Media Impact Funders

Catherine Devine, Rita Allen Foundation Civic Science Fellow 2024-25, shares reflections from this year's #JFunders gathering: "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," Devine says. "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." Read her full write-up here: https://lnkd.in/gfsKnX7F

?? Exciting News! ?? We are thrilled to announce that four short films featuring #SkollAwardees have won honors at the 4th Annual Anthem Awards! ?? The Anthem Awards celebrate impactful work across various causes, and we are proud to be recognized among such inspiring organizations and individuals. Here are the award-winning films: ?? Bronze: "Meedan - Ed Bice" - 2024 Skoll Awardee in Film, Video, Television or Show: Responsible Technology ?? Silver: "It's Not About the Question" - 2024 Skoll Awardee in Film, Video, Television or Show: Humanitarian Action & Services ?? Gold: "IllumiNative Org - Crystal Echo Hawk & Michael Johnson" - 2024 Skoll Awardee in Film, Video, Television or Show: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion ?? Gold: "Food For Education - Wawira Njiru" - 2024 Skoll Awardee in Film, Video, Television or Show: Education, Art & Culture We are grateful to our Awardees for sharing their compelling stories and their dedication to advancing solutions to problems in their communities and around the world. We are also incredibly proud of our team members, Gabriel Diamond and Phil Collis, who directed and produced these films. Their dedication and creativity have brought these important stories to life. Check out a playlist with all of the #SkollAwardee films and learn about their inspiring work at https://skoll.wf/4fGQZ9W #AnthemAwards #SocialImpact

Monika Bauerlein, CEO of Reveal from the Center for Investigative Reporting, which recently merged with Mother Jones, makes a compelling case at #JFunders24 for supporting journalism mergers and acquisitions. “Investigative journalism is hard, dangerous, and extremely difficult to pay for,“ Bauerlein says. ”Can we afford to be invested in our organizational egos to the extent that we can’t think outside the box and think about how can this work get done the best?“ Watch the full conversation here: https://lnkd.in/evbTSit5

Just received this wonderful testimonial from colleagues at Technical.ly shouting out the efforts of our communications director Nina Sachdev to connect World Education Services — which is dedicated to supporting immigrants and refugees — with Technical.ly, a strong storytelling organization committed to filling information gaps for this community ??

?? Watch this powerful conversation from JFunders24 here: https://lnkd.in/ezhDSHDT

Dear colleagues, Like us, many of you are likely experiencing some combination of concern, sadness and fear about the outcome of the 2024 presidential election. As the Columbia Journalism Review?writes?today, “A second Trump administration is poised to be devastating to journalism.” We understand the clear and present danger to individual journalists and the institutions they represent.?Now, it is imperative that funders step up to safeguard this work.?Your role in helping to reclaim these narratives is crucial in empowering journalists, filmmakers and storytellers to investigate, report, and hold power accountable. By investing in independent journalism and storytelling, you are investing in the truth, transparency, and the very foundation of our democratic society. In November 2016—in response to funders’ concerns about what a Trump presidency would mean for journalism—MIF started organizing monthly calls to help journalism and media funders make their work more effective and efficient through peer learning and strategic partnerships. We’ve been hosting these calls ever since. In addition to our monthly call schedule, MIF is also offering the opportunity to join a special funder briefing on how we can and should move forward with our work under a second Trump term. Please join us for an online meeting on Tuesday, November 12, from 2-3 p.m. ET.?The briefing will provide a platform for funders to discuss strategic responses between now and Jan. 20, big picture threats to the field, and what the field is already doing to mobilize efforts. Please note: You do not need to be actively funding media and journalism to attend this call. We encourage you to share this invitation with any funding peers in your network who are curious about the role media and journalism can play in supporting democracy. Register?here: https://lnkd.in/e2Xg3bSR Take great care. We hope to see you next week. —Media Impact Funders

Funders: Turn your election anxiety into plans to support your grantees in the coming weeks and months. Angelica Das shares some notes and resources from her recent session at Media Impact Funders conference. Read below for ideas on supporting care, safety, imagination, and scenario planning. With shout outs to Protect Democracy Jennifer Brandel Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection and more

On the most pivotal election day of our lifetimes,?Angelica Das—an associate director on the Public Square Team at?Democracy Fund—reminds us how funders can navigate election anxiety and prepare for what’s next. Angelica led a discussion at JFunders about how grantmakers are supporting each other, their staff and their grantees at a time of intense anxiety around the election. Read her takeaways:?https://lnkd.in/ecNRM-he In the meantime, MIF is deeply considering its role in this moment. If necessary, we will be ready to convene a post-election funder briefing as early as Monday or Tuesday of next week. No matter today’s outcome, we’re steadfast as ever in our mission to shine a light on your efforts to advance media in the public interest. Take great care today and this week. We’ll reach out soon and in the meantime, don’t hesitate to reach out with questions, concerns or ideas. Thanks —The MIF Team

Your friendly reminder: We likely won’t know the results of the election for a few days. In the meantime, some ideas for funders on how to manage anxiety, and prepare for what’s next: https://lnkd.in/esc64GaV #jfunders24

This Journalism Funders event was dynamic! I was grateful to have had the opportunity to share the stage with KQED Forum's own Mina Kim, CA Tribal Affairs secretary Christina Snider-Ashtari, and CA head of public / private partnerships Elena Chavez Quesada, talking about Truth & Healing between California and its First People. I can't wait to share the full film next year! There's a pic of us in the photo stream...