MIF announces 3 new members to its board of directors

Media Impact Funders is pleased to announce the addition of three new members to our board of directors: Kaitlin Yarnall, senior vice president of Media Innovation at the National Geographic Society; and Tim Isgitt, managing director of Humanity United; and Carmen Lee, communications officer with The Heinz Endowments. Yarnall and Isgitt, whose appointments begin in December, and Lee, who begins her term in May 2019, bring decades of journalism, media and grantmaking experience to our board and to the fields of media and philanthropy. “On behalf of the rest of the MIF board, we are thrilled to welcome Kaitlin, Tim and Carmen, who all bring extraordinary talents and passion for our mission and reflect some of the most inspired institutions in our field,” said David Rousseau, MIF’s board chair and Kaiser Family Foundation’s vice president of media and technology. We’ve engaged with our new members in a variety of ways over the years. Yarnall spoke at our 2018 Media Impact Forum about the National Geographic Society’s experience in science media grantmaking, and continues to play a key role in our convenings around science communications. Isgitt played a key role in conversations around the creation… Read More

Agenda 9 a.m.—Welcome and Introductions   Vince Stehle, Executive Director, Media Impact Funders David Rousseau, Vice President and Executive Director, Media & Technology, The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation 9:15 a.m.—Returning to Public Media’s Roots A conversation with NPR’s founding architect and one of today’s leading public radio reporters on how public media has served us for the last 50 years and where it will take us in the future. Bill Siemering, President, Developing Radio Partners Korva Coleman, Newscaster, NPR 9:45 a.m.—Policy Visions, Platform Realities How have the founding policy visions for public broadcasting translated into current cross-platform efforts to serve all Americans with news, education and insight? Korva Coleman, Newscaster, NPR (moderator) Michael Copps, former Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Thomas Hjelm, Chief Digital Officer, NPR 10:30 a.m.—Spectrum Auction: The First $2 Billion  With federal cuts looming, the spectrum auction may breathe life into local news and the public sphere. What are the plans for the first $2 billion? How much of it will go to public media? Tim Isgitt, Managing Director, Humanity United Patrick Butler, President and Chief Executive Officer, America’s Public Television Stations 10:50 a.m.—Networking Break   11:20 a.m.—Tech… Read More

By Tim Isgitt | Managing director, Humanity United I have a bias. I believe the service provided by responsible journalists is essential to keeping us all informed and engaged in our communities and the world around us. I am proud to play a role in supporting journalism. And in this time of immense social uncertainty, I believe the need for quality reporting, accurate storytelling and investigative journalism has never been greater. Read More