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Dear FO° Reader, Fair Observer is developing a new model of citizen journalism without paywalls and without corporate sponsors. This is a daunting task, but we are not facing it alone. We rely on our readers, authors, advisors and supporters, and we also collaborate with like-minded partner institutions who share our mission of broadening the global conversation. In February 2021, we first met Sebastian Schäffer, from the Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe (IDM), a regional think tank based in Vienna, through another partner. His first piece was on Georgia, which is now becoming a hot topic again. Since then, he has contributed several pieces, mainly about his main area of expertise, Ukraine, including future scenarios on how the war could develop. Even though he wrote them in March 2022, he still uses them in presentations and has even adapted and expanded them for other publications. FO° Talks: Where Is Ukraine Headed Now? What Does Europe Think?   Fair Observer and IDM decided to form a media partnership. We republished IDM’s podcast series and we published and interviewed many of IDM’s expert colleagues. Malwina Talik shed light on the Belarusian regime’s cynical instrumentalization of refugees and other migrants to provoke a crisis on the border with the EU. Daniel Martinek chronicled the return of illiberal Slovak leader Robert Fico, and Romain Le Quiniou wrote about the re-emerging Paris–Berlin–Warsaw triangle. IDM helps Fair Observer broaden the spotlight, exchange diverse ideas and challenge Western-centric perspectives. Together, we bring you the historical, political, and cultural context to make sense of Central and Eastern Europe. Yours sincerely, Anton Schauble Chief of Staff We are an independent nonprofit organization. We do not have a paywall or ads. We believe news must be free for everyone from Detroit to Dakar. Yet servers, images, newsletters, web developers and editors cost money. So, please become a recurring donor to keep Fair Observer free, fair and independent. Read from anywhere About Publish with FO FAQ Privacy Policy Terms of Use Contact