Kronikat e Barutit A Year of Independent Journalism and Public Trust
Founded in July 2024, Kronikat e Barutit built a trusted, reader funded model, expanding internationally while delivering independent investigative journalism and strong public accountability.
KRONIKAT E BARUTIT was founded on 28 July 2024 as a direct response to a deep and visible crisis in the Albanian language media space. It emerged at a moment when public discourse was increasingly dominated by politically engineered narratives, disinformation campaigns and media outlets captured by financial and foreign interests, leaving citizens without access to verified facts or accountable journalism. The founding purpose was clear from the outset, to restore trust through independent, professional and investigative reporting that serves the public interest, safeguards democratic values and strengthens national security. From its first publication, Kronikat e Barutit positioned itself as a corrective force, committed to holding both local and central government to account and to challenging toxic narratives that undermine informed decision making and public wellbeing.
The outlet was established under the The Frontline Media Group by investigative journalist and war reporter Vudi Xhymshiti , whose professional background spans more than eighteen years of reporting on armed conflicts, political corruption and information warfare across the Middle East, Eastern Europe and the Balkans. The editorial foundation of Kronikat e Barutit drew directly from this experience, combining investigative depth with contextual analysis and a strict adherence to journalistic integrity. In its earliest weeks, the publication focused on exposing disinformation, foreign interference and the erosion of media standards in Kosovo and the wider region, while also addressing social, cultural, economic, health and justice issues through rigorous reporting rather than opinion driven noise.
During its initial months in late summer and autumn 2024, Kronikat e Barutit began building its audience organically through direct reader subscriptions rather than advertising or sponsored content. This choice reflected a strategic commitment to independence and reader accountability. Early growth was steady, driven by trust and word of mouth rather than algorithmic amplification. By the end of 2024, the outlet had already demonstrated that there was a substantial audience willing to support fact based journalism financially and morally. The first paid subscribers joined during this period, laying the groundwork for a sustainable reader funded model.
In early 2025, the publication entered a phase of accelerated development. Investigative pieces addressing corruption, foreign influence and media manipulation gained significant traction, resulting in a consistent increase in both free and paid subscribers. Revenue growth followed a clear upward trajectory throughout the first half of the year, reflecting not only expanding reach but also strong reader confidence in the editorial mission. By mid year, the publication had moved from modest monthly income to a stable and growing annualised revenue base, demonstrating the viability of independent journalism supported directly by its audience.
By the final quarter of the year, Kronikat e Barutit reached a significant milestone. Gross annualised revenue stood at 9,949 US dollars, generated by 121 paid subscribers within a total subscriber base of 1,537 readers. This growth was not only financial but also geographical. The audience expanded across seventeen states and forty countries, with a strong concentration in Kosovo, which accounted for approximately one third of subscribers. Significant readership also developed in Germany, Switzerland, Serbia and the United Kingdom, reflecting the strong engagement of the Albanian diaspora and international readers seeking credible reporting on the region.
Audience loyalty and trust were further confirmed by exceptionally strong retention metrics. One month paid retention reached 96.43 percent, six month retention stood at 83.93 percent and twelve month retention reached 91.67 percent, figures that indicate sustained reader satisfaction and long term commitment. Cohort analysis throughout the year showed that most subscriber groups maintained high retention well beyond the initial subscription period, underlining the strength of the relationship between the publication and its readers. Paid churn remained consistently low, reinforcing the conclusion that the audience values depth, accuracy and independence over volume or sensationalism.
Equally important to quantitative growth was the qualitative feedback received from readers. Subscriber messages throughout the year repeatedly highlighted trust, accuracy, courage and professionalism as the defining qualities of Kronikat e Barutit. Many readers explicitly stated that their decision to subscribe was motivated by a desire to counter fake news, support investigative journalism and protect the public right to truthful information. These messages, coming from both paid and pledged supporters, form part of the public record of the outlet and reflect a community built around shared democratic values rather than passive consumption.
By the end of the reporting year, Kronikat e Barutit had established itself as a credible and influential Albanian language media outlet with more than 150,000 monthly views. Its development from a newly founded publication into a reader supported platform with international reach demonstrates both the demand for independent journalism and the effectiveness of a model rooted in transparency and accountability. Chronologically, the year reflects a clear progression from foundation and mission definition, through audience trust building, to measurable financial sustainability and editorial impact.
This end of year record confirms that Kronikat e Barutit is not an episodic project but a growing institution within the Albanian media landscape. Its continued existence is anchored in reader support, professional integrity and a commitment to exposing truth in an increasingly hostile information environment. The year closes with a stable foundation, a loyal audience and a clear mandate to continue investigative reporting in the public interest without compromise.