The power of community was on full display last week at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, where MIF hosted JFunders22, the annual gathering of journalism funders. This network, which has not gathered in person since 2019, celebrated 20 years of journalism funders in community and connection. At the start of our two-day gathering, attendees were able to hear about the early years of this network, including the challenges and how they’ve evolved.
Throughout this conference, funders who are supporting and leading some of the most important work in journalism today were able to dig deeper into funding strategies and questions, and were able to experience talks and discussions about what’s working, how and why it works, and how we can do more.
Below, you’ll find recordings of each session in chronological order so that you can watch any portion of the day.
Special Musical Performance Featuring Michelle Cann
In conversation with:
- Michelle Cann, Pianist
- Bill Johnson, General Manager, WRTI
Overview and Objectives for JFunders22
- David Rousseau, Vice President, Media and Technology, Kaiser Family Foundation; Media Impact Funders Board Chair
20 Years of Journalism Funders in Community and Connection
We’ve come a long way since 2002, when a handful of journalism funders got together to compare notes (we found actual notes from the early days, below!) about the most pressing issues facing journalism and how funders could address them. Explore this network’s origin story—where it started, what was happening in the field of journalism funding 20 years ago, what the network is now, and what it hopes to accomplish in the future.
In conversation with:
- Jon Funabiki, Founder and former director, Renaissance Journalism
- Eric Newton, Writer and Media Consultant
- Vince Stehle, Executive Director, Media Impact Funders
- Moderated by Nancy Gibbs, Director, Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School
The Local News Landscape, Explained
America’s local news landscape has been shaped by massive technological and economic shifts over the last two decades, and understanding what’s working and where the gaps and opportunities exist will help us support more impactful solutions. In this session, Nancy Gibbs, Director of the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, offers a sweeping overview of the current local news landscape, providing important context for the discussions that follow.
- Nancy Gibbs, Director, Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School
Replanting Local News: A Few Significant Initiatives
Several initiatives of note are making progress against the challenges of local news. Take a listen.
In conversation with:
- Elizabeth Hansen Shapiro, Post-doctoral fellow; lead researcher of the News Sustainability and Business Models project; CEO and Co-Founder, National Trust for Local News
- Imtiaz Patel, CEO, The Baltimore Banner
- Irving Washington, CEO, Online News Association; Vice Chair, American Journalism Project
- Moderated by Nancy Gibbs, Director, Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School
Spotlight on Science & Health Mis/Disinformation
Internist, infectious disease specialist and epidemiologist Céline Gounder, an editor at Kaiser Health News, shares details about Kaiser Health News’ strategies to address health misinformation and disinformation.
- Céline Gounder, Senior Fellow and Editor-at-Large for Public Health, Kaiser Health News
A Brief Update on the Latest Efforts to Obtain Public Funding for Journalism
Here are the latest developments on federal and state government efforts to help local news.
- Steve Waldman, President & Co-Founder and Founder and Chair of Rebuild Local News Coalition Report for America
A Few Words on Word in Black
Founded in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd, Word in Black is a new digital national newsroom powered by a collaboration of the nation’s leading Black publishers. Here are details about Word in Black’s mission to confront inequities, elevate solutions, and amplify the Black experience.
- Andrew Ramsammy, Chief Content and Collaboration Officer, Local Media Association; Lead, Word in Black
The Nuts & Bolts of Media Grantmaking
Making sense of our media grants: A case study from the William Penn Foundation
- Shawn McCaney, Executive Director, William Penn Foundation
Is landscape research right for you?
- Allison Taylor Levine, Vice President for Marketing & Communications, Delaware Community Foundation
Best practices for supporting journalism with an equity lens
- Lea Trusty, Senior Associate, Public Square, Democracy Fund
Establishing New Power Dynamics in Nonprofit News and Philanthropy
This session—moderated by The 19th’s Editor-at-Large Errin Haines—explores how funders can approach their relationships with nonprofit news organizations to achieve long-term sustainability. We’ll hear a few compelling approaches from media organizations whose trust-based relationships with funders have produced successful outcomes.
In conversation with:
- Tracy Baim, President and Co-Publisher/Lead, The Chicago Reader and Chicago Independent Media Alliance
- Angelica Das, Associate Director, Public Square Program, Democracy Fund
- Tracie Powell, Founder, The Pivot Fund
- Moderated by Errin Haines, Editor-at-Large, The 19th News
Journalism as a Driver for Civic Engagement
This session highlights two new collaborative initiatives working to elevate civic engagement and dialogue on the local level. Last year, Hearken launched the Democracy SOS program to serve 20 newsrooms investing in long-term change to their civic reporting. And the Lenfest Institute for Journalism recently launched a comprehensive effort in Philadelphia to catalyze broad community engagement ahead of the city’s 2023 mayoral election. The 19th’s Editor-at-Large Errin Haines moderates.
In conversation with:
- Tim Lambert, Special Projects Editor, WITF Radio Station
- Shawn Mooring, Program Director, The Lenfest Institute
- Moderated by Errin Haines, Editor-at-Large, The 19th News
Musical Performance Featuring Anthony Tidd and Sanity With Spoken Word Artist Ursula Rucker
In conversation with:
- Nate Chinen, Editorial Director, WRTI
- Anthony Tidd, Composer, producer, audio engineer, educator and musician
A Lesson from the Dean
- Jelani Cobb, Dean, Columbia Journalism School; Ira A. Lipman Professor of Journalism
Unpacking the Abortion Narrative with Rewire and “Battleground”
This session moderated by MIF Communications Director Nina Sachdev takes a deep look at how media—and the funders who support it—tells the story of abortion, a polarizing topic that’s only gotten more controversial since the repeal of Roe v. Wade, a landmark Supreme Court ruling that protected a woman’s right to choose for nearly 50 years.
In conversation with:
- Galina Espinoza, President & Editor in Chief, Rewire News Group
- Steffie van Rhee, Documentary Filmmaker & Co-Producer, “Battleground”
- Moderated by Nina Sachdev, Communications Director, Media Impact Funders
Spotlight on Science Journalism
What’s the relationship between science and democracy? Here’s a short talk on the importance of supporting science journalism to keep citizens informed on issues that are central to our shared civic infrastructure
- Maya Ajmera, President and CEO & Publisher, Society for Science & Science News
Journalism in and with Community
Media organizations such as Documented, Love Now Media, and Black Voice News are transforming relationships with communities. Moderated by WHYY News Director Sarah Glover, this session explores how we can reimagine the future of journalism.
In conversation with:
- Paulette Brown-Hinds, Publisher, Black Voice News
- Jos Duncan Asé, Founder, Executive Producer & Publisher, Love Now Media
- Mazin Sidahmed, Co-Executive Director, Documented
- Moderated by Sarah Glover, Vice President, News and Civic Dialogue, WHYY
An Eye Toward the Future
After two days of talks, discussions and plenaries, where do we go from here? How does everything we know and learned inform how we adapt and change for the future? Jim Brady, VP/Journalism at Knight Foundation, leads this closing discussion with a group of key leaders from the field.
In conversation with:
- Alicia Bell, Director, Racial Equity in Journalism Fund, Borealis Philanthropy
- Sue Cross, Executive Director & CEO, INN
- Jon Funabiki, Founder and Former Director, Renaissance Journalism
- Chris Krewson, Executive Director, LION Publishers
- Erin Moran, CEO, Public Media Company
- Moderated by Jim Brady, VP/Journalism, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
Closing Remarks
- Kayce Ataiyero, Chief External Affairs Officer, Joyce Foundation
