This is a series of funder-only online discussions. After you click the Register button, you'll have an opportunity to sign up for the sessions you want to join.
February 17 | 1-2:30 p.m. ET
March 17 | 1-2 p.m. ET
April 21 | 1-2:30 p.m.
May 19 | 1-2 p.m. ET
June 16 | 1-2:30 p.m. ET
Our 2021 Media Impact Forum will focus on evidence-based communications through one online discussion a month from February to June.
Rationale & Context
Last year (isn’t it nice we can finally say that?), we kicked off our 2020 Media Impact Forum with a discussion on the origins of COVID-19 and the danger of animal-borne infectious diseases. We presented that discussion as a case study for understanding the need for evidence-based communications—a topic of increased interest to a growing number of funders who are recognizing the need to communicate more effectively around science.
During that discussion, David Quammen, authoritative author of “Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic,” warned us: “We have a crisis going on that is probably bigger than the COVID crisis. And that’s the crisis threatening our democratic institutions. Some people who have been disempowered, who have been left behind economically, have turned their anger and resentment into a great appetite for stories that appeal to them that are unsupported by fact, that are unsupported by science.”
Now, a year into the pandemic, MIF is set to kick off the 2021 Media Impact Forum with another, perhaps more urgent, case study for supporting evidence-based communications: vaccine hesitancy. Experts estimate that herd immunity will require 85% of the population to take the vaccine. But nearly 40% of Americans say they are not likely to take it.
On Wednesday, Feb. 17, we’ll hear from Ann Christiano, director of the University of Florida’s Center for Public Interest Communications, on its new “Guide to COVID-19 Vaccine Communications,” which outlines eight principles for building trust through effective and strategic communications.
Fake health news is a serious challenge for funders of media and journalism, one that they must face head-on as we continue to navigate our way out of the COVID-19 pandemic. Inaccurate or false information about disease and medicines travels across social media platforms far faster than fully researched, referenced information, presenting fresh challenges for philanthropy at a time when trust in news is so low.
We will continue our programming with examples of what initiatives funders are supporting right now, including funder collaborations that serve to amplify this important work. Stay tuned for more information on the rest of the sessions.
With that context, we hope you’ll join us for our upcoming Media Impact Forum, our annual gathering of funders who support media in the public interest. It’ll look a bit different, of course: We’ll host one online discussion on the third Wednesday of every month from February to June. We hope this pace of programming works for you and doesn’t add to your Zoom fatigue. We see this series of conversations focusing on evidence-based communications as a chance for you to come together with your peers, deepen learning, and help strengthen our funding community for the work that lies ahead.
What You’ll Learn
- The latest research behind communicating effectively about vaccines to diverse communities
- How your funding peers are supporting work that strengthens evidence-based communications activities
- Important collaborations in the field and opportunities to strengthen connections
Agenda
Date: Wednesday, Feb. 17 | 1-2:30 p.m. ET
Session 1: Addressing vaccine hesitancy
Session 1 has concluded, but you can watch the recording here.
Date: Wednesday, Mar. 17 | 1-2:00 p.m. ET
Session 2: Mastering the vaccine messaging: Funder strategies & collaborations
This session is co-hosted with Grantmakers In Health.
Session 2 has concluded, but you can watch the recording here.
Date: Wednesday, Apr. 21 | 1-2:30 p.m. ET
Session 3: The path forward to more inclusive science communications
Session 3 has concluded, but you can watch the recording here.
Date: Wednesday, May 19 | 1-2 p.m. ET
Session 4: Environmental journalism: Building evidence-based reporting initiatives toward a healthy planet
Session 4 has concluded, but you can watch the recording here.
Date: Wednesday, Jun. 16 | 1-2:30 p.m. ET
Session 5: Beyond Science and the Environment: Trustworthy Media for a Healthy Democracy
Session 5 has concluded, but you can watch the recording here.