Kyiv Independent editor: ‘Our readers want Russia to suffer but we can’t be propagandists’
Olga Rudenko says news site has duty to report on Russian military gains and Ukrainian corruption even if subjects are not so well read
TL;DR
- Kyiv Independent's editor Olga Rudenko highlights the tension between readers' desire for stories about Russian suffering and the newsroom's duty to report on all aspects of the war, including Russian gains and Ukrainian corruption.
- Rudenko stresses the importance of the Kyiv Independent's independence from propaganda and its commitment to unbiased reporting, even on less popular topics.
- She notes that media freedom in Ukraine has not necessarily improved under President Zelenskyy, citing concerns about power concentration and past attempts to neutralize anti-corruption agencies.
- The news site, funded by monthly contributions from readers, has experienced significant growth in membership and staff since its founding before the full-scale Russian invasion.