Vidanava, CEO of CityDog.by, an internet magazine focusing on the Belarusian capital of Minsk. The media outlet has existed for over ten years and has faced a number of challenges. After suppressing protests against the official 2020 presidential election results, the Belarusian state closed down most of the country's independent media, forced journalists into exile, and cut off news outlets from their funding sources. Vidanava gives insight into how much CityDog's business model has changed, how serious safety concerns are for her team of journalists, and what CityDog's core mission continues to be.
• Survive and Thrive Episode 2 - In this episode, DW Akademie interviews Salam Omer, former editor-in-chief and currently a consultant for KirkukNow in Iraq. Launched in 2011, it is a specialised media platform for citizens in Iraq's disputed territories. Salam talks about crisis preparedness, the importance of a diverse newsroom, and funding for his organisation.
• Survive and Thrive Episode 3 - This episode features an interview with Andrii Dikhtiarenko, a Ukrainian journalist, editor, and TV presenter. He owns the online media Realnaya Gazeta, which specialises in reporting on the situation of the occupied Donbas. Until the summer of 2014, the editorial office was located in the city of Luhansk. Andrii talks about reporting from an unstable region, the threats he has received, funding, and his hopes for Realnaya Gazeta's future.
• Survive and Thrive Episode 4 - In this episode, Laura Aguirre, a journalist and media manager from El Salvador, is interviewed. She co-founded and is leading the feminist media outlet Alharaca and talks about why she thinks feminism has a role in journalism and why she and her team are looking for business models outside El Salvador.

The podcasts can be found on Spotify, Amazon Music, Audible, Apple Podcasts, and Deezer, among others. It is also possible to subscribe to the podcast on YouTube.