Mariya Frey is a senior executive at Suspilne Ukraine, where she leads strategic development across a nationwide network of news outlets. Her work focuses on rethinking public media not as a market actor, but as democratic infrastructure that safeguards independent journalism and ensures fair representation. Drawing on her experience during Russia’s full-scale invasion, she advocates for systems that support journalists working under conditions of physical risk, information warfare, and institutional fragility. She also takes a critical view of applying private-sector management approaches to public institutions, arguing instead for mission-driven governance that supports independent journalism and strengthens resilient societies.