Nikolaevskie Novosti: despite the destroyed newsroom, the newspaper remains a leader in retail trade

The newsroom of the Nikolaevskie Novosti [Mykolayiv News] newspaper survived two cruise missile attacks and a robbery in the period after February 24, 2022. Today, the property of the publication is partially destroyed and partially damaged. The newsroom uses only a small part of its premises for work, which has been brought into a decent shape.

“It is difficult when you come to your office and see it destroyed. It is a pity not only for the premises in which the windows and doors were removed but also for the furniture and journalistic equipment that were destroyed. It is also a pity for the paraphernalia from the seven Olympic Games and other competitions that I covered as a sports journalist,” Anatolii Bilonozhko, the head of the publication, said in a comment for the NUJU press service. “Restoration of the office is in our dreams.”

But, despite the destroyed premises, Nikolaevskie Novosti did not stop working throughout the war.

“Although we were relocated in Odesa for two months, my wife Olha Tarabanova, who works in the newsroom as an executive secretary, and I constantly took turns coming to Mykolayiv,” the head of the publication recalls. “The website niknews.mk.ua, which has approximately 100,000 readers per month, worked continuously, and the newspaper suspended its publication only in the spring of 2022 when hostilities took place a few kilometers from Mykolayiv. As soon as the printing house resumed its work, we – in June 2022 – already resumed printing.”

Nikolaevskie Novosti, which before the full-scale war was published in a mixed Ukrainian-russian format three times a week (a sports edition on Tuesday, a general political edition on Wednesday, and a TV show on Thursday), has now become a weekly. They are preparing to completely switch to the Ukrainian language. Of the 12-14 pre-war employees, half remained in the publication – some are in Mykolayiv, and some work remotely.

PHOTO: NN’s newsroom before the war

“As before, many of our publications are dedicated to sports topics… Despite the fact that sports competitions are not held in front-line Mykolayiv,” sighs Anatolii Bilonozhko. “But people want to see the success of our basketball and football teams… Despite the war.”

All newspaper staff, including chief accountant Iryna Yastrebova, simultaneously write journalistic materials and perform other editorial duties.

“For example, I am not only the director and editor-in-chief but also a correspondent, photographer, manager, freight forwarder, driver, and porter,” Anatolii Bilonozhko says with a smile.

The publication, which is focused on retail sales, continues to be the leader in this type of distribution of the newspaper – despite the fact that there are only two kiosks that sell the press left in Mykolayiv. Circulation, which before the war reached 10,000 per week, has now fallen to 1,500 copies (though, sometimes, special editions with a circulation of 3,000-10,000 are published). Newspapers are sold at takeaway points and shops. At the same time, they are conducting a subscription for 2024, although they consider the tariffs of Ukrposhta unfair.

“We tried to establish retail trade in Ukrposhta branches, but this experience, unfortunately, was unsuccessful,” says Anatolii Bilonozhko. “Ukrposhta will accept at least 100,000 newspapers, take a commission for it, and then show you 99 percent of the write-off.”

Now, when the “old cash reserves” have been exhausted, the newspaper lives on the help of donor organizations, modest agreements to cover the activities of local authorities, and proceeds from sales.

“In fact, there is no advertising in Mykolayiv. The economy of the city was destroyed by the war. Entrepreneurs either lost their business as a result of enemy shelling or closed it and left,” says the head of the publication. “We are not an exception: there were many enemy hits precisely into those points where there used to be brisk trade, including the press. One time after lunch, there were no people on the street at all…”

During the winter and the possible blackout, the Nikolaevskie Novosti newspaper needs the help of financial donors for operational support of the publication of the newspaper (payment of labor, services, etc.) and material support (newsprint, reliable computer equipment, voltage stabilizer, charging station, sources of uninterrupted current, etc.). The editors hope to direct the received financial and material resources into the current budget and the development budget.

“While asking for help, we still have a firm intention to restore our publication as a business. A business that should generate income!” Anatolii Bilonozhko says optimistically.

Maksym Stepanov, NUJU Information Service