Editing Kyiv Post (section)

==History==
American Jed Sunden founded the ''Kyiv Post'' weekly newspaper on 18 October 1995 and later created [[KP Media]] for his holdings.<ref name="dateob"/> The newspaper, which went online in 1997, serves Ukrainian and expatriate readers with a general interest mix of political, business and entertainment coverage.

Historically, the editorial policy has supported democracy, Western integration and free markets for Ukraine. It has published numerous investigative stories, including coverage of the 2000 murder of journalist [[Georgiy Gongadze]], in which ex-Ukrainian President [[Leonid Kuchma]] is a prime suspect; the 2004 [[Orange Revolution]], in which a massive public uprising blocked [[Viktor Yanukovych]] from taking power as president after the rigged presidential election of 26 November 2004; the 2013–14 [[EuroMaidan]] Revolution that overthrew Yanukovych as president; the [[Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation|Russian invasion of Crimea]]; the [[War in Donbas|war in the Donbas region]]; and Oligarch Watch.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kyivpost.com/hot/oligarch-watch|title=Oligarch Watch Archives - KyivPost|date=6 November 2021 }}</ref>

On 8 November 2021, the paper's website published a statement by owner Adnan Kivan announcing the temporary halt in operations of the newspaper claiming "One day, we hope to reopen the newspaper bigger and better." Reporters at the ''Kyiv Post'' replied in a joint statement that the sudden closure came on the heels of Kivan's attempt to "infringe" on their editorial independence.<ref name="rferl.org">[https://www.rferl.org/a/kyiv-post-closed-kivan/31551747.html Ukraine's Top English-Language Newspaper Suddenly Shut Down Amid Owner-Staff Dispute] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220309072000/https://www.rferl.org/a/kyiv-post-closed-kivan/31551747.html |date=2022-03-09 }}, [[Radio Free Europe]] (8 November 2021)</ref> Some of these reporters founded a new English-language publication named ''[[The Kyiv Independent]],'' which is funded by donations and published its first newsletter on 26 November 2021,<ref>{{Cite news |title=Staff Of Shuttered English-Language Kyiv Post Launches New Media Project |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/kyiv-post-staff-new-project/31573725.html |access-date=2021-12-01 |newspaper=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |date=22 November 2021 |language=en}}</ref> and its website on December 2.<ref>{{Cite web |title=It is happening! The Kyiv Independent's website is live: kyivindependent.com As the Kyiv Post remains dormant, we are taking up the torch. Ukraine is no longer without a global voice. We thank Dudka.Agency for developing the website pro bono. |url=https://twitter.com/kyivindependent/status/1466386937951010816 |access-date=2021-12-03 |website=Twitter |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Kyiv Independent |url=https://kyivindependent.com/ |access-date=2021-12-03 |website=[[The Kyiv Independent]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Kivan later stated he intended to make the newspaper more advertisement-friendly.<ref name="Mackinnon"/>

On 11 November 2021, Luc Chénier, whose background is in advertisement, was appointed as new CEO on the ''Kyiv Post''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 November 2021 |title=Luc Chenier again in charge of Kyiv Post |url=https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/779113.html |access-date= |website=[[Interfax-Ukraine]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Mackinnon"/> On 24 December 2021, Bohdan Nahaylo was appointed as new editor and the paper resumed publication.<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 December 2021 |title=Bohdan Nahaylo Named as Acting Chief Editor of Kyiv Post |url=https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/bohdan-nahaylo-named-as-acting-chief-editor-of-kyiv-post.html |access-date= |website=Kyiv Post}}</ref>

In 2024 Following the passing of Adnan Kivan, ownership of the newspaper passed to his son, Ruslan Kivan, who continues to develop the media project while maintaining its editorial independence and expanding its international presence as Ukraine’s true global voice.

=== Ownership history ===
[[File:Kyiv Post new logo.jpg|thumb|Kyiv Post current logo since 2022]]
The ''Kyiv Post'' has only had three owners in its existence: Jed Sunden, an American; [[Mohammad Zahoor]], a British businessman of Pakistani origin; and [[Adnan Kivan]], a native of [[Syria]].<ref name="kadorrgroup.com">{{Cite web|url=https://kadorrgroup.com/about?lang=en|title=About|website=KADORR Group: официальный сайт Кадор Групп в Одессе}}</ref> In October 2024, Adnan Kivan died, and his son, Ruslan Kivan, took over as the publisher of Kyiv Post as well as Kadorr Group.

