Istories: Rethinking Multimedia Journalism
Russian investigative outlet IStories specializes in corruption and data-driven stories about Russia and investigates Russian war crimes in Ukraine. IStories operates in exile due to the country’s repressive media environment. The team uses digital platforms to reach audiences and works with reporters inside the country.
- Russia (in exile)
- Istories
- 2022
- Russia (in exile)
- Istories
- 2022
MAIN REVENUE MODEL
> The Story
Reporters at IStories investigated the aftermath of the Russian military occupation of Ukrainian villages near Kyiv at the beginning of the invasion. The team pursued a lead provided by a Ukrainian citizen about Russian soldiers committing war crimes in a particular village, ultimately making contact with one such soldier, who provided a testimonial admitting to the crimes. Despite the restrictions imposed by the Russian government on independent media, IStories leverages platforms like YouTube and Telegram to disseminate their investigative work. Hiring a multimedia reporter through Report for the World, following the success of this story, has allowed them to expand their content and create short documentaries and reels with high reach. Impact Summary:
External Individual and Network Impact
The war crimes report generated over 2.4 million views via YouTube and was republished by the OCCRP. Since then, IStories’ YouTube reports have led to a 70% increase in their subscription rates.
External Institutional Impact
The findings from this report were shared with Ukrainian prosecutors for proceedings at the International Criminal Court, and the U.S. State Department imposed sanctions on the individuals named in the report
Takeaway
Media innovation, diverse platforms and collaborations can contribute to reaching key audiences and gaining their trust.
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