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

Last month in Charlotte, N.C., Media Impact Funders co-hosted a keynote conversation with Press Forward on the future of public media in a moment of profound change. With the federal government eliminating funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for the first time in more than 50 years, local public radio and television stations—especially those in rural, Tribal, and under-resourced communities—are facing immediate threats to their sustainability. Yet the conversation made clear: This moment is not only a crisis. It is also an opportunity to reimagine what public media can be. Moderated by MIF Board Chair Kayce Ataiyero, the panelists clearly articulated the value of public media and explored several questions around how to rebuild a system that can keep serving communities for generations to come. Luis Patiño, CEO of Austin PBS, noted, stations have always served entire communities across a lifetime, providing trusted journalism, educational children’s programming, music and arts coverage, and independent documentary film. “Public media serves the whole person,” he said. “Our value comes from our deep relationship with community, and that’s what makes new models possible.” For Ju-Don Marshall, Chief Content Officer at WFAE in… Read More

During our latest Safeguarding Media and Journalism meeting, we discussed the complex questions funders face about what is—and isn’t—permissible when supporting media and journalism in today’s shifting legal and policy landscape. We heard from Maya Raghu—Director of the Protecting and Advancing Diversity Equity, and Inclusion Initiative at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law—who offered guidance on funding initiatives related to DEI and Abby Levine—Associate General Counsel and Senior Policy Counsel at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation—who offered guidance on funding advocacy efforts.  … Read More

In just four years, The Carmack Collective has established itself as one of the boldest philanthropic actors in the climate space. To support movement building and cultural change, Carmack invests in a range of media activities, from investigative journalism to comedy, animation, and gaming. Throughout this work, they remain committed to trust-based philanthropy and a belief in the power of storytelling to challenge assumptions about fossil fuel and climate change. In this Member Spotlight Q&A, Carmack’s Founder and Executive Director Jessie Bluedorn and Director Ricky Benavidez share how Carmack is countering industry disinformation, rethinking philanthropy’s role in narrative change, and building a pipeline of creative projects designed to shift culture at scale. Nina Sachdev: I don’t think we can talk about Carmack’s mission of combatting and dismantling the fossil fuel industry without talking about the persistent narratives that the industry uses to maintain its power. Fossil fuel companies have invested heavily in shaping public perception for decades. How is Carmack thinking about countering them through media and storytelling? Jessie Bluedorn: One of the most prolific and harmful false narratives is that fossil fuels are essential and therefore good. For example, we see this narrative pushed by industry via numerous TV ads depicting a… Read More

Last week, we welcomed Media Impact Funders’ new executive director Abby Rapoport with an online meet-and-greet for funders. The conversation, moderated by MIF board chair Kayce Ataiyero, was shaped by questions submitted in advance by funders, and offered Abby a chance to reflect on her career path, share what drew her to MIF at this moment, and outline her early priorities for the organization. The following is an edited Q&A from that exchange. Kayce Ataiyero: You’ve done a lot in a really eclectic and interesting career. Why MIF? Why now? Abby Rapoport:  I started as a journalist and that was kind of where I thought I would stay for my whole career. I loved being a reporter and I also was lucky because my career started at, what I didn’t realize at the time, was an extraordinary moment of change in the field. It was the very beginning of nonprofit journalism’s ascendancy. I was the first employee at the Texas Tribune. I got to see how that nonprofit was set up and started. Then I ended up working in publishing, and have been a small-scale publisher for the past… Read More

Last week, Congress passed H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, which cuts $1.1 billion from public media funding, delivering a devastating blow to the institutions that millions of Americans depend on for trusted information, education, and connection. This decision is unthinkable—and unacceptable. Public media has long served as a critical thread in the fabric of our democracy—fostering civic participation, providing educational resources for children, delivering emergency information, and telling the stories of our diverse communities. These cuts threaten the ability of public media to fulfill its mission, but they also underscore the urgency of supporting its evolution. In order to be solutions-focused and forward-thinking, we should look at this as a chance to reimagine public media’s role as a trusted backbone of civic life. As public media is being reshaped, here are some questions for funders to consider as we envision its future together: ? How can philanthropy support public media’s transformation from a traditional broadcaster into a platform for local information and community storytelling? ? What investments in technology, partnerships, and infrastructure will help public media better serve communities at the neighborhood and regional level? ? How can funders help public media deepen trust and… Read More

