"This report—which complements MIF’s in-person and online convenings throughout the year—aims to highlight trends in environmental media grantmaking, impact studies and examples of promising media projects, and insights from funders in the space. This report focuses on U.S. funders who give in ... the U.S. and globally, with funding data covering 2009–2019. Some grantmakers are newer to the field of environmental media philanthropy, and other earlier funders have shifted priorities to non-environmental media work. The big picture shows that while some funders have changed focus, overall funding is going up. We compiled graphics to highlight the top five media projects by four key environmental areas: wildlife, conservation, climate change and oceans. According to our grants data map, between 2009 and 2019, U.S.-based funders have made: $12 million in media grants for wildlife, $56 million in media grants for conservation, $81 million in media grants for climate change, $18 million in media grants for ocean-related efforts. The variety of media projects being supported—from geographic information systems to film and video—is significant, and targeted at a wide range of issues including land conservation, documenting and reporting on the impacts of climate change, wildlife protection and restoration of the ocean environment." (Executive summary) more

"Both funding and making media are now dangerous in new ways: Foundations, publishers, editors and journalists across the world are facing not just familiar forms of repression and censorship, but new threats from breaches to digital privacy and a notably uncivil online culture. Funders need to work ... more systematically to educate and protect themselves and their grantees. Power dynamics are skewed in favor of American funders: The data emphasizes U.S.-based funders, who appear to be setting the agenda for foundation support of media worldwide, raising questions about power dynamics between these funders and local foundations and grantees [...] Foundations can have an outsized influence on a country’s media system: This power can be productive or disruptive depending on the context. On the one hand, funders can support convenings, monitoring, regional partnerships and even media distribution from outside of countries where anti-democratic leaders repress the media. On the other, foundations can create perverse incentives through supporting initiatives that don’t match needs on the ground, or through short-term funding that leaves local organizations stranded." (Conclusions, page 5) more

"Since 2009, 3,106 funders gave $1.7 billion in journalism-related grants [in the U.S.]. Of that, $306 million was directed toward the Newseum. Excluding grants to the Newseum, the top 9 journalism funders to U.S.-based organizations have given $550 million, via 1,776 grants since 2009. Of the $1.7 ... billion, $326 million was for investigative journalism projects; $88 million was for constituency journalism projects; $42 million for citizen journalism projects; $185 million for advocacy journalism projects; $1.6 billion for projects in the journalism, news and information, general category." (Page 2) more

"Both radio and audio funding levels are growing, reflecting both overall funding trends in media and particular interest in using old and new sound-based formats in creative and compelling ways. Both formats are driving innovation across programming, with radio often serving as a curator of news an ... d information and community voices, and audio providing a democratized opportunity for truly diverse creators to share their stories. Both formats provide low barriers to entry, flexibility and ubiquity, offering funders tremendous opportunities to educate and inform, tell critical stories, engage communities and counteract consolidated and one-sided programming. Perhaps most importantly, funders do not need to reinvent the wheel, and can use the data map to find projects that align with their giving goals—whether by geographic area or populations served; content focus (science, arts, news); or goal (preservation and archiving, equalizing education for learning differences and disability)." (Conclusion) more

"Foundation Maps for Media Funding is a data mapping platform that brings the diverse and expansive field of media and philanthropy to light, allowing users to research and explore media and technology funding around the world. The tool captures activities related to media content and platforms; tel ... ecommunications infrastructure; media applications and tools; media access and policy; and journalism, news, and information that foundations across the globe have supported from 2009 to present. Specifically designed for funders, nonprofits and journalists, Foundation Maps for Media Funding enables users to see, understand and dig deep into the numbers, networks and trends surrounding media and philanthropy." (Page 5) more