Our Impact: From Crowdfunding to Global Influence

The Coda Story Journey

Coda Story began in 2016 as a collaboration between journalists looking to create a different kind of newsroom. Under the leadership of CEO and Editor-in-Chief Natalia Antelava, what started as a $30,000 crowdfunded project focused on Russia’s anti-LGBTQ campaign has grown into a transformative force in global journalism, pioneering a unique approach to investigating and explaining the world’s most complex crises.

By 2022, Coda had evolved into a $1.7 million organization with a majority U.S. audience, garnering international recognition for our coverage of:

  • Authoritarian technology
  • Global disinformation networks
  • Historical revisionism
  • The war on science
  • Climate crisis

“The very technology that allows news and ideas to zip around the world at the speed of light now makes distortion ever easier. Coda avoids the low-attention-model of many others, who jump from one temporary crisis or photo op to another, in favor of deep, persistent attention to major themes – all with engaging, narrative storytelling.”

Paul Steiger, Founding Editor of ProPublica

Impact Through Pattern Recognition

Our unique “currents” framework has enabled us to:

  • Identify and report on critical patterns before they become apparent to others
  • Connect dots across geographies and topics that other media miss
  • Provide vital context during major global events

Real-World Example: Ukraine

When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Coda’s years of reporting on disinformation and authoritarian tactics proved prescient. Our coverage of Russian influence operations and the Kremlin’s playbook became vital resources for mainstream media outlets, including CNN and The New York Times.

Innovation in Storytelling

We’ve pioneered new ways to make complex stories accessible:

  • Multi-platform storytelling: From investigative features to animations
  • Award-winning podcasts: Including collaborations with Audible and top-tier media partners
  • Live journalism: Through our signature Zeg Festival, bringing stories from page to stage
  • Cross-border collaborations: Working with over 60 publications worldwide

Creating Spaces for Dialogue

Our Zeg Festival has become a unique platform where:

  • Stories move beyond the page into meaningful conversations
  • Global voices meet local perspectives
  • Different disciplines and viewpoints intersect
  • New narratives for the future emerge

“…I was so impressed with that panel on colonialism because I saw three people with totally different stories, who were able to challenge each other and grow each other’s thoughts.”

Actor Sean Penn at ZEG Fest 2023

By the Numbers (2024)

  • 65% of audience based in the United States
  • 35 median age of subscriber
  • 12-person team collaborating with dozens of storytellers worldwide
  • Partnerships with over 60 publications globally
  • Support from major foundations including MacArthur, Open Society, and Limelight

Editorial Impact

Our investigations have:

  • Exposed digital surveillance networks
  • Revealed connections between tech companies and human rights abuses
  • Tracked disinformation campaigns across continents
  • Documented the manipulation of historical narratives
  • Investigated climate crisis denialism

Looking Forward

As traditional media struggles with AI disruption and declining trust, Coda’s approach of creating spaces for meaningful conversation and connecting global patterns to local impacts is more vital than ever. Our mission isn’t just to inform but to foster understanding across divides and empower communities to engage with the forces shaping their world.