Stay up-to-date on the latest news, trends and perspectives in media and philanthropy.

We explored the current state of disability representation in media and why it is crucial to address the persistent lack of inclusivity and support for people with disabilities. This representation matters because it shapes public perception and opportunities, yet individuals with disabilities often face barriers to equitable participation and portrayal. The panelists provided actionable insights into how the funding community can play a pivotal role in promoting accessibility initiatives across the industry. From supporting career development for filmmakers with disabilities, championing accessible production practices, covering physical accessibility for in-person exhibitions like festivals and theaters and funding accessibility assets for media that is made. This session offered a comprehensive look at the various ways funders can drive positive change. Watch the compelling discussion that explores the need for funders to advance accessibility in media and film.   We heard from: Cassidy Dimon, Executive Director, FWD-Doc Keisha Knight, Director, IDA Funds and Advocacy, International Documentary Association Richie Seigel, Co-Founder & President, Inevitable Foundation Carrie Lozano, President and CEO, ITVS (moderator) Resources shared during the Session: https://www.fwd-doc.org/toolkit https://www.indievisibleentertainment.com/production-accessibility-coordinators https://www.fullspectrumfeatures.com/access-reframed Scorecard Impact Report: https://www.fwd-doc.org/accessibility-scorecard-impact-report-2023 Here is the report that states that 1 penny of every 10 dollars foes to… Read More

Day 2 of JFunders24 was focused on funder-only discussions, some meant to expand funders’ understanding of journalism grantmaking—such as a session unpacking the mechanics of for-profit grantmaking—and others that were meant to explore opportunities for support in areas such as legal threats, digital and physical safety and security, the backlash against racial equity, and more.  But before we kicked off those conversations, we heard a few mainstage presentations about solutions to paywalls, policy action benefiting community and ethnic media in San Francisco, tech platforms enabling more authentic storytelling, and how data uncovered hidden narratives for Black Californians. We also heard this unbelievably powerful story: In August 2023, the Marion County Record, a small Kansas newspaper, made national headlines after a controversial police raid in which authorities seized newsroom equipment and documents from the office and homes of Publisher Eric Meyer and his mother, co-owner Joan Meyer. Shocked by the invasion, Joan died the next day. While the paper was cleared of wrongdoing, the raid prompted widespread criticism as an attack on press freedom. On the morning of Day 2, we heard this powerful account first-hand from Eric, in conversation with Sandy Herz,… Read More

At a time when pillars of American journalism such as The Washington Post and The Los Angeles Times are crumbling at the hands of their billionaire owners, leading lights of journalism and philanthropy came together last week for the annual gathering of journalism funders at public media bulwark KQED in San Francisco to explore how best to strengthen public interest journalism. Convened by Media Impact Funders, JFunders24 brought together leading journalism funders from around the country for two days of presentations and discussions with journalists, media executives, academic scholars, political figures and policy experts. We covered a wide range of urgent topics, including frank and practical conversations about mergers and acquisitions, the myriad implications of artificial intelligence and the urgency of addressing the balance of power in journalism and storytelling. Our first day of programming began with an all-star panel of media leaders from PRX, KERA and the Center for Investigative Reporting, as they navigate the challenging passage through mergers and acquisitions, with expert moderation by MIF board chair Kayce Ataiyero, Chief External Affairs Officer at The Joyce Foundation. Then, California State Sen. Steve Glazer spoke with Rebuild Local News board… Read More

Facing significant challenges, local news outlets are providing less coverage of crucial topics—including philanthropy. This decline often obscures philanthropy’s vital role in keeping communities vibrant and meeting critical needs. To address this, The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s Nonprofit Accountability and Solutions Fellowship equips local journalists with the skills needed to craft compelling stories about the vital work of nonprofits and foundations. Research shows a strong public desire for information on how communities tackle problems, and nonprofits often play a central role as connectors and problem solvers. That role is especially crucial as America faces growing divides. To spotlight how philanthropy is working to bring people together to build civic connections, The Chronicle just launched a new project, called the Commons, which offers reporting, opinion, essays, resources, tools and more. Media philanthropy, in particular, can contribute significantly by investing in a diverse range of narratives from various communities. Watch this compelling discussion that explores the critical role of storytelling in philanthropy. Speakers: Steve Kilar, Equity Issues Editor, Arizona Republic Stacy Palmer, CEO, The Chronicle of Philanthropy Andrew Simon, Editor-in-Chief, The Chronicle of Philanthropy Fay Twersky, President and Director; The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation Vince Stehle, Executive Director, Media… Read More

