Fundraising campaign launched to support Ukrainian journalists

A fundraising initiative has been launched to keep Burda Media Ukraine afloat amid the devastating war in the country. The GoFundMe campaign has so far raised around €9,000 and hopes to reach the €50,000 mark.

The campaign was launched by Frances Evans, former Director of International Marketing & Innovation at Burda International, to support publishing colleague Andrii Vdovichenko, who made a management buyout of Burda Media Ukraine in 2019. The goal of the fundraiser is to provide enough funds for the company to pay the salaries of the journalists and publishing staff while there is little or no revenue coming into the business.

“I have known Andrii personally and professionally for many years. He is a good person, a responsible employer, and wants to look after his team for as long as possible during this crisis,” Evans explains on the GoFundMe page that’s been set up.

The Burda Media Ukraine team is mainly based in Kyiv and the majority of its 104 employees – particularly the male employees – have remained in Ukraine. After the Russian invasion in February, the publisher could not bring out any printed publications or secure advertising until the middle of May.

Burda Media Ukraine – which usually publishes more than 25 local and international print and digital brands including Marie-Claire, Playboy, and Burda Style – is currently able to bring out six titles, while journalists continue to create and post digital content, covering topics such as psychological support, volunteering projects and how to behave in shelters.   

Another initiative to help the press in Ukraine is a GoFundMe page by The Fix media, in conjunction with other partners. You can find out more here.

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