A dedicated physical space for exiled media professionals, developed to create a secure and supportive co-working environment. This location serves as a crucial resource, providing essential support for media workers in exile and their families.
The SSE Riga Media Hub in Riga, Latvia, was established in response to a rapidly escalating demand for safe working environments and support networks among Russian-speaking journalists, media professionals, and activists in exile. From 2018 onward, the Baltic region, particularly Riga, emerged as a refuge for journalists forced to flee Russia, Azerbaijan, and several Central Asian countries due to threats of imprisonment, violence, or worse, as a result of their investigative and critical work. The Stockholm School of Economics in Riga (SSE Riga) recognized this need early on and began developing the foundation for a SSE Riga Media Hub that would meet these unique and pressing needs.
Starting in 2020, SSE Riga collaborated with prominent partners, including the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), Meduza, and Re:Baltica that led to a concept of shared, secure workspace. This concept, driven by a dedication to journalistic integrity, laid the groundwork for the SSE Riga Media Hub – a place where exiled media professionals could not only continue their work safely but also find community and support through shared experiences.