# NEWSru
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{{Short description|Former Russian news website}}
{{Distinguish|news.ru{{!}}NEWS.ru}}
{{Infobox website
| name = NEWSru.com
| logo = 260px260px260px
| screenshot =
| caption =
| url = [http://newsru.com newsru.com]
[http://www.newsru.co.il newsru.co.il]
[http://www.newsru.ua newsru.ua]
| commercial = Yes
| type = [News site](/source/News_site)
| language = [Russian](/source/Russian_language), [Ukrainian](/source/Ukrainian_language)
| registration = Free/Subscription
| owner = [Vladimir Gusinsky](/source/Vladimir_Gusinsky)
| author =
| launch_date = August 28, 2000
| current_status = Russian branch is inactive from May 31, 2021 (news archive publicly available), Ukrainian branch inactive since 2017, Israeli branch active
| revenue =
}}
'''NEWSru.com''' was a Russian independent [online news](/source/online_news) site based in Moscow that was generally critical of the Russian government. Launched by Russian internet pioneer [Anton Nossik](/source/Anton_Nossik) in 2000, it closed in 2021 after experiencing difficulties attracting advertisers due to the site's editorial positions. The Israeli sister service ''Newsru.co.il'' remains operational[[https://www.newsru.co.il/world/31may2021/newsrucom.html Российский сайт NEWSru.com прекратил обновление новостной ленты. Комментарий редакции NEWSru.co.il] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210531191404/https://www.newsru.co.il/world/31may2021/newsrucom.html}} // newsru.co.il, 31.05.2021]
==History==
thumb|Empty office of NEWSru.com
NEWSru launched by Russian internet pioneer [Anton Nossik](/source/Anton_Nossik) on August, 28, 2000, with the domain name ntu.ru[{{Cite web|last=www.omnesmedia.com|title=News RU|url=https://www.omnesmedia.com/en/company/news-ru|access-date=2020-09-03|website=www.omnesmedia.com|language=en-US}}]
In 2002, the state-run OAO [Gazprom Media](/source/Gazprom_Media) took over [NTV](/source/NTV_(Russia)),[{{cite web|first=Natalia|last=Khaitina|url=http://www.netoscope.ru/news/2001/04/16/2074.html|title=NTV and NTV.ru — two big differences|publisher=Netoscope|language=ru|date=2001-04-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060105155754/http://www.netoscope.ru/news/2001/04/16/2074.html/|archive-date=2006-01-05}} [http://netoscope.narod.ru/news/2001/04/16/2074.html Alt URL] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110823034047/http://netoscope.narod.ru/news/2001/04/16/2074.html/ |date=2011-08-23 }}][{{cite web|first=Natalia|last=Khaitina|url=http://www.netoscope.ru/theme/2001/04/19/2095.html|title=NTV.ru left Ostankino|publisher=Netoscope|language=ru|date=2001-04-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120723084050/http://netoscope.ru/theme/2001/04/19/2095.html|archive-date=2012-07-23|url-status=dead}}] and NEWSru remained part of the media empire of former NTV owner and oligarch [Vladimir Gusinsky](/source/Vladimir_Gusinsky).[{{cite web|url=http://www.netoscope.ru/press-releases/27.html|title=NTV.ru server revealed|publisher=Netoscope|language=ru|date=2000-08-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928060502/http://www.netoscope.ru/press-releases/27.html|archive-date=2007-09-28}} [http://netoscope.narod.ru/press-releases/27.html Alt URL]][{{cite web|first=Natalia|last=Khaitina|url=http://www.netoscope.ru/news/2000/08/28/147.html|title=NTV.ru site opened before the target date|publisher=Netoscope|language=ru|date=2000-08-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928060633/http://www.netoscope.ru/news/2000/08/28/147.html|archive-date=2007-09-28}} [http://netoscope.narod.ru/news/2000/08/28/147.html Alt URL] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110823033555/http://netoscope.narod.ru/news/2000/08/28/147.html |date=2011-08-23 }}] The takeover was seen as a turning point in media freedom in post-Soviet Russia.[{{cite journal|first=Maria|last=Yulikova|title=My Media|journal=[Index on Censorship](/source/Index_on_Censorship)|volume= 37|issue=1|date=February 2008|pages=179–182 |doi=10.1080/03064220701882772|url=http://www.carnegie.ru/en/pubs/media/77876.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090901152357/http://www.carnegie.ru/en/pubs/media/77876.htm|archive-date=2009-09-01|doi-access=free}}]
The site primarily operated as a news aggregator.[{{cite news |title=Russia's Newsru media outlet announces closure, blames political situation |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/russia-media-newsru-idUSL5N2NI155/ |access-date=20 November 2023 |work=Reuters |date=2021-05-31}}]
In May 2021, the site announced it would close for "economic reasons" due to a difficulty with attracting advertisers because the site did not follow the editorial line of pro-Kremlin state media.[{{cite news |title=Russia's Newsru.com News Site Shuts Down After 21 Years |url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2021/05/31/russias-newsrucom-news-site-shuts-down-after-21-years-a74057 |access-date=20 November 2023 |work=[Moscow Times](/source/Moscow_Times) |date=2021-05-31}}]
== Headquarters and team ==
NEWSru was based in Moscow, but its editorial team and location were kept secret. The network had two foreign editions: a website in [Israel](/source/Israel) started in December 2005 (newsru.co.il), and a Ukrainian edition based in Kyiv, which was discontinued in March 2017.[{{Cite web|title=newsru.com|url=https://www.eurotopics.net/en/191958/newsru-com|access-date=2020-09-02|website=eurotopics.net|language=en}}][{{Cite web|url=https://day.kyiv.ua/ru/article/media/populyarnyy-portal-newsruua-zakrylsya|title=Популярный портал NEWSru.ua закрылся | Газета «День»}}]
Chief editor Olga Leni admitted that the Ukrainian publication had been subsidized for the entire 10 years of its existence, and the site had never been self-supporting. Other former employees agreed that the site was closed due to a pro-Ukrainian pronouncement on the conflict in Donbas.