Doberman.media Editorial Policy

Who We Are and Why We Do This

Doberman.media is an independent online media project for the LGBTQ+ community, primarily for men who have sex with men, as well as for anyone interested in topics such as identity, sexuality, mental health, relationships, culture, and human rights. We publish all the important LGBT-related news you need to know.

We serve audiences in Russia and Belarus, as well as Russian-speaking people living abroad, and we deliberately address topics that others often prefer to keep quiet about.

At Doberman.media, we adhere to the principles of Reporters Without Borders, as set forth in The Munich Declaration the responsibilities and rights of journalists. For us, this means prioritizing accuracy, accountability to our audience, respect for the subjects of our stories, and a commitment to avoid manipulation, discrimination, and distortion of the facts.

Our Values

• respect for human dignity and diversity
• zero tolerance for discrimination, violence, and hate speech
• freedom of self-expression and the right to identity
• caring for mental and physical well-being
• honesty, empathy, and accountability for what one says

What We Write About

Doberman.media publishes articles on:

• The latest news (Russia, Belarus) on LGBT issues, as well as analyses of these news stories to help you better understand the laws
• LGBT Life and Culture
• psychology, therapy, trauma, and self-care
• Sexual Health, HIV, and Prevention
• Relationships, Sex, and Physicality
• Emigration, Vulnerability, and Adaptation
• human rights and civil liberties
• media, art, and personal stories

We don't chase hype or scandals. What matters most to us is meaning, context, and a genuine human voice.

The editorial team selects topics and sources based on editorial ethics and trust. We may provide minimal coverage of organizations or companies whose practices conflict with our values or with which we do not collaborate. The editorial team maintains an internal list of companies and individuals with whom we do not collaborate and about whom we write only to a limited extent, in order to uphold the project’s ethical and security principles.

Format and Style

• Texts can be personal, conversational, and emotional
• The author's subjective viewpoint is permitted
• We avoid moralizing and lecturing
• We explain complex topics in simple terms
• We use accurate and inclusive language

The editorial staff reserves the right to edit texts for clarity, structure, and safety, without distorting the author's meaning.

Sources and Facts

• We try to fact-check and cite sources where appropriate
• Opinion pieces and essays reflect the author's views, not necessarily those of the editorial staff.
• If there is an error in the article, we are ready to correct it and note the correction

Ethics and Boundaries

We do not publish:

• calls for violence or discrimination
• hate speech and dehumanization
• materials that violate privacy without consent
• content that is blatantly manipulative or fake
• the promotion of self-destructive behavior

Content related to violence, trauma, suicide, and addiction is published with care and includes warnings.

Partner and Sponsor Content

• We may publish sponsored content if it aligns with our values
• Advertising and partnerships are always identified separately
• Money does not influence our editorial stance or the content of our articles

Comments and Feedback

We welcome dialogue, but reserve the right to remove comments that contain:

• insults and threats
• homophobia, transphobia, and other forms of hatred
• trolling and deliberate misrepresentation

If you've noticed an error, would like to suggest a topic, or are interested in collaborating, please contact us.

Our Responsibility

Doberman.media is not a neutral platform. We consciously take the side of people whose voices are often not heard, and we consider this part of our journalistic and human responsibility.

This editorial policy may be updated as the project evolves.

Editorial Language Guidelines

Belarus. Ukraine. In Doberman.media’s content, we use modern and self-designated forms of country and ethnic group names. Specifically, we write “Belarus,” “Belarusians,” and “in Ukraine,” based on principles of respect for self-identification and the current social context. We understand that there are different traditions of usage in the Russian language, but we consciously adhere to these forms as part of our editorial stance.

Crimea. Doberman.media adheres to international law and uses the definition of Crimea’s status in accordance with UN General Assembly resolutions. Crimea is a territory of Ukraine that is temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation. Any mention of Russian authorities and administrative structures in relation to Crimea in our materials does not imply recognition of Russian sovereignty over the peninsula.

Our PWA app: