Why Ukrainian journalism matters

If murder won't work, try crying libel

July 15, 2004 | The beheading of Georgi Gongadze, a crusading journalist who uncovered corruption and cronyism in the Ukrainian government, couldn't silence Ukrayinska Pravda, the muckraking Web site he founded. ...

Still, Ukrayinska Pravda's breed of outspoken opposition journalism is unusual in the post-Soviet Ukraine, which suffers from state censorship of its broadcast and print media.

"Internet was and still is the only place without censorship," explains Prytula, sipping coffee in a Starbucks in San Francisco.

The Internet has drastically lowered barriers to entry and guarantees a free press as long as there is someone left alive to do the work.

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