‘You can’t just walk away’: It’s a crazy time to be a reporter in Russia. But these journalists can’t imagine themselves doing anything else.

2021 has been a bad year for Russian journalism. Numerous independent media outlets were declared "foreign agents," security officials raided the homes of reporters and editors, several media projects shut down entirely, and dozens of journalists left the country, fearing unlawful persecution. Meduza (the news site you're reading right now) was labeled a "foreign agent" in April, which forced us to restructure our operations. To stay afloat, we launched a crowdfunding campaign and a merch shop. We and other journalists need your support more than ever. Luckily, it's easy to make a contribution. In September, the brand Friend Function collaborated with Meduza to launch a special collection of clothes and accessories called "Pressa" (the Russian word for "the press") -- for those who believe in freedom of speech and want to show solidarity with independent newsrooms. We also asked our colleagues why they continue to work as journalists, in spite of it all. Here's what they told us. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/11/04/you-can-t-just-walk-away