Zakhar Protsiuk, Chief Operating Officer of The Kyiv Independent, has been recognized in the International News Media Association's 2026 30 Under 30 Awards. Protsiuk was honored for his role in growing the news organization's reader revenue and membership base.
The recognition of Protsiuk highlights the growing importance of reader revenue models in sustaining independent journalism, particularly in challenging geopolitical environments.
Zakhar Protsiuk, Chief Operating Officer of The Kyiv Independent, has been recognized in the International News Media Association's (INMA) 2026 30 Under 30 Awards. The awards celebrate young professionals making significant contributions to the news industry.
Protsiuk's responsibilities at The Kyiv Independent include overseeing reader revenue, product development, marketing, and communications. He has been instrumental in building and expanding the newsroom's reader-funded business model. Under his leadership, the publication's paying membership has grown from 6,000 to over 35,000, with reader revenue now accounting for more than 70% of the organization's overall budget.
Daryna Shevchenko, CEO of The Kyiv Independent, praised Protsiuk's contributions, stating, "Zakhar was the first person to join me on the business side of the Kyiv Independent, and more than four years later, he remains one of our greatest assets." She highlighted his work in building a unique team around the reader revenue model, his adaptability in reinventing the model, and his ability to unite the team around community and innovation.
Prior to his role at The Kyiv Independent, Protsiuk co-founded The Fix Media, a publication focused on the news industry, and served as a partner at Jnomics, where he advised over 20 publishers on audience and business strategies. His work at The Kyiv Independent has centered on establishing a sustainable model for independent journalism that relies on reader support.
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