Dear Friends, I am thrilled to announce that the Board of Directors has appointed Abby Rapoport as Media Impact Funders’ next executive director. Abby was selected after an expansive national search conducted by Korn Ferry and brings to the role a diverse set of prior experiences as the co-founder of a media start-up, the head of a legacy media outlet, a media funder and a working journalist. She is currently co-founder and publisher of Stranger’s Guide, an award-winning publication that explores how politics, power and culture shape daily life across the globe. With a strong emphasis on the humanities, featuring short stories, creative nonfiction and photography, Stranger’s Guide aims to combat stereotypes and expand global citizenship. It has received four National Magazine Awards. Abby has extensive board experience, including having served on the boards of Type Media, the Texas Democracy Foundation and the Bernard and Audre Rapoport Foundation. At the Rapoport Foundation, based in Waco, Texas, she worked collaboratively with other funders to build support for The… Read More

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is facing a potentially disastrous cut of federal funding in the wake of a Senate hearing last week on a White House proposal to make rescissions to federal spending for foreign aid and public broadcasting. The proposal would cut $1.1 billion in spending for CPB over the next two fiscal years, wiping out the federal support of public radio and television, long sought by conservative critics of public broadcasting. These rescissions are part of a larger piece of legislation aimed at cutting a total of $9.4 billion, mostly devoted to foreign aid focused on global public health, international disaster relief and alleviating hunger. A favorable vote by the full Senate is required by July 18 or the proposed spending reductions will fail to be enacted. At the same time, one of the most powerful and prominent voices in public broadcasting fell silent last week when Bill Moyers passed away at the age of 91. Moyers had been present at the creation in the Johnson Administration, in the role of Press Secretary and one of Johnson’s closest advisors, as American public media policy was being crafted. And he spent many… Read More

Throughout the first half of this year, Media Impact Funders and our members have focused a tremendous amount of our attention to the myriad ways in which media and journalism are contending with challenges from the new administration. And so it made sense for us to devote our annual Media Impact Forum this year to the subject of Safeguarding Media and Journalism. And nowhere better to do this than the National Constitution Center, here in Philadelphia, at a moment when we are seeing increasing attacks on press freedom and attempts to cut federal funding for public media. It was great to return to the National Constitution Center, where we held our first Media Impact Forum way back in 2012. We always appreciate the warm welcome we receive from the NCC staff and reflect upon the values it represents, especially the prominent place of the First Amendment among all elements of the Constitution. Right from the opening of our program, we heard a powerful call to action from Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Maria Ressa, author of the best-selling book “How To Stand Up To A Dictator” and subject of the award winning… Read More

The media landscape is undergoing a seismic shift. Influencers aren’t just trendsetters anymore; they’re newsmakers who are reshaping how we consume and interpret information. With nearly 40% of young adults turning to influencers to make sense of current events, the lines between journalism, commentary, and influencer are blurring. How news is consumed and how stories are told represents a fundamental shift that is challenging the philanthropic community to confront a critical question: How can we ensure a future with truth-telling and a shared understanding of the world? Our 2025 Media Impact Forum addressed these dynamics and the implications of how audiences consume content on journalism, truth, and democracy. During our daylong showcase, we showcased the research, storytellers and projects that are redefining the way audiences engage with news and media. Below, you’ll find recordings of each session in chronological order so that you can watch any portion of the day. Bridging Impact: Nonprofits, Creators, and the Future of Digital Engagement Ashwath Narayanan, CEO of Social Currant, examines how nonprofits can harness the power of creator partnerships to reach and engage diverse audiences. This session spotlights actionable strategies and insights into navigating the rapidly evolving social… Read More