In this week’s episode, we’re joined by Zuzana Vlasatá, an investigative reporter and head of the reporting unit at Deník Referendum, along with Jakub Patočka, the founder and editor-in-chief of the organization. Established in 2009, Deník Referendum set out to transform the Czech media landscape by highlighting underreported issues like social injustice and environmental concerns.

Deník Referendum is an independent, online newspaper in the Czech Republic. In 2014, they launched a dedicated reporting unit, which has since become their flagship, delving deep into investigative journalism with a particular focus on Czech oligarchs.

This commitment to uncovering the truth is one of the reasons why Deník Referendum operates without a paywall. “I believe that people should have free access to important information,” says Patočka. The organization is primarily funded by small donors, who contribute to half of their budget, with the remainder covered by collaborative projects and grants.

Over the years, sustaining the publication has been a significant challenge. “You don’t join Deník Referendum to get rich,” Patočka jokes. One investigation, in particular, nearly led to bankruptcy. However, their perseverance and dedication paid off—donations tripled after the story was published.

Their approach to encouraging people to register and donate? By, amongst others, exposing the truth in cases where citizens have been betrayed by the state and authorities. “People hate being lied to. Proving that authorities are lying is at the heart of journalism, and it’s something people see and respond to,” Vlasatá explains. While this strategy is not foolproof, Vlasatá emphasizes that their goal is to remain steadfast in upholding the organization’s core values.

Tune in to this episode to dive deeper into their story and also discover how they’re experimenting with innovative solutions to enhance engagement and build stronger relationships with their readers and community.