Media Impact Funders 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 past 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 80 organizational members representing some of the largest foundations, and holds more than 40 in-person and online events yearly.
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A recap of our funder discussion on supporting journalists amid the COVID-19 crisis
Journalists are on the frontlines reporting on what citizens need to know to be safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Quality news at the local level has never been more important, but newsroom operations around the country are teetering on the brink of collapse in this new economic reality.
Highlights from our funder meeting at the Sundance Film Film Festival
Last month, Media Impact Funders (MIF) made its annual trek to the Sundance Film Festival, where we released our latest report—Decoding Media Impact: Insights, Advice and Recommendations—to a room of about 80 funders from some of the country’s leading foundations.