Sunden's KP Media sold the newspaper to British citizen Zahoor on July 28, 2009.<ref>[http://www.kyivpost.com/news/nation/detail/53258/ Letter from the publisher] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120608204753/http://www.kyivpost.com/news/nation/detail/53258 |date=2012-06-08 }}, ''Kyiv Post'' (November 19, 2009)</ref><ref>{{cite journal|author=Natalya Ryabinska|title=The Media Market and Media Ownership in Post-Communist Ukraine|journal=Problems of Post-Communism|date=November–December 2011|volume=58 |issue=6|pages=3–20|doi=10.2753/PPC1075-8216580601 |s2cid=155910833 |url=https://ukraine.mom-rsf.org/fileadmin/Editorial/Ukraine/Documents/D-5.pdf}}</ref> Zahoor owns the ISTIL Group and is a former steel mill owner in [[Donetsk]].<ref>[http://www.kyivpost.com/news/nation/detail/46204/ Mohammad Zahoor buys Kyiv Post for an estimated $1.1 million] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605111640/http://www.kyivpost.com/news/nation/detail/46204/ |date=2011-06-05 }}, ''Kyiv Post'' (July 30, 2009)</ref> Zahoor published the newspaper through his Public Media company. In an interview with the ''Kyiv Post'' published on August 6, 2009, Zahoor pledged to revive the newspaper and adhere to its tradition of editorial independence.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/zahoor-robust-media-vital-46583.html|title=Zahoor: Robust Media Vital|work=KyivPost|date=6 August 2009 }}</ref>

On 21 March 2018, Odesa-based businessman Adnan Kivan,<ref name="kadorrgroup.com" /> a Syrian native and Ukrainian citizen, purchased the ''Kyiv Post'' from Zahoor for a selling price both said was more than $3.5 million. Kivan pledged editorial independence of journalists in an interview <ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-03-26|title=Kyiv Post publisher Adnan Kivan: I will 'preserve editorial independence' of newspaper {{!}} KyivPost - Ukraine's Global Voice|url=https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/kyiv-post-publisher-adnan-kivan-will-preserve-editorial-independence-newspaper.html|access-date=2020-07-19|website=KyivPost}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/new-kyiv-post-publisher-adnan-kivan-without-independent-journalism-cannot-get-democracy.html|title=New Kyiv Post publisher Adnan Kivan: 'Without independent journalism you cannot get democracy'|date=March 30, 2018|last1=Bonner|first1=Brian|website=Kyiv Post|url-status=live|archive-date=26 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201226025715/https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/new-kyiv-post-publisher-adnan-kivan-without-independent-journalism-cannot-get-democracy.html}}</ref> with ''Kyiv Post'' former Chief Editor Brian Bonner.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kyivpost.com/article/opinion/op-ed/brian-bonner-take-multiple-choice-quiz-kyiv-posts-new-owner.html|title=Brian Bonner: Take the multiple choice quiz about Kyiv Post's new owner &#124; KyivPost - Ukraine's Global Voice|date=26 March 2018 }}</ref> The newspaper is operated by his Businessgroup LLC. Kivan owns the KADORR Group of companies that specializes in construction and agriculture. His wife, Olga, and three children participate in his business. He used to be active in metals trading in the Black Sea port city from 1991-2007. In October 2024, Adnan Kivan suddenly passed away leaving the company to his son Ruslan Kivan to take over as CEO of Kyiv Post and Kadorr Group.

Sunden created the newspaper in the early years following the collapse of the Soviet Union, starting with $8,000 in capital, three computers and a staff of seven people working from a small flat in [[Kyiv]]. The first 16-page issue was put out by an editorial staff of two people. Sunden built the newspaper into a profitable enterprise, one that served the needs of the expatriate community that then regarded Ukraine as a potential hotspot for investment. During Sunden's tenure, he held to [[libertarian]] and anti-Communist views on the editorial and opinion pages, but established the business model of editorial independence on the news pages. He said the policy is good for business and news. Sunden was controversial for allowing paid "massage" advertisements from women engaging in ‘escort’ services.

