What is the International Journalism Festival (IJF)?
The biggest annual media event in Europe. The 2024 festival had 252 sessions and 461 speakers in the 5-day programme.
When and where does IJF take place?
Every April in Perugia, Italy. All IJF venues are situated in the stunning setting of the historic town centre of Perugia. The next festival (the nineteenth edition) will take place from Wednesday 9 to Sunday 13 April 2025. Please note that the English-language part of the festival program will be concentrated on Thursday 10, Friday 11 and Saturday 12 April. On Sunday 13 April there will be only Italian-language events.
I want to attend IJF; what must I do?
Nothing. Just come to Perugia and enjoy the festival. All IJF sessions are free entry for all attendees, without tickets and without registration.
To learn more, please visit the International Journalism Festival site.
Media Impact Funders will be hosting a funder breakfast meeting on April 11 from 8-10:30 a.m. local time. For more information and to register, please visit this page.
Funders, are you attending IJF this year? If so, don’t miss two MIF sessions:
Democracy Defenders: A Conversation With Funders Investing in Independent Journalism
Date and Time: TBD
Media funders have long sought to strengthen democracy through support of journalism. But now, with authoritarian attempts to undermine press freedom on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, journalism funders are facing urgent questions about how to respond effectively. How can philanthropy bolster press freedom in countries where press freedom is under siege? What investments are needed to combat disinformation, support quality news and information, and ensure diverse voices are heard?
This session invites you to an open conversation with leading funders working to build and sustain a free press. They’ll share their priorities and strategies for addressing today’s global challenges—and they want to hear from you.
Come prepared to ask questions, offer insights, and explore how funders and stakeholders can work together to sustain and strengthen independent journalism in an increasingly polarized world.
Speakers:
- Angelica Das, Associate Director, Public Square, Democracy Fund
- Nienke Venema, Managing Director, Stichting Democratie en Media
- Vince Stehle, Executive Director, Media Impact Funders (moderator)
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Philanthropic Support for Journalism that Aligns with Foundation Program and Priority Areas
Date and Time: TBD
The media funding space is still fairly new terrain for many foundations; only a few foundations are explicitly organized to support journalism. In reality, the majority of funders supporting media and journalism initiatives are doing so in ways that align with existing program portfolios, rather than through a dedicated portfolio. Over the years, we’ve heard countless funders who support media and journalism say that they don’t actually consider themselves media funders. At the same time, philanthropic support for this work is continuing its upward trajectory, signaling that more foundations are recognizing the critical role of media and journalism in addressing societal issues.
This session unpacks how philanthropy is approaching journalism funding, not as a standalone priority, but as an essential tool for achieving broader programmatic goals. We’ll explore how these funding strategies are shaping the journalism landscape. For journalists, this conversation sheds light on the evolving relationship between media and philanthropy, offering insights into how these dynamics influence the resources available to support impactful reporting.
Speakers:
- Kayce Ataiyero, Chief External Affairs Officer, The Joyce Foundation
- Sam Gill, President & CEO, Doris Duke Foundation
- Vidya Krishnamurthy, Chief Communications Officer, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
- Nina Sachdev, Communications Director, Media Impact Funders (moderator)
