New revenues, new freedoms: business model innovations from politically pressured states

The overall economic reliance of journalism in fragile states is on donor funding. Time and again, published analysis and reports say weak markets, soft corruption, and apathetic audiences make business the biggest challenge. It is. But despite exhausting exogenous and internal challenges, there are compelling pockets of innovation that allow viable business models in politically pressured environments to emerge.

Belarusian Citydog.by was founded in 2012. Leveraging expertise as a creative agency, it has pioneered new native advertising formats, expanded to Prague and developed new technology verticals. Frontier Myanmar is forging new ground with a membership model. Daraj has harnessed influencers in the Arab world on social media to drive growth and revenues. This panel shares frontline victories not just for journalism but for a resilient business model against the odds.