After Zahoor bought the newspaper, he retained the entire editorial team. One of his first acts as publisher, however, was to eliminate the paid "massage" advertisements, saying he didn't want to own a newspaper that promoted ‘escort’ services. Zahoor sustained the policy of editorial independence, with limited exceptions. After the newspaper's editors endorsed [[Yulia Tymoshenko]] over [[Viktor Yanukovych]] for president in the [[2010 Ukrainian presidential election]], the publisher issued a policy to forbid editorial endorsements of any political candidate or political party, saying the newspaper should remain non-partisan even on its opinion pages. Zahoor relaxed the policy during the May 25, [[2014 Ukrainian presidential election|2014 presidential election]], when he and his wife, singer-actress [[Kamaliya]], came out publicly in strong support of billionaire Ukrainian businessman [[Petro Poroshenko]]'s election as president. While the newspaper was free to endorse any candidate for the election, its editorial board made no endorsement in the contest that Poroshenko easily won.

Zahoor's purchase and significant investment improved a newspaper that had been badly battered by the [[global recession of 2008-2009]], a sharp downturn that struck the ''Kyiv Post'' particularly hard in October–November 2008. The ''Kyiv Post'' lost advertising and cut costs, but still ended the year in the black, the last profitable year of its existence. In the last months under Sunden in 2009, the newspaper's editorial staff shrunk to 12 members, its page count to 16 and its print distribution to 6,000 copies.

Zahoor invested in journalists, increased distribution and improved newsprint. He boosted the page count—to 32 pages through much of 2010–2011, dropping back to 24 pages again through much of 2012-2013 and then to 16 or 24 pages since then. However, despite the investments, the ''Kyiv Post'' never regained consistent profitability, despite further staff and cost cuts, as print advertising continued to shrink, especially in the once all-important sector of employment advertising. However, combined with Zahoor's subsidies, the newspaper has been able to minimize financial losses through special publications, such as the Legal Quarterly, Real Estate and Doing Business supplements, as well as special events, including the annual Tiger Conference<ref>{{cite web|url=http://projects.kyivpost.com/tiger/|title=Tiger Conference – Tiger Conference}}</ref> and others. The start of an affiliated nongovernmental organization, the Media Development Foundation,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/mdfoundationUA/|title=Media Development Foundation - Facebook|website=[[Facebook]] }}</ref> also raises money for independent journalism.

Kivan's first six months as owner have also seen renewed investment as the ''Kyiv Post'' hired three new foreign correspondents - Iryna Somer in [[Brussels]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kyivpost.com/author/iryna-somer|title=Iryna Somer, Author at KyivPost|website=KyivPost|language=en-US|access-date=2018-09-20}}</ref> Askold Krushelnycky, a former chief editor of the ''Kyiv Post'', in Washington, D.C.; and Olena Goncharova in Edmonton, Canada. Somer left her Brussels position at the end of 2018.

In 2024, following the passing of Adnan Kivan, ownership of the newspaper passed to his son, Ruslan Kivan, who continues to develop the media project while maintaining its editorial independence and expanding its international presence.

=== EuroMaidan Revolution and war in the Donbas ===
In 2013, the ''Kyiv Post'' covered what became known as the [[Euromaidan]], which began on November 21, 2013, triggered by then-President [[Viktor Yanukovych]]'s broken promise to sign a political and economic association agreement with the [[European Union]]. The ''Kyiv Post'' published hundreds of stories in print and online about the revolution, which ended in Yanukovych fleeing to Russia on February 21–22, 2014. The first ''Kyiv Post'' story about the revolution was published on November 22, 2013.<ref>{{cite web |date=21 February 2016 |title=Nine years after start of Orange Revolution, Kyivans take to streets in protest of scuttled EU deal |url=http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/nine-years-after-start-of-orange-revolution-kyivans-take-to-streets-in-protest-of-scuttled-eu-deal-332282.html |work=KyivPost}}</ref>

After Yanukovych and many members of his government took up exile in Russia, the ''Kyiv Post'' covered the formation of an interim Ukrainian government, the Russian annexation of Crimea on February 27, 2014, the start of the [[War in Donbas (2014–2022)|war in the Donbas]] in April 2014 and the May 25, 2014, election of [[Petro Poroshenko]] as independent Ukraine's fifth president after Yanukovych (2010–2014), [[Viktor Yushchenko]] (2005–2010), [[Leonid Kuchma]] (1994–2005) and [[Leonid Kravchuk]] (1991–1994).

