An ever-growing array of media platforms—from newspapers and television to cell phones and the Internet—saturates our lives in profound ways. Within this continually shifting technological landscape we support organizations working to ensure that today's media systems contribute to a better-informed citizenry, encourage public participation in civic life and offer inclusive and accessible space for analytical and creative expression.
Our work seeks to promote freedom of expression and strengthen substantive journalism that addresses important civic and social values. Our grantees support public policies that encourage media systems to serve and be accessible to the public's diverse constituencies, interests and civic needs. In countries around the world, they seek to enrich public dialogue on such issues as building democratic values, understanding identity and promoting pluralism.
Our grantees support public policies that encourage media systems to serve and be accessible to the public's diverse constituencies, interests and civic needs.
Key Strategies
Our grants focus on:
- Promoting open communication systems, freedom of expression and access to information through policy intervention and building public constituencies and partnerships to support those values
- Revitalizing communications law and policy in the United States to sustain public interest media, through knowledge-building, public education and grassroots organizing
- Promoting ethics, diversity and accountability in the news media through media criticism, journalism training and public education
- Providing direct support to media projects and innovative uses of new digital technology as well as exploring alternative funding and financing models that support production, distribution and exhibition