This is first on Mastodon! Please boost this thread. It’s an important one.
Good morning to readers. Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands.
Some career news: I’m leaving NPR as part of the layoffs that dramatically reduced the company’s workforce.
I’ve decided to go back into Ukraine to keep reporting.
But this time, alone.
I’ll be launching a new email newsletter, ‘The Counteroffensive,’ to cover the war going forward.
There, you’ll find a direct connection to me and my reporting – whether you choose a free or paid subscription.
SIGN UP HERE NOW: https://counteroffensive.substack.com/p/the-first-substack-dedicated-exclusively
The Counteroffensive is the first Substack dedicated exclusively to war correspondence.
It will cover the spring Ukrainian counteroffensive.
But the name is meant to signify a broader campaign: against apathy, cynicism and ignorance about world events in general and the emergence of a new Cold War in particular.
Many of you know me as an #investigative correspondent and former U.S. #Army combat medic. And many of you have read along as we traveled to nearly every major #Ukrainian city.
I want to keep that conversation going.
After all…
... #Warcorrespondence is almost as old as #war itself.
As long as there have been humans fighting, those humans have wanted to find ways to bring their stories home.
In this second year of the devastating full-scale war between #Russia and #ukraine ...
...I’m looking to use modern means to satisfy these old instincts: a #Substack newsletter from a #warzone.
https://counteroffensive.substack.com/p/the-first-substack-dedicated-exclusively
If you subscribe to this #email #newsletter, what you’ll get is an open reporter’s notebook from the frontlines of an emerging #ColdWar:
War correspondence by subscription. You’ll get regular and intimate dispatches about what it’s like to cover the largest war in #Europe since WWII
Leaving a steady job at an established institution like #NPR for an unproven venture is a big bet.
It’s a bet that readers still care about the human toll that this war is taking.
It’s a bet against #cynicism, and #ignorance, and #apathy.
It’s a bet that there are enough of you out there to support an ambitious project like this.
As I was driving recently I listened to an #NPR interview with my colleague Michel Martin, explaining why she made a major career move.
“Be brave,” she said. “Do something hard.”
It’s in that spirit that I’m launching this dangerous and expensive venture.
Readers can't do anything about the danger, but they can help us have the gear we need to mitigate risk.
And they can help us not go into crushing debt in order to bring the news to the public.
Your support buys us what we need to report: #bodyarmor, #medicalkits, car rentals, #recording equipment, and #emergency supplies.
And it’s not just gear – hiring my #Ukrainian interpreter and partner Ross costs thousands of dollars a month.
But we are not asking for contributions for contribution's sake.
You get something powerful in return: reporting that serves a #publicinterest mission, that engages and educates.
During my time in Ukraine, I’ve cultivated sources in nearly every major Ukrainian city, including sources in many of the major Ukrainian national security institutions.
This has allowed me to track down the notorious Russian 53rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade -- known for its role in shooting down MH17.
I’ve tried to inform you through regular Twitter threads, starting with the catchphrase I first wrote in the first days of the invasion:
‘Kyiv Remains In Ukrainian Hands.’
By the way, should I keep using that opening line? #KyivRemains
Many of you already know me from my reporting on the war in Ukraine thus far. Together we’ve watched as the war unfolded, with disastrous effects on the civilian population.
Now I need your help for that to continue.
The internet is becoming a more difficult place for us to connect directly.
If you subscribe to my newsletter – either free or paid – we can engage more directly.
I will make every effort to answer questions and address comments from my subscribers. That's a guarantee.
And while I remain dedicated to Mastodon, the fuller reports, articles, features and investigations -- not to mention the comments and the chat rooms -- will be on the Substack.
And that will be where I spend much more of my time -- because it's what I need to make ends meet and raise the money to survive while reporting in a war zone.
I’ll make every effort to respond to your email, DM and chat messages.
If you subscribe, I write and work for you now.
Please sign up here: https://counteroffensive.substack.com/p/the-first-substack-dedicated-exclusively
Today’s dog of war is Rex, our new mascot. “Soldiers call each other ‘Rex’ when they are really impressed with how good you are — or sometimes they say it sarcastically when you’ve messed up,” said Ross, my interpreter and reporting partner.
Let’s hope for more Rexes of the former, and less of the latter.
@timkmak
I am sure he will make a great addition to other powerful mascots!
@kallekn I speak a little Ukrainian.
I'll be working with my Ukrainian partner, Ross.
Seems like substack has no plan for centralized moderation and the ceo majorly blundered an interview about it: https://www.techdirt.com/2023/04/14/substack-ceo-chris-best-doesnt-realize-hes-just-become-the-nazi-bar/ .
I don't think I'm "against" substack until I see that he's put those laughably bad non-answers into practice (and substack does become an avenue for hate speech) but that interview definitely did not paint them in a good light.
Hi to the two of you -- I've been trying to think of way folks could contribute without joining Substack.
There are a few items of safety gear we need. If you're willing to pitch in, we could get those paid for! https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3FMAKTUV6B7YU?ref_=wl_share
@timkmak Hi Tim. Thank you for your work. I subscribed to Counteroffensive as a paid user.
My one request to you is that you please keep sharing headlines and links here on Mastodon. I completely understand how some paid content remains locked to subscribers. I just prefer to get notified by Mastodon.
Thank you, and all the best and good luck to you. Looking forward to your coverage.
@anderspuck I have to be judicious about where I post. I spend usually 14-16 hours a day reporting and writing when I'm in Ukraine.
Every time I'm posting more, I'm spending time doing administrative work and not the journalism that I think is my competitive advantage!
@anderspuck I think that package deals are probably the next step: ie. you sign up for me and you get a whole package of writers.
Ultimately I can't make the math work. It costs $7,000 per month to report from Ukraine. It's expensive for subscriptions because it's expensive to report!
I hope you'll consider subscribing despite your reluctance about this. Even a free subscription helps!
@timkmak Wish you lots of success with this, Tim. As I've said before, I'd be happy if you posted just the featured pic + teaser here. That's already a lot more than what your colleagues do.
Above all: Stay safe in the danger zone!
@timkmak hard to say. There seems to be evolving things you could use. Bahkmut holds being the current (I hope, yesterday was grim) one.
Doesn't stand out as much I suppose but does give immediate information.
Tim, I definitely want to support your work but don’t use Substack and reluctant to feed yet another centralised media proxy - do you have any other channel like Patreon or something like that?
Tim Mak
Rob ⬛👁️⬛
it's B! Cavello 🐝
DanFell
Bruce Acton 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦
Jennifed
Nick from Toronto
Kalle Kniivilä
f*cking b*tch club
SamuelJohnson
maniajack
Jaanus K 🌻💙💛
Anders Puck Nielsen
katzenberger
Deb has moved! (see profile) 🇨🇦
excited for the mastodon rise
Laura Kosloff
Devin Canterberry
nopipbutcpip
Natalie Davis 🇺🇸🇵🇹🇺🇦
kravietz 🦇