Mayak was founded 11 years ago in Odesa as an Odesa city magazine — at the time, the team of journalists felt that the city lacked a resource without crime reports and with a minimal dose of politics. This was the first task of the new media outlet, but over time it began to get more complicated and take on new goals. Now Mayak is a Ukrainian niche magazine about social trends: psychology, human rights, the urban environment, culture, evidence-based medicine, and history. Its mission is to explain to readers how the environment in which they live is changing, to record transformations, and to give a voice to those who are not usually heard.
“We see from our publications how society is changing and what is considered the norm. Eight years ago, publishing material about a gay couple meant receiving dozens, if not hundreds, of comments containing hate speech, but now the overwhelming majority of comments are words of support,” says Mayak editor-in-chief Taina Fedoseeva.
For several years, the team has been telling stories about Odesa, its history and present day. About why it is so important for Odesa to create its own brand that is not based on the thoughtless use of the old semi-criminal myth about the city. About what Odesa offers its residents, investors and tourists, and why it is important to talk about it.
Over time, the media began to cover broader topics and go beyond the scope of a city magazine, experimenting not only with topics but also with formats. For example, a series of historical animated documentary videos about female subjectivity appeared on YouTube — about the perception of the female body, women in science, and so on. Two videos received over 150,000 views.
‘We love and know how to tell stories, and one of our main goals is to show how people who are different from the majority live in our society,’ says Taina. “That’s why we often raise taboo topics and fight stigma by bringing what was previously invisible into the spotlight of public opinion. Comments like “I thought I was the only one going through this, but after reading your article, I realise that’s not the case!” are our main reward. We want to share the diverse experiences of Ukrainians, because recognising that these experiences exist is the path to unity and acceptance of one another.”
What Mayak does best. Examples
- Talking about architecture and urban planning, discussing problematic issues with experts and structuring the narrative in such a way that it is interesting even to those who are not familiar with the topic. A story about the greening of Ukrainian cities and what prevents them from being more beautiful.
- Creating in-depth historical articles, videos, and interviews, explaining where our social norms came from and how they were formed. How old is Odesa and why is there confusion about this?
Talking about science in simple language, debunking myths about health, nutrition, and magical thinking. How science is working on regeneration for people. What is Mercury retrograde from a scientific point of view. - Cover and popularise mental health topics, destigmatise mental disorders, etc. Interview with renowned psychologist Illia Poludenny about how Ukrainians can stop devaluing other people’s traumatic experiences during the war.
After the full-scale invasion, the media staff was reduced, so the team decided to focus their efforts on one platform and develop the magazine’s Instagram page, where they can publish articles in slide format and animated videos. Mayak currently has over 34,000 followers, including bloggers with millions of followers, artists, actors, and documentary filmmakers. The website, Telegram, and Facebook have been put on hold, and the website now serves as an archive of materials from previous years.
Due to the liquidation of USAID and the reduction in the number of grants, Mayak has lost its sources of income and is turning to donors who value the values conveyed by the media for support. It is the media that sets the tone for public discourse and influences the collective perception of ‘normality’ or ‘otherness.’
How can you support the team?
Subscriptions
https://www.patreon.com/c/mayakua
One-time donations
