Safeguarding Media and Journalism: Navigating Legal Boundaries in Media Support and Advocacy

In today’s shifting legal and policy landscape, funders and practitioners face complex questions about what is—and isn’t—permissible when supporting media and journalism. This session will provide practical guidance across two key areas:

• Initiatives related to diversity, equity and inclusion: What types of funding are permissible in light of recent legal and policy developments?
• Advocacy: Clarifying the boundaries for 501(c)(3) organizations, including what qualifies as educational or non-lobbying advocacy, what constitutes lobbying, and how the IRS interprets advocacy in this space.

Designed to be both clarifying and pragmatic, this conversation with Maya Raghu, Director of the Protecting and Advancing Diversity Equity, and Inclusion Initiative for Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and Abby Levine, Associate General Counsel and Senior Policy Counsel for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, will help participants understand the guardrails, avoid risks, and continue supporting independent media and journalism with confidence.

Please note: The information shared on the call will be for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter.

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In response to the rapidly evolving challenges facing the media sector, this series of calls provides a collaborative space for media funders and field experts to share strategies, resources and support. Building on the momentum of our initial post-election response conversation, these sessions will aim to ensure our community remains agile and prepared to address emerging threats while continuing to foster resilience and impact.

Topics to explore: