Member spotlight: Perspective Fund
The role of the impact campaign and its impact producer is critical to the long-term success of a film whose goal is to catalyze social change. It’s the impact producer who must deeply understand the film’s mission and message, and then figure out how best to leverage it for impact—whether it’s raising awareness, inspiring action […]
Looking forward prompts us to look back: Reflections from our 2019 Media Impact Forum
As we prepare for our first in-person gathering since the pandemic began, the Media Impact Forum at the National Geographic Society on June 1, we have been thinking back to the last time we got together in person for our Forum—titled Radio Active Culture—in May 2019, at the American Philosophical Society, here in Philadelphia. In […]
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 […]
WATCH: How funders can use data maps to inform funding decisions
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 […]
WATCH: “Philly DA” offers a compelling close-up of criminal justice reform
Earlier this month, Philadelphia’s reform-oriented District Attorney Larry Krasner cruised to a landslide victory in his bid for re-election, consolidating power behind his efforts to remake the criminal justice system in Pennsylvania’s largest city. For anyone interested in understanding how Krasner was able to gain that position and wield the power of that office, we […]
WATCH: How funders are supporting media to foster community narratives
A new report from the Wyncote Foundation that profiles eight place-based organizations that use media for cultural expression served as the backdrop for this important discussion highlighting how funders can celebrate “place.” Grantmakers, policymakers and advocates seeking to build support for local public interest media rightly focus on the essential role of journalism that equips […]
New Wyncote Foundation report explores the use of media to foster cultural expression
A new report commissioned by the Wyncote Foundation, “Culture, Heritage, and Place: How Media Amplifies Community Narratives,” profiles eight place-based organizations that use media for cultural expression and connection, with local funding support.
Over the years, funders of media & journalism have helped America understand—and come to terms with—its gun violence epidemic
In recent weeks, it seems like America has arrived at a crucial crossroads in its long and painful history of gun violence. In the wake of several high-profile mass shootings in Atlanta, in Boulder, Colo., and most recently, in Indianapolis, Ind., there is a growing sense of outrage and demand for solutions. And in Washington, […]
WATCH: Supporting digital public spaces that put people over profit
What should digital public spaces look like? For the third and final installment of our series exploring the problems and solutions of Big Tech, we heard from four organizations—Amara, Mozilla, Wikimedia Foundation and VolunteerMatch—that have built digital public spaces that serve all communities. These organizations, whose business models center on people over profit, strive to […]
WATCH: How can philanthropy invest in a more equitable tech sector?
How can philanthropy invest in a more equitable technology sector as a means to combat some of the threats that Big Tech poses to democracy?
Here’s our year-end impact review—and our questions for 2021
This year was slated to be our year of impact. We started off with a bang in January at the Sundance Film Festival, where we released Decoding Media Impact: Insights, Advice and Recommendations, our impact report summing up seven years of research in the media impact space.