During the last three years, media-savvy mayor of Latvia’s capital Riga, contradicting his own statements, has spent more than 8 million euros of taxpayer money on promoting himself. This money has been spent buying up airtime, employing people in youth organizations connected to the ruling party, and promoting mayor on social networks.
INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM NEEDS INDEPENDENT FINANCING
Investigative journalism is not an expensive hobby. It is a trade: often lonely, sometimes brave, full-time job which requires both time and money. It is expensive and thus become the first victim when traditional media face crisis. But without it we cannot understand the world around us and held the powers responsible.
We do it as a non-profit organisation which raises money itself and gives investigations to traditional media and publishes them online for free access.
We as editors are the only ones who decide what we are going to investigate because we - and not the advertisers or owners - think it is important topic for the Baltic societies. Thus we can investigate social inequality, corruption, abuses of power or money laundering.
We look for grants and earn ourselves via teaching, moderating events and researching scripts for films. But it takes away time we need for doing journalism.
Therefore we need you to donate and become part of Re:Baltica's community!
Now you can also donate through Mobilly!