Observations from ONA23
It was great to welcome Media Impact Funders members to our annual networking event at the Online News Association conference last week, here in Philadelphia. We always enjoy seeing colleagues who support journalism and greatly appreciate the hospitality of our friends at ONA. It was touching to hear from the organization’s new executive director, LaSharah S. Bunting, who […]
There’s a new documentary film festival on the scene: Meet DC/DOX
We had the pleasure of attending the inaugural edition of the DC/DOX Documentary Festival earlier this month in Washington, D.C. Two films stood out for their noteworthy depictions of the importance of public interest media and journalism: Bad Press and Breaking the News. “Bad Press” follows journalist Angel Ellis of Mvskoke Media as she battles […]
The 2023 Media Impact Forum: Stories of Community
The 2023 Media Impact Forum: Stories of Community served as an important reminder of the robust network of funders, storytellers, journalists, and others who understand the importance of media for healthy communities. Held at KQED headquarters in San Francisco, the Media Impact Forum focused on uplifting voices from the news outlets and media organizations that […]
MIF report from the Skoll World Forum and the International Journalism Festival
It was great to be back in Oxford, England, earlier this month for the Skoll World Forum, a unique gathering of donors and doers from around the world. From the opening courageous conversation between Carole Cadwalladr and Nobel Prize-winning editor and author Maria Ressa, one of the central messages of this year’s World Forum was on the dangers […]
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 […]
WATCH: How to leverage philanthropic capital to transform the media landscape
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 […]
Watch JFunders 22: The annual gathering of journalism funders
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 […]
The 2022 Media Impact Forum: Stories for Justice
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 […]
Listen, Learn, Connect: Cultural Organizations and Digital Strategy in the COVID-19 Era
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, […]
WATCH: Learn about the recent merger/acquisition WBEZ and The Chicago-Sun Times
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 […]
WATCH: Here’s how Color Congress is building a more inclusive documentary film ecosystem
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 […]
WATCH: Making the case for local journalism, featuring “Storm Lake”
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 […]