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

Chaos and confusion; that about sums up the current U.S. political environment, right? “I think that’s the strategy,” Chicken & Egg Films CEO Jenni Wolfson says. “To unmoor us all.” A longtime MIF member, Chicken & Egg Films is our member spotlight this month. To celebrate their 20th anniversary and their work to support women and gender-expansive documentary filmmakers worldwide, we headed over to their offices to talk to Jenni in person. Reflecting on the current political environment here in the U.S., Jenni shared how Chicken & Egg Films is adapting its strategies to protect and empower filmmakers whose identities and stories are often at the center of ongoing attacks. Operating as a vital intermediary funder, Chicken & Egg is both raising and regranting funds to support, as Jenni says, the storytellers who “represent the world that we live in.” More than just financial aid though, the organization provides crucial mentorship and industry access, enabling filmmakers to craft powerful narratives that remind us of our shared humanity. That reminder is why, despite the chaos and confusion, “Chicken & Egg Films, first and foremost, is staying steady.” Here, Jenni discusses the shifting landscape for both filmmakers and funders,… Read More

 It’s hard to imagine turning a story of unspeakable childhood trauma into a film that can make you laugh and fill you with hope. But that’s exactly what writer, performer and filmmaker Gerad Argeros did with “Fox Chase Boy,” a short documentary based on his one-man show in which he confronts his trauma of being sexually abused as a child. In the early ’80s, when Gerad was 10 years old and served as an altar boy at St. Cecilia’s Catholic Church in the Northeast Philadelphia neighborhood of Fox Chase, he was sexually abused by The Rev. James Brzyski—one of the Philadelphia Archdiocese’s most brutal abusers, according to a 2005 grand jury report. Gerad stayed silent about his abuse for decades until the tragic deaths of two childhood friends, also victims of Brzyski’s, and the death of Brzyski (who evaded prosecution and died as a free man) moved him to speak out publicly. In 2017, he broke his… Read More

Canada’s media landscape includes a unique force for change: the Inspirit Foundation. Not only is Inspirit one of the most active funders in Canada’s journalism and narrative sphere (and the sole Canadian member of Media Impact Funders), it also stands alone with a 100% impact-invested portfolio, all driven by a singular mission: to shift narrative power.  In addition to its grantmaking, Inspirit has dedicated significant time and energy to advocating for increased philanthropic investment in journalism. Recognizing the gap between expressed interest from their funding peers and actual dollars flowing into the sector, Inspirit is actively working to make the case to other Canadian foundations to support media and journalism. That work eventually led to a practical guide, “Funding Journalism: A Guide for Canadian Philanthropy,” which underscores Inspirit’s commitment to bridging the divide between intention and action. Here, I sit down with Inspirit Foundation CEO Sadia Zaman to talk about the work to catalyze philanthropy, reimagine new narratives for Muslims, and the impact of the Online News Act on Canadian journalism.  Nina Sachdev, Director of Communications, Media Impact Funders: When and why… Read More

We’re just back from our annual trip to the Sundance Film Festival, and we have so many insights and ideas to share.   One insight in particular is worth calling out: the concept of narrative oceans, a framework developed by the Pop Culture Collaborative for understanding and influencing how stories shape our society. Narrative oceans serve as a powerful metaphor to describe the vast and interconnected web of stories, images, and narratives that shape our understanding of the world.  But “the hard truth is that large swaths of the narrative ‘ocean’ in which we currently swim are toxic — poisoned with terrible ideas about who we are, who belongs, and who does not,” writes Pop Culture Collaborative CEO Bridgit Antoinette Evans. “My question to you: In this toxic environment, what becomes of our imaginations? Our willingness to believe, to fight, to build something new? And if this generative superpower is destroyed, how can we possibly see the future that could exist beyond this messy, brutal chapter in America’s story?”  Right now, American democracy is at its most vulnerable because of the glaring, entrenched inequalities in our society. We have come to be defined… Read More

For more than 40 years, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), has been at the forefront of defending journalists around the globe, ensuring they can report the truth safely and without fear of persecution. As attacks on the press continue to escalate—both internationally and here in the United States—journalists face mounting threats, including online harassment, physical violence, and legal and regulatory challenges. In this Q&A, we sit down with Jodie Ginsberg, CEO of the Committee to Protect Journalists, to explore the organization’s insights on the state of press freedom, the critical role of funding in supporting independent journalism, and the unique threats posed by a shifting political landscape in the U.S. and abroad. CPJ, which joined as a member of MIF in 2024, has also recently announced the Climate Crisis Journalist Protection Initiative, a $1 million effort to provide climate journalists with assistance, safety training, and other forms of support. This conversation comes at a pivotal moment, as the world grapples with the growing weaponization of distrust against the press and an urgent need to bolster the safety and resilience of journalists everywhere. Nina Sachdev, Director of Communications, Media Impact Funders: CPJ is an intermediary, and I think… Read More

