After 3 years, MIF reconvenes film funders to discuss the state of the field, priorities for the work ahead

The Media Impact Funders team was pleased to be able to return to Park City, Utah, to attend the Sundance Film Festival this month, viewing powerful documentary films and reconnecting with film funders who have not had a chance to convene in person since before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was exhilarating to learn and share with key funders and we were especially fortunate to hear from Carrie Lozano, Director of Documentary Film and Artist Programs at the Sundance Institute. Read More

This members briefing was organized in partnership with New Media Ventures and co-sponsored with Philanthropy New York. All members and supporters of Media Impact Funders have the opportunity to initiate and produce issue-related programming for their peers. Learn more about member briefings. This week, experts from industry leaders New Media Ventures and Accelerate Change joined a discussion about how the media landscape is shifting, why philanthropic investment is necessary, and opportunities for collaboration. Philanthropy has long been critical in sustaining public interest media through the various stages of landscape shifts. Now as the country faces unprecedented polarization, rampant disinformation, and the overall erosion of trust in media, philanthropy must again shift—this time, to target investment in sustainable, scalable media companies and organizations. Across the board, media in the public interest is losing critical ground on emerging social platforms. Meanwhile, an insidious media infrastructure rooted in disinformation is gaining traction on emerging platforms such as TikTok, Twitch, and Discord. These efforts are building massive audiences while also misleading them with completely evidence-free narratives. The pathway is clear and the time is now—in order to protect democracy, we need a decentralized, innovative media ecosystem able to meet targeted audiences where they… Read More

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… Read More

The 2022 Media Impact Forum: Stories for Justice, held at the National Geographic Society in Washington, D.C., showcased media and dialogue about the ways in which funders can support storytelling as a powerful lever in the fight for equal justice. Below, you’ll find recordings of each session, links to resources, and transcripts for each session in chronological order so that you can watch any portion of the day. Also check out our 2022 Media Impact Forum photo album, which captures the excitement and energy of our network! Agenda Resourcing Voices from Around the World What is authentic storytelling? What are the best examples of effective philanthropic support? This expert panel showcased powerful examples of resourcing and sustaining voices and stories of justice from around the world, raising our awareness of the different approaches philanthropy can pursue to support equal justice. Cristi Hegranes, CEO & Publisher, Global Press Khadija Patel, Head of Programs, International Fund for Public Interest Media (on screen) Ivan Sigal, Executive Director, Global Voices Alex Jakana, Program Officer, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Member of the Media Impact Funders Board of Directors (moderator) Relevant resources related to this discussion: Global Press… Read More

Media Impact Funders and Grantmakers in the Arts hosted a panel discussion celebrating the release of a new report commissioned by the Wyncote Foundation looking at pandemic-era shifts to digital programming among arts and cultural organizations. The virtual conversation provided a chance to hear from three leaders expanding their work in the digital realm. Listen, Learn, Connect studies the ways that arts and cultural organizations responded to COVID-19 lockdowns by foregrounding mission, emphasizing learning, experimenting with art forms and processes online, understanding audience habits, and facing the long-term challenges of digital work. Drawing from insights shared by 29 featured organizations, the report highlights opportunities for action by organizations and funders. Practical steps and recommended approaches are underpinned by the need for adaptability as the cultural sector confronts hybrid programming demands and ongoing pandemic-related uncertainties. Read More

Media Impact Funders offered a special preview of Knight Foundation’s 2022 Knight Media Forum, the premier gathering of leaders in philanthropy, journalism and technology working to strengthen local news, communities and democracy. This meeting provided a chance for those attending to hear a sneak peak of what would be discussed. We also heard from Tracy Brown, WBEZ’s Chief Content Officer, about the recent merger/acquisition between WBEZ and The Chicago Sun-Times. We got the scoop on how it came to be, goals for the merger, and what this means for local journalism in Chicago. Read More

We didn’t get to have our annual funder meeting at Sundance, but we were eager to make space for our film funders to connect with each other and build in time to reflect on the film festival as a group. We also learned about a new field-building organization called the Color Congress. The organization, seeded through a pooled fund by the Ford Foundation, the MacArthur Foundation and Perspective Fund, aims to support transformational, mutually supportive work among people of color-led and serving organizations in the nonfiction and documentary field. Read More

Is one of your goals to increase support for local news and media in your region? If so, MIF presented a special opportunity to learn more about how to make the case for increased media and journalism investments through the documentary film “Storm Lake.” “Storm Lake,” about a family-run Iowa newspaper that has been struggling to keep local journalism alive in its community, is a must-see portrait of the loss of local journalism amid an ongoing pandemic, and the efforts of a community to keep it alive. This discussion went behind the scenes of “Storm Lake” with the filmmaker and impact producer about the inspiration behind making the film and its intended impact. We also heard from Bridge Detroit and its perspective on making the case for local news, and from the Wichita Community Foundation about the importance of supporting a local news ecosystem. What we explored: The power of documentaries in catalyzing change The impact of the loss of local news The role funders can play in building and supporting a strong media ecosystem in their region A playbook for making the case to donors for increased media and journalism investments in your community How… Read More

In partnership with Candid (formerly Foundation Center and GuideStar)—which provides data-driven tools, educational resources and trainings, analyses, and more to the philanthropic sector—MIF offered a workshop to help funders learn how to use data maps to inform funding priorities and strategic decision-making. These maps are free, interactive tools that show the full scope of philanthropically-funded projects. Read More