=== Website, paywall and social media ===
The ''Kyiv Post'' launched its website in 1997 under Sunden. Currently, the website is updated seven days a week, approximately 10 hours a day, and includes ''Kyiv Post'' exclusive content, news and photos from wire services and aggregated articles from other news sources about Ukraine.

The ''Kyiv Post'' launched an online paywall in March 2013. The erection of the paywall became financially necessary because of the decline in print advertising in the newspaper industry generally, including at the ''Kyiv Post''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Brian Bonner: News is not free, no longer is Kyiv Post |url=http://www.kyivpost.com/opinion/op-ed/news-is-not-free-no-longer-is-kyiv-post-321439.html |work=KyivPost}}</ref> During times of intense national crisis, such as the [[Euromaidan]] Revolution and the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]], the ''Kyiv Post'' has relaxed its paywall and made its coverage available freely for a limited amount of time. The website currently provides many categories of stories for free, including its aggregated content, its opinions and editorials and its multimedia offerings, including video, cartoons and photo galleries.

In October 2014, the ''Kyiv Post'' started a Reform Watch project to track the progress under President Petro Poroshenko and Prime Minister [[Arseniy Yatsenyuk]] in eliminating corruption and bureaucratic obstacles to democratic progress and economic growth.

In November 2021 the online paywall was removed to allow more democratic access to all readers around the world and to help elevate its viewership at such a critical time in Ukraine’s history. This strategic move by Luc Chenier, CEO of ''Kyiv Post'' would help increase ''Kyiv Post''’s digital revenue by focusing on western audiences where markets such as the USA generally pay more for views on a programmatic platform.

In June 2022 the [[Ukrainian language|Ukrainian version]] of the site was launched.

In December 2022, ''Kyiv Post'' launched a completely redesigned website.

=== Threats to existence ===
The ''Kyiv Post'' withstood numerous threats to its existence from 1995. According to audiotapes released by Mykola Melnychenko, bodyguard to ex-President Leonid Kuchma, then-tax inspector [[Mykola Azarov]] talked about conducting tax audits of the newspaper and other news outlets that criticized the administration. Azarov went on to become prime minister under President Viktor Yanukovych. He has since fled abroad and is now on Ukraine's wanted list on suspicion of massive corruption.

The ''Kyiv Post'' faced and overcame three distinct political threats to its survival during the administration of President Viktor Yanukovcyh (February 27, 2010 – February 22, 2014).

*The first came when Ukrainian billionaire oligarch [[Dmytro Firtash]] filed a libel lawsuit against the ''Kyiv Post'' in the United Kingdom over a July 2, 2010, story about corruption in the gas trade industry.<ref>{{cite web |date=July 2010 |title=Gas trade leaves trail of lawsuits, corruption |url=http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/gas-trade-leaves-trail-of-lawsuits-corruption-71733.html |work=kyivpost.com}}</ref> One December 14, 2010, the ''Kyiv Post'' began blocking all internet traffic from the [[United Kingdom]] (UK) as a protest against [[English defamation law]]<ref>[http://www.kyivpost.com/uk.htm Kyiv Post homepage] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110120122642/http://www.kyivpost.com/uk.htm |date=2011-01-20 }} accessed 2011-01-20 from the UK</ref> and the Firtash libel lawsuit in the United Kingdom. The case was dismissed on February 24, 2011 because the UK court believed Firtash had no major connection with the country<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 25, 2011 |title=London Judge Dismisses Firtash Lawsuit Against Kyiv Post – Feb. 25, 2011 |url=https://www.kyivpost.com/article/content/ukraine-politics/london-judge-dismisses-firtash-lawsuit-against-kyi-98290.html |website=KyivPost}}</ref> and the UK block was dropped later that year.<ref>[http://www.varsity.co.uk/news/3339 A libel without a cause] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180922024347/https://www.varsity.co.uk/news/3339 |date=2018-09-22 }}, ''[[Varsity (Cambridge)|Varsity]]'' (24th February 2011)</ref>
<!--*The second threat came in the form of indirect, but sustained, pressure on the ''Kyiv Post'' to soften its news coverage of Yanukovych. The threat came to a head on April 15, 2011, when Zahoor fired Bonner for publishing an interview with a government minister despite the owner's request to drop it, allegedly under pressure from government officials. Journalists on the paper went on strike in protest. Zahoor reinstated Bonner as an editor on April 20, 2011, ending the strike. The weekly newspaper never missed a print issue during the work stoppage and Bonner, who has served as chief editor since June 2008, remained on the job until April 30, 2013.<ref>{{cite news |author=Richard Balmforth |date=18 August 2011 |title=Journalists strike in Ukraine after editor fired |publisher=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/ukraine-newspaper-idUSLDE73H0HC20110418 |access-date=24 November 2012}}
</ref> However, there was controversy after Bonner's reinstatement, when two journalists who did not sign the petition in support of him left the newspaper. Bonner did not provide a reason for their departures, with sources indicating it was due to the two withholding their endorsement of him.<ref>{{cite web |title=No clarity as to why two Kyiv Post journalists were sacked |url=http://khpg.org.ua/en/index.php?id=1303679456 |work=khpg.org.ua}}</ref>-->
*The second threat came in the form of at least two offers to buy the newspaper from businessmen close to Yanukovych. Zahoor refused both offers, citing his desire to keep the newspaper editorially independent.

