Journo Birds

15/10/2025

The thing we forget when we work remotely...
Hi, Marian, the head of Journo Birds here.

I found myself repeating something during our team meeting that I think many of us need to hear more often:
“You are not alone.”

Just because we don’t sit next to each other doesn’t mean we’re not working together. It’s easy to forget that when you’re in your own head, trying to do your best. But you don’t have to do it alone.

A long time ago, in a real, physical newsroom, I used to turn to our editors and other journalists. We would talk through our stories. Even if sometimes I didn't know where the story was headed, I would get clarity by just sharing your thought process. I’d stop mid-sentence, ask questions, you know... having a human, messy conversation. Just to get things moving. With AI-powered remote work, many of us think we are expected to submit ready-made, perfect texts and videos.
But it shouldn't be the case! There is still a lot of value in verbally sharing ideas with another human.

That’s what the other team members are here for.

Call them. Send them a rambling, not-quite-knowing-where-this-will-lead voice message. Or why not meet them even?! Talk through your idea even if it doesn’t have a point yet. That’s how it starts. That’s what makes a great story. Because even if AI and your own mind can bring great output, in the end, it's another human you are creating for. Another actual human will look at or read your story. So involve them in the process!

We’re virtual. But we ARE working next to each other.
It just looks a little different.

Agree?

(For inspiration, here are photos of conversing humans. Lilia is filming)

22/09/2025

Next Sunday, Moldovans will choose their leaders and representatives for the next four years. The parliamentary elections are taking place.

These will be some of the most decisive elections in our history. For the first time, Moldova has cracked the door open to EU membership. There is a real, even if fragile, chance of joining the world’s largest trading bloc.

But will Moldovans choose this path?

Or will they be clever enough to ignore the very powerful Russian messaging machines? Last year, around 1 percent of Moldova's GDP came in from Moscow to influence the presidential election and EU referendum. This time, some experts estimate the number could be double.

Moldova is an invisible battleground.

And because of that, more journalists need support here. We decided to help and make their reporting easier.

Just over a week ago, we supported Norwegian journalists on the ground. And look what a powerful piece came out of it. So proud of them and the work we did together.

👉 Link to the article in the comments.
📬 Need support too? Contact us at info[at]journobirds[dot]com

08/09/2025

Should every story start with a human?

Here are two examples of the same story idea:

Example 1
A new initiative is preparing Moldova’s public sector for EU accession talks. It focuses on strengthening key state institutions and positioning the MDI as a premier EU training hub.

Example 2
On a grey morning in Chisinau, in a bare government room, Estonian diplomat Taavi Toom told Moldovan officials: “Join the EU for yourselves. For your children, your families, for cleaner air and food, for a better life.”

What’s the difference?
The first is just data. The second is humanized data.

Pure data, like Example 1, is useful for documentation. For recording, for reference, for Google. But if the goal is to create change (in thinking or in action), you need more than that. Nobody moves because of a fact. They move because of a feeling: hope, fear, anger, joy.

And if that’s the goal, we need to start with people. Humans bounce energy between each other like pool balls. And stories are the way that energy transforms.

So before you write, ask yourself: what’s the goal? If it’s to spark action or emotion, begin with a person. Lead with the most memorable quote, image, or moment. If it sticks with you, it will likely stick with others, too.

We are, after all, not that different, right?

29/08/2025

“I always had a lot of hunger,” Gleb Babiy told our journalist, Iurie Gandrabura. “Literal hunger and mental hunger. I just always wanted more.”

He has the confidence of a 22-year-old business owner who feels at home in Silicon Valley and New York.
But actually, he comes from a small, stateless place, Transnistria.

"I would write hundreds of personalized emails a day. Many of those people, when I came to San Francisco, reacted with ‘Oh my God, you’re real!’"

Read about the inspiring journey of someone who started with very little and built an empire.

https://www.moldovamatters.md/p/from-a-small-pharmacy-to-silicon

08/08/2025

One of the best things about Moldova is its lush countryside and deeply rooted farming traditions. Visiting the villages can feel like stepping back in time, a place where people still live closely with the land and animals, relying on them in ways many have forgotten.