Forget what you know about the current infrastructure of digital public forums—listservs, Facebook Groups, Nextdoor. Done right, forums could be spaces where local journalism can thrive, build a real audience, and do the essential work of informing people on topics important in their lives, investigating corruption and malfeasance, and providing useful analysis. Unfortunately, the local forum is an oft-neglected area with a lot of potential upside for communities, local journalism, and American democracy. Watch this compelling discussion that asks us to imagine a wave of thriving, prosocial, public-spirited local forums, ones that are AI-enabed and community-led, and that increase community cohesion and resilience, while strengthening civic engagement and democracy. Speakers: Darryl Holliday, a local news strategist, organizer and journalist, is steward of the News Futures collaborative and an independent consultant. He co-founded the Pulitzer Prize-winning civic media lab City Bureau, where he orchestrated the development of Documenters.org in 11 cities. Eli Pariser, Co-Director of New_Public, is an author, activist and entrepreneur focused on making technology and media serve democracy. Eli previously ran MoveOn.org, co-founded Avaaz (now the world’s largest citizen’s organization) and Upworthy, and wrote the bestselling book “The Filter Bubble.” Leo Suarez, Founder/ Lead Moderator at The DTRaleigh… Read More

While there is general consensus among funders about the significance of the safety and security of journalists, many say that the actual implementation of safety and security measures is falling short. This discussion explores one compelling discovery from MIF’s latest research on the global journalism funding landscape: In a funder survey, when asked about motivations for supporting journalism, ensuring the safety and security of journalists ranked last. The safety of journalists is a global issue, not just confined to conflict zones or oppressive environments, and has worsened in recent years. Watch this compelling discussion featuring Adessium Foundation and the Committee to Protect Journalists:  Speakers: Ebru Akgün, Public Interest Programe Manager, Adessium Foundation; co-chair, Journalism Funders Forum, hosted at Philea Liz Baker, Senior Director, Humanity United (moderator) Katie Donnelly, Co-Founder, Dot Connector Studios Lucy Westcott, Emergencies Director, Committee to Protect Journalists This discussion was hosted in collaboration with the Journalism Funders Forum. Read More

The 2024 Media Impact Forum served as an important reminder that storytelling is the bridge we desperately need to foster understanding in a fractured world. Journalists and creators are on the front lines, crafting narratives that transcend cultural and regional boundaries. Their work is essential for promoting empathy and a more informed future. The Forum highlighted the crucial role of funders in supporting these efforts. Read More

How can news leaders and funders work together to advance diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the journalism industry? In this MIF Member Briefing organized in partnership with the Institute for Nonprofit News (INN), Inasmuch Foundation, The Joyce Foundation and the Pivot Fund, INN shared key findings from its latest DEI Index Report, which draws on survey responses and interviews with INN Network members to explore how DEI is reflected in the nonprofit news sector’s staffing and leadership, operations, engagement with underserved communities, and revenue patterns. Like the INN Index, the DEI Index Report aims to serve as a useful resource for the field, contributing to a much larger effort among journalists, researchers, funders and others to illuminate, discuss, innovate, and challenge the way DEI is and can be better reflected in the news industry. This session provided an overview of the research methodology of the DEI Index and key findings, as well as a discussion with newsroom leaders to share their experiences and observations on what’s needed to support DEI in news.   Speakers: Moumita Chakraborty, Director of Institutional Giving, Institute for Nonprofit News Susanna Dilliplane,… Read More

This member briefing was organized in partnership with the American Journalism Project and the Lumina Foundation. 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. Across the country, community-based philanthropic organizations are tapping into the promise of local news, recognizing it as an important civic institution that needs strategic, focused support. In February, the American Journalism Project announced the Indiana Local News Initiative—a new, statewide news initiative funded by $10 million from a coalition of Indiana organizations and philanthropies. The initiative already has buy-in from Indiana-based news outlets, and will help launch two new news operations, including a Gary-based newsroom led by Capital B. In this conversation, Sarabeth Berman, CEO, American Journalism Project, moderated a discussion with Michael Ouimette, Chief Investment Officer at the American Journalism Project, Kevin Corcoran, Strategy Director at the Lumina Foundation and Lauren Williams, CEO and Co-Founder of Capital B. The conversation detailed the successful fundraising efforts around the Indiana Local News Initiative and the launch of Capital B’s forthcoming newsroom in Gary, Indiana. Watch the recording:  … Read More

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 acknowledged that it was just a short time ago that she was sitting in the room as a member, when she was on staff at the Knight Foundation, and how pleased she was now to be welcoming us all to her conference. Special thanks also to our partners at The Lenfest Institute for Journalism, who invited us to convene our meeting this year in their Lenfest Lounge at #ONA23. And it was an especially auspicious occasion for us, as we unveiled the new research project, conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago in partnership with MIF and The Lenfest Institute, under the direction of MIF consultant Jennifer Preston. Great thanks to the MacArthur Foundation, Arnold Ventures and The Lenfest Institute for their financial support of this important project. The conference itself was a powerful display of the depth and breadth of innovation and impact carried out by… Read More