Introducing the Newsroom Pivot Program

We're launching something new – the Newsroom Pivot Program, a collaboration between the JX Fund, the Center for Sustainable Media, and Gazzetta.

This is a four-month pilot supporting seven exiled and independent media organizations from Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Russia, and Syria.

The program runs from September through December 2025, mostly virtual with one in-person gathering in December (expenses covered). Applications close July 20, 2025.

Why this program matters now

After years of working with exiled media, I've seen the same patterns repeat: newsrooms trapped between donor expectations and community needs, producing content that checks boxes but doesn't necessarily serve anyone. The recent funding cuts have made this dysfunction impossible to ignore.

This program takes a different approach. Instead of funding more of the same, we're offering structured support to help newsrooms pivot toward genuine utility.

Not just tweaking distribution tactics or chasing metrics, but fundamentally rethinking what service journalism can provide to communities navigating life under autocracy.

What makes this different

Most media support programs focus on either business sustainability or editorial excellence, as if these were separate concerns. We know they're not. A newsroom that isn't financially viable can't serve its community. But a newsroom that isn't genuinely useful won't be missed if it disappears.

This program addresses both sides together. We'll work on developing services people actually need – whether that's helping them navigate healthcare systems, find employment, or simply feel less alone.

We'll aim to build business models that can sustain this work without perpetual grant dependency. The best projects may be selected for seed funding to implement the ideas generated throughout the program.

Who should apply

We're looking for newsrooms ready to embrace uncomfortable questions about their relevance. This isn't for organizations seeking to preserve the status quo with new funding. It's for teams willing to experiment, potentially fail, and pivot and rebuild based on what they learn.

You should apply if you're tired of the performance – writing grant applications that promise transformation while knowing nothing will really change. If you're ready to move from broadcasting at communities to building with them. If you believe journalism can matter but recognize it needs to earn that relevance.

What we don't know yet

This is a pilot. We don't have all the answers about what sustainable exiled media looks like. We don't know which approaches will work in which contexts. That's precisely why we're running this program – to learn together.

What we do know is that the current system isn't working. Newsrooms are closing. Audiences are disconnecting. The information needs of people living under autocracy remain largely unmet while we produce content that satisfies donors' geopolitical ambitions but not communities.

Next steps

If you're interested, apply here. The application asks some perhaps tough but good questions about your current impact and future plans. We want honest assessments, not polished narratives.

The deadline is July 20, 2025.

We'll announce selected participants by August 15, 2025.