But there is a side of Moldovan agriculture you do not often see, and it is not stuck in the past.

In our latest article for Startup Moldova, published in Moldova Matters, Iurie Gandrabura from Journo Birds writes:

“Moldovans don’t need to follow social media trends for green tech ideas. Almost everyone in Moldova is connected to the soil in the most literal sense.”

Agriculture remains vital to the country's economy, contributing 7.6 percent of GDP in 2023 and accounting for 45 percent of national exports, mainly to EU markets such as Romania, Italy, and Germany.

Moldova’s growth in oilseeds, fruits, and wine reflects a sector that is both traditional and quietly evolving.

https://www.moldovamatters.md/p/moldova-is-changing-its-agricultural

Dmitrii Albot CityFarm

Storytelling for nonprofits and development agencies. A team of journalists and videographers with 20+ years of experience.

05/07/2025

Is it a new indie band?
Nope.
Just the Journo Birds out in the field (literally).

Someone once said you should measure success by how much you laugh in a day.
Well then… yesterday made us three very successful journalists and videographers. 🎬💛

23/05/2025

When your Friday takes you to a pink room filled with lettuce, you know you did something right this week!

Thank you, for showing us around! What an inspiring story, what a great guy!

And of course, thank you to the amazing team!

09/05/2025

Nonprofits and development agencies manage millions.
But when it comes to storytelling, it often comes last.

And that’s okay.
You’re here to change lives, not chase headlines.

But what if your stories were told just as well as your programs are run?

We help mission-driven teams show their impact through storytelling.

We’re journalists and videographers with 20+ years of global experience.
We make the mistakes so you don’t have to.

Every Wednesday, we’ll send you one sharp, field-tested tip in our newsletter:
Storytelling for Change-Makers

No fluff. Just honest advice that helps your work be seen and heard.

👉 Sign up here: https://mailchi.mp/journobirds/storytelling

09/05/2025

Nonprofits and development agencies manage millions, but often leave for last.

And that’s perfectly fine. Your job is to change lives, not chase headlines.

But what if your stories were told just as well as your programs are run? At Journo Birds, we help mission-driven teams show their impact through storytelling. We’re journalists and videographers with 20+ years of international experience. And we make a lot of mistakes, so you don’t have to.

Every Wednesday, we’ll share one field-tested lesson in our new newsletter: Storytelling for Change-Makers.
No fluff. Just honest advice that helps your work be seen and heard.

👉 Sign up here:

Real-world storytelling tips and advice for nonprofits and development pros.

07/05/2025

How do you get your story into the media?
We recently asked a journalist at one of Europe’s leading tech publications how many press releases and ready-made stories she receives every day. Our team has also sent them stories.

She told me she gets hundreds of stories daily.
And she’s just one journalist.
Then she said something that stuck with us: she never even opens them.

The reason? It’s too much work for editors to verify the facts and vet the writers. They don’t have internal guidelines for publishing ready-made stories, so it’s safer to send their own reporters out instead.

So we asked her, what’s the best way to pitch a story?
She said it’s better to send story ideas - short pitches.
Fair enough. But how many of those does she get?
Dozens every day. Again, she can’t open them all. Most emails are never opened, no matter how much effort you put into them. No matter how great the title is. Often, it's pure luck if the emails get read.

So what do you do if you know your work matters but your voice isn’t breaking through?

At Journo Birds, we don’t wait around hoping someone picks up our story. We mix methods to get maximum reach. We pitch ideas and write articles. We create short videos and photo posts. We show up where it matters with formats that make people stop and listen.

If you want to make sure your story doesn’t get lost in someone’s inbox, let’s talk. Write to us for more details.

25/04/2025

Taking a photo of someone taking a photo of someone’s photo.
Next-level content recycling: now in 3D.

16/04/2025

We are working with at the today to show the startup vibe here through storytelling.

Lots of content coming! Olga and Lilia are from our short-form video team.

Are you also here today, ?
connect_hub lilia