In this week’s newsletter, what does building an independent media business look like in Kazakhstan and what is its future? Join the next Virtual Newsroom Visits with Vlast.kz, on November 29 at 11:00 CET to find out.

🗓 Register to save your spot

The challenge: navigating unstable media landscape

Vlast.kz is one of the few independent Kazakh media outlets covering Kazakhstan’s political, social, economic, and cultural issues.

Since its foundation in Almaty in 2012, Vlast.kz has been publishing news, reportages, analyses, investigations, longreads, and expert opinions on the country and the world’s most important events. The outlet produces content in Kazakh, Russian and English languages.

However, doing media in Kazakhstan and in Central Asia is not easy. Vlast has been at the forefront of experimenting with finding new revenue, distribution strategies and product development. Today, their audience is both local and global. The media’s publications analyze events, give a platform to those whose voices are not heard, promote dialogue, and raise questions.

 What is the approach behind it? 

The solution: Expanding your reach and audience

Since 2022 Vlast.kz is a member of the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) network where together with media outlets from around the world Vlast team works on international investigation projects like Pandora Papers, The Pegasus Project, Suisse Secrets, Uncensored: The Kyrgyzstan Project, Dubai Unlocked and The Shadow Investor.

In 2024 its founder and CEO Vyacheslav Abramov became a member of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), being the first investigative journalist from Kazakhstan having joined the network.

Vlast does not belong to oligarchs or politicians. It is founded by journalists who consider their work important. Despite the challenging media context in the country, Vlast has continued to freely cover events in Kazakhstan in the interest of society for more than a decade. Join the Virtual Newsroom Visit to know how Vlast could

 We will talk about: 

  • Media landscape and political context in Kazakhstan
  • Why it is important to have access to accurate and reliable reporting from Kazakhstan and Central Asia
  • The story behind Vlast, current team, operational structure, revenue model
  • Where does Vlast strive to be in the future?
  • What are the possibilities and the worst-case scenario for independent media in Kazakhstan?

We will hear from: 

  • Vyacheslav Abramov, Founder and CEO
  • Vladislav Son, Publisher
  • Paolo Sorbello, Editor

 🔗 Join the Virtual Newsroom Visit to learn more! 

Next Step Forward

Get to know the mission, the team and the story of Vlast.kz.

Innovation Deck