Source description last updated: 13 March 2023

In brief: Meduza is a news website that reports in Russian and English on the Russian Federation and other countries that were formerly part of the Soviet Union. It is headquartered in Riga, Latvia.

Coverage on ecoi.net:

Media articles

Covered monthly on ecoi.net for the Russian Federation and other former Soviet countries.

Mission/Mandate/Objectives:

Meduza aims to be “a reliable, trusted outlet for verified, unbiased information about Russia and the former Soviet Union” (Meduza website: About Meduza, undated) that reports “as accurately, objectively, and impartially as possible”. (Meduza website: Meduza’s code of conduct, undated)

Meduza’s editorial office neither supports any political parties, social movements, corporations or government agencies, nor does it accept any support from such entities. Meduza covers its own costs and does not pay its sources for providing information (Meduza website: Meduza’s code of conduct, undated, § 1). Meduza states that most of its audience is located in Russia (Meduza website: Journalism Saves Lives, undated).

Meduza was labelled as a “foreign agent” by the Russian government in May 2021 and was forced to evacuate its bureau in Russia after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. (Meduza website: Journalism Saves Lives - Frequently asked questions, undated)

Funding:

Meduza states that it currently relies on donations from its audience outside the Russian Federation, as money transfers to Europe from Meduza readers inside Russia are no longer possible. (Meduza website: Journalism Saves Lives, undated)

Scope of reporting:

Geographic focus: Russian Federation, Ukraine and other former Soviet countries

Thematic focus: politics, human rights, armed conflict

Methodology:

According to its own description, Meduza seeks “to ensure that our reporting is based on information from named sources (two or more), though working in countries with significant legal restrictions means this is not always entirely possible. In cases when revealing a source’s identity could threaten their safety, we reserve the right to publish their comments anonymously […].” (Meduza website: Meduza’s code of conduct, undated, § 3)

Meduza goes on to explain that its “journalists must collect information openly, identifying themselves by their real names and the nature of their occupation. ‘Undercover’ work is permitted in exceptional cases and only with the editor-in-chief’s approval. […] Recording any conversations must be carried out openly, and sources should be warned in advance.” (Meduza website: Meduza’s code of conduct, undated, § 3)

Meduza further emphasises that “[t]hough it is common in Russia to allow subjects to revise their remarks after an interview, we consider this practice to be wrong and endeavor to avoid it. Meduza’s editors reserve the right to determine the conditions of interviews, and persons interviewed must be notified in advance of these terms.” (Meduza website: Meduza’s code of conduct, undated, § 3)

Languages of publication:

Russian and English

Further reading / links:

Washington Post: ‘Is this the end of Meduza?’ Hobbled by sanctions, Russian journalists seek Western donors., 17 March 2022, https://www.washingtonpost.com/media/2022/03/17/meduza-russia-sanctions/

Deutschlandfunk Kultur: „Meduza“ – regierungskritische Medienstimme im Exil, 2 April 2022, https://www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de/russland-medien-pressefreiheit-meduza-102.html

Methodological note:

ecoi.net's source descriptions contain background information on an organisation’s mission & objective, funding and reporting methodology, as well as on how we cover the source. The descriptions were prepared after researching publicly accessible information within time constraints. Most information contained in a source description was taken from the source itself. The aim is to provide a brief introduction to the sources covered regularly, offering information on relevant aspects in one place in a systematic manner. 

All links accessed 13 March 2023.