For our final newsletter of the year, I’ve asked my colleagues what kinds of media they’re into right now. The choices are endless these days, and I just need to know that there’s more to life than “Cobra Kai.” (I hope you all remember that this was the #1 streaming show during COVID lockdowns. And that’s all I’ll say about that.) As for me, I’m reading a captivating mystery by one of my favorite Philly-based authors, Liz Moore. “The God of the Woods,” which made NPR’s list of best books of 2024, follows the disappearance of a child from summer camp. As the search for her continues, a web of long-buried secrets and dark family histories unravels. If you like mystery and you have ties to Philly (or even if you don’t), you’ll love Moore’s “Long Bright River,” about two estranged sisters living in Kensington, a neighborhood ravaged by the opioid crisis. Even if you hate Philly, just remember: No one likes us; we don’t care. I’m also not even remotely embarrassed to admit that I’m watching a “Drunk History”-esque HBO series called “It’s Florida, Man,” which is the most delightful comedic dramatization of actual… Read More

We recently hosted an online meeting about how funders can advance accessibility in media and film. Throughout the planning process, our team learned a lot about what it takes to produce a virtual event that is inclusive and accessible to all participants. Dig into the steps we took below—we hope this will serve as a blueprint for you when planning virtual events that foster meaningful engagement in the future. Costs: Excluding staff time and honoraria for speakers from non-member, non-grantmaking organizations, the costs for this session was $400. CART Services – $180.00 per hour of service ASL Interpretation – $140.00 per hour of service Pre-Production Ensuring Disability Representation: We prioritized disability representation among panelists to ensure diverse perspectives and lived experiences informed the session. Timeline For most of our programs, we typically follow a 4–8 week timeline for organizing an online session. However, for this program, we chose to postpone it several times to ensure we had the necessary time and space to execute it thoughtfully. Following best practices, we prioritized a deliberate pace of four months to ensure all elements were properly addressed, no one felt rushed, and both panelists and attendees had ample time to understand and prepare… Read More

Position: Executive Director Location: Flexible in the U.S., with up to 33% estimated travel (U.S. and international) Reporting relationship: Board of Directors ABOUT MEDIA IMPACT FUNDERS Media Impact Funders (MIF) traces its roots back to the Council on Foundations, a longtime philanthropy-serving organization. Formerly Grantmakers in Film, Video & Television, MIF began on a volunteer basis in 1984 as an affinity group for funders interested in the power of film to highlight social issues. Reflecting changes in technology and media behavior over the subsequent decade, it was renamed Grantmakers in Film & Electronic Media (GFEM) and formally incorporated in 2008 to advance the field of media arts and public interest media funding. It had 45 members and was headed by former MacArthur Foundation Program Officer Alyce Myatt. GFEM was renamed Media Impact Funders in 2012 and has since expanded its strategy to include a broad range media funding interests such as journalism, immersive technologies, media policy and more. Since that time, MIF has grown to more than 120 organizational members representing some of the largest foundations and holds more than 40 in-person and online events yearly. Today, MIF represents changemakers in the media funding space, serving a… Read More

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

Catherine Devine (Rita Allen Foundation Civic Science Fellow 2024-25) shares reflections from the 2024 JFunders annual meeting in San Francisco: My first encounter with journalism was with my town’s Hometown Weekly—a modest paper that covered everything from local elections to dance recitals, graduations to high school football games. It was only recently, at the JFunders annual gathering at KQED’s headquarters in San Francisco, that I began to reflect on the role that little paper played in my life. Growing up, I didn’t know it, but the Hometown Weekly was like a quiet thread running through Dover, Massachusetts, weaving us together in subtle, necessary ways. It gave neighbors a reason to cheer on the local graduates, it handed a slice of fame to the high school all-stars, and in its own way, it held us—our community—steady, even if I was too young to recognize it. There’s something undeniably powerful in that, a reminder of what local journalism can offer when it’s done right: a small, constant current that flows through a place, letting people feel seen, understood, and connected. During the JFunders gathering, Snap Judgment founder Glynn Washington spoke about empathy as the backbone of good journalism. “Storytelling isn’t about convincing,” he said. Read More