Polina Volkova: From Editor-in-Chief to Reporter – No Regrets

Äripäev journalist Polina Volkova has stepped down from the editor-in-chief position to return to reporting work. She explains why she chose to follow ships and pursue long-form investigations over climbing the career ladder, and why trust in the media is critically important right now.

Äripäev journalist Polina Volkova knows exactly what her dream working day looks like: thirty kilometres from shore, on a rocking boat, a tanker flying a Panama flag on the horizon. This is not merely a romantic fantasy – it is precisely for moments like these that Volkova stepped down from the editor-in-chief's chair to dedicate herself fully to journalism.

A Career Change Without Regrets

Volkova admits that the role of editor-in-chief consumed her time and energy that she truly wanted to devote to reporting work. "I'm already 35, when am I finally going to become a journalist?" – this question haunted her as she decided to relinquish the management position. The decision did not come lightly, but she has not regretted it for a moment.

For her, reporting work means spending months working on a single story, diving deep into topics that others overlook. Investigative journalism demands patience and willingness to work for extended periods without visible results – qualities that bureaucratic management work tends to dull rather than sharpen.

Trust in Media is Critically Important

Volkova emphasizes that at present, readers' trust in journalism is both an especially great challenge and a responsibility. Misinformation spreads rapidly, and the role of quality journalism in the search for truth has become more crucial than ever before. According to her, it is precisely this in-depth, fact-based investigative work that helps maintain and build trust.

Whether monitoring tankers from a boat or working through stacks of documents, Volkova sees her work first and foremost as serving the public interest – a mission she does not want to abandon regardless of what management positions might be offered to her in the future.