Okraj.cz is a Czech media outlet dedicated to empowering Moravian-Silesian communities through independent, investigative and ethical journalism. During the New Media Incubator, they refined their Council Notes newsletter project: By delivering accessible newsletters and podcasts, Okraj simplifies complex council decisions, providing stakeholders and activists with impactful, contextual analyses for accountability and reshaping regional stereotypes.
“We go there, so you don’t have to”
Czechia’s Moravian-Silesian region is affected by many socio-political issues, including post-industrial challenges, population decline, marginalised and minoritised communities and an inclination towards populism and extremism. At the same time, the region is overlooked by traditional media – until recently, critical stories remained unreported, and the people who needed a voice didn’t have a microphone. Founded in 2024, Okraj set out to change this by covering regional issues in depth and amplifying local voices.
When conducting audience research, Okraj quickly found out that their readers are most interested in local politics. Addressing this need, the team designed the Council Notes project: Under the motto “We go there, so you don’t have to”, they started to cover local council meetings and make their outcomes accessible. Okraj’s reporting is comprehensive, going beyond just describing the decisions politicians take. To provide contextual and impactful analysis, they deliberately shine a light on the atmosphere and behaviour at the meetings, the relations between politicians, how they follow democratic principles, etc.
An inspiring story of local growth and impact
Initially, Okraj attended meetings in Ostrava, Havirov, as well as a regional counsel meeting. But with the growing success of the project, the outlet now runs 17 newsletters from 6 different city councils and several regional councils, as well as a podcast on the decline of democratic principles. Okraj has reached over 60 paid subscribers to their newsletters – 34% of which paying for annual subscription – and has secured two large-scale, private donors. Going forward, they will evaluate whether to stick with a classic subscription model or use a more community-based approach.
In terms of audience engagement, the strongest driver is Okraj’s presence on the ground: Communicating with politicians, citizens, and sources at city council meetings, they are close to the people and the issues they cover. And demand for coverage remains strong, as people continue to write to the outlet, asking them to visit their towns.
As a follow-up to these successes, the team plans to continue audience research tied to community building: Ahead of municipal elections in October, they will set up a “party tent” in small cities in the region and gather insights directly from citizens, including on what they want to ask politicians and how follow-up on the findings from Okraj’s newsletters should look.
“Thanks to Council Notes, Okraj has covered a range of topics that shed light not only on the communication of individual local governments but also on related issues, including questionable management of public funds and a lack of transparency toward citizens. We would like to thank IPI and all the participants of the New Media Incubator for endless inspiration on how to handle journalism innovation, and to our mentor Khalil, who helped us find direction towards good business models and kept us on track,” says Jan Žabka.
The New Media Incubator is part of the Media Innovation Europe programme (MIE), made possible with the support of the European Union.