However, the biggest threat may be economic, not political. Many Central and Eastern European English-language newspapers, including ''[[The Moscow Times]]'', ''[[The Prague Post]]'' and ''[[The Sofia Echo]]'', have ceased their print publications in light of falling advertising demand and changing readership patterns online. America media analyst Ken Doctor chronicled the ''Kyiv Post''{{'s}} challenges in an April 17, 2014, article.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Newsonomics of the Kyiv Post's Embattled Work |url=http://newsonomics.com/the-newsonomics-of-the-kyiv-posts-embattled-work/ |access-date=2015-04-24}}</ref>

The ''Kyiv Post'' also was featured in the September/October 2014 edition of the [[Columbia Journalism Review]]. Under the headline, the "Kyiv Post's unlikely success" author Oliver Bullough writes that: <blockquote>The more you learn about the ''Kyiv Post'', the more you realize how remarkable it is that it holds its own against these [other media] behemoths. Its newsroom budget is less than $25,000 a month. It has but 19 editorial staff; it has faced repeated attacks from regime-allied oligarchs. The fact its reporting survives at all, let alone flourishes, comes down to the unlikeliest of pairings: a journalist from Minnesota and an Anglo-Pakistani billionaire. Each has his own reasons for loving Ukraine, and the Post brought them together.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kyiv Post's unlikely success |url=https://www.cjr.org/feature/kyiv_post_success.php |access-date=2015-04-24}}</ref></blockquote>

===Temporary shut down and breakaway The Kyiv Independent===

On 8 November 2021, the newspaper was temporarily shut down after the editorial staff's disagreement with planned changes to the outlet led to the owner firing all reporters,<ref name="rferl.org"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Killeen |first1=Molly |title=Kyiv Post shut down, entire staff fired without warning |url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/digital/news/kyiv-post-shut-down-entire-staff-fired-without-warning/ |access-date=9 November 2021 |work=www.euractiv.com |date=9 November 2021}}</ref> many of whom then joined the newly-founded ''[[Kyiv Independent]]''. On 11{{nbsp}}November, Luc Chénier was announced as the new CEO of ''Kyiv Post''.<ref name=":0">[https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/779113.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211210220254/https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/779113.html|date=2021-12-10}} [[Interfax]] 911 November 2021)</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Cooper |first=Ann |date=2022-02-08 |title=Ukraine editor Olga Rudenko on starting Kyiv Independent as Russia amasses troops on border |url=https://cpj.org/2022/02/ukraine-editor-olga-rudenko-on-starting-kyiv-independent-as-russia-amasses-troops-on-border/ |access-date=2022-05-30 |website=Committee to Protect Journalists |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="Mackinnon">{{cite news |last1=Mackinnon |first1=Mark |title=How the shuttering of the Kyiv Post fuelled a journalism rebirth in Ukraine |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-how-the-shuttering-of-the-kyiv-post-fuelled-a-journalism-rebirth-in/ |work=The Globe and Mail |date=16 December 2021}}</ref>

On December 8, 2021, ''Kyiv Post'' resumed its digital operations and publication following a 1-month pause.