True story: How fake news skews our impact models and what we can do about it
Up in the lofty reaches of theory, the case for the impact of news is clear: Reporters report facts in good faith, and audiences consume these stories and deliberate with others who might not share their perspectives. In the process, they’re better informed to act in their role as citizens, and a better democracy results. […]
A key task for grantmakers: Enhance the freedom of journalists around the world
In his eighth and final speech to the United Nations General Assembly, President Obama called on world leaders to embrace the idea of open society as the only way for nations to prosper. “Entrepreneurs need to access information in order to invent; young people need a global education in order to thrive; independent media needs […]
'The Web belongs to all of us': Q&A with the Web’s inventor, Sir Tim Berners-Lee
This post originally appeared on the Ford Foundation’s Equals Change blog on Sept. 21, 2016. Not everyone knows the name Sir Tim Berners-Lee, but they certainly know his invention: the World Wide Web. And if being responsible for one of the most important innovations in human history wasn’t enough, early on Berners-Lee made the generous […]
Foundation Maps for Media Funding: Introducing a new tool for unlocking the power of media grants data
Media Impact Funders and Foundation Center Announce New Mapping Tool for Media and Philanthropy
How philanthropists can slow the slide of political rhetoric
President Obama last week issued a blunt critique of the news-media industry for enabling a steep decline in the nation’s political rhetoric.
Effective Communications and Creating Momentum for Social Change
By Vince Stehle |Originally posted on the Center for Effective Philanthropy blog Foundations are in the business of making the world a better place. Preserving the environment, reducing violence, and improving education are a few examples among the many philanthropic objectives that foundations may pursue. But are we applying ourselves as effectively as we might?
Internet Policy and Communicating for Policy Change
By Jon Stahl, communications director, Philanthropy Northwest In the past few days, we’ve hosted a pair of events with our friends at Media Impact Funders, the national network of grantmakers working on media and technology issues. In different ways, both touched on the power of communications — both medium and message — to drive forward the […]
Net Neutrality Updates
March 12, 2015 The FCC releases the new rule, protecting the Internet from blocking, throttling and paid prioritization. See excerpts and analysis from the New York Times. February 26, 2015 Victory for the open Internet. The FCC formally voted 3-2 in favor of reclassifying Internet under Title II protections, enshrining net neutrality into law. Read […]
Funder Rebellion — PopTech Reflections
Media Impact Funders recently went to Camden, Maine for PopTech 18 — Rebellion. We convened a small group of funders and made our way to that very rainy and quaint coastal village for an exploration of media innovation, especially as it relates to the conference theme of rebellion and its place in social change. Before […]
Breakfast Meetup: Communications Strategies that Fast Track Policy Change
Communications are driving social change more than ever. Media Impact Funders held a morning breakfast conversation with Mary Lou Fulton, Senior Program Manager at The California Endowment; Martha Davis, Senior Program Officer at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; and Chris Hershey, Founder and President of Hershey Cause Communications to share insights about successful communications strategies […]
Money, Politics and Media Policy – Funder Briefing
Media Impact Funders and Northern California Grantmakers held a funder briefing on the role of media policy and its impact on the health of our democracy to discuss what funders can and should be doing in this critical area. Read the Storify from the day. Former FCC Commissioner Michael Copps drew from his experience at […]
Reflections on the Life and Death of ‘The Internet’s Own Boy’
As the open Internet and open culture movements come to terms with the tragic death of Aaron Swartz in January, 2013, and try to make changes to the law that allowed him to be prosecuted with such unbalanced fervor, a new film is about to be released focusing on the world that Aaron was trying […]