Our grantees

2024

Africa and the Middle East

The Febrayer Network was created by independent media outlets from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to provide support that European and US donors often cannot offer. Its mission is to build a sustainable and secure ecosystem for independent media in the Arabic-speaking region by supporting media practitioners who share progressive values and are committed to serving the public interest. As a solidarity network, Febrayer enables MENA journalists to train and support one another by sharing experiences and addressing common challenges. A grant from the International Fund will allow the Febrayer Network to explore the feasibility of establishing a Regional Fund for Public Interest Media in the MENA region. It will also foster multi-stakeholder consensus on the Fund’s governance model and secure tentative commitments from the donor community.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is a leading organization representing journalists worldwide and has a longstanding collaboration with the Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate (PJS), its affiliate in Palestine. IFJ is actively supporting media reform efforts in Palestine and aims to support the Palestinian Media Sector Coordinating Group (PMSCG) which was launched in April, to lead the rehabilitation of the media sector and to initiate the process of establishing a national fund for media. The support from the International Fund is crucial given the current crisis in Palestine. The grant will strengthen independent media, support coalition-building, and ensure that reliable, unbiased information continues to reach the public during these challenging times.

Megaphone (Lebanon) is an independent online media platform based in Beirut, launched in 2017. Initially volunteer-led, the platform features over 30 contributors focused on producing critical and fresh news content. Megaphone holds an unquestionable position as an established actor within Lebanon’s alternative media landscape, highlighting stories overlooked by mainstream media. It emphasizes the voices of marginalized groups often discriminated by gender, nationality, belief, class, sexuality, or social status. With funds from the International Fund, Megaphone plans to expand its freelancer pool, refine its social media strategy, and develop new formats to grow its audience. Additionally, they will conduct audience research in Syria, Jordan, Palestine, and Egypt which may be useful for future intervention within those countries.

Asia and the Pacific

Graph (Mongolia) is a young media organization, producing reports, data visualizations, and multimedia content addressing social, economic, and political matters, targeting youth through its distribution on social media. It has a vast reach and following online, having crafted content catered towards younger demographics (Millennials and Gen Z) with concise video content, interactive articles, and interviews that effectively convey issues to younger readers. With strategic guidance and funding from the International Fund, Graph will be building and executing its strategic plan that ensures not just financial viability over the longer term, but also focuses on organizational management, creating operational support, and talent retention schemes.

Project Multatuli (Indonesia) is a collective initiative in Indonesia dedicated to carrying out the ideals of public journalism by serving the underreported and holding power accountable. The name “Multatuli” comes from the Latin word that means, “I have suffered much”, representing their goal as a public interest journalism organization that seeks to empower marginalized groups. The outlet produces data-based, deeply researched news stories and often collaborates with other news organizations, research bodies, and civil society groups that strive for democracy, human rights, social justice, environmental sustainability, and equal rights for all. Their work is available for syndication by local, national, and international media under a Creative Commons license. The International Fund’s support will enable Project Multatuli to expand its reach by tapping younger audiences, and build a stronger membership model.

Eastern Europe

Over the past decade, Diez (Moldova) has become one of the most popular online media outlets for younger audiences (ages 18-35) in Moldova. Initially launched as a platform providing practical information on topics like education and job opportunities, its growing popularity led Diez to expand its coverage to include daily news, current affairs, and in-depth explainers, while still focusing on the needs of its young audience. This ongoing transition has already proven highly successful, with a significant increase in audience engagement. The grant from the International Fund will further support Diez’s plans to expand coverage and help complete its transformation into a fully established media organization, maintaining its commitment to meeting the information needs of younger audiences.

Mtavari (Georgia) is a leading TV broadcaster with one of the highest reach in the country and extensive news and current affairs programming. In a media landscape characterized by political polarization, Mtavari has recently made significant progress in enhancing its editorial independence. This progress includes conducting a review and update of its editorial policy and establishing an editorial board as an oversight mechanism charged with upholding its editorial guidelines and safeguarding against interference. The International Fund is supporting the Media Freedom Fund, a non-profit entity with a mandate to support the work of Mtavari. International Fund support will help cover the cost of the news department, contribute to the sustained production of free public interest news available to a large audience, and the continued strengthening of the channel’s editorial integrity. 

NewsMaker (Moldova) is a prominent national online media outlet, offering content in both Romanian and Russian. Since its launch in 2014, the platform has steadily expanded its team and influence and has developed trust and professional recognition as demonstrated by its numerous awards. Renowned for its commitment to ethical and accurate reporting, NewsMaker’s content also distinguishes itself by offering diverse perspectives through a variety of formats, including news articles, investigative pieces, features, visuals, and multimedia content. The grant from the International Fund will support them in sustaining their current level of content production during this critical period for the country.

Studio Monitori (Georgia) is an independent investigative media organization that has been operating in Georgia for over 17 years. Known for its in-depth investigations and documentaries, Studio Monitor has earned a strong reputation for exposing corruption and human rights violations. Its work is frequently cited by other national and regional media outlets, as well as NGOs. In addition to its investigative efforts, Studio Monitor plays a vital role in advocating for freedom of expression, access to public information, and the rule of law in Georgia. With the grant from the International Fund, Studio Monitor will be able to continue its operations and sustain content production during this challenging period.

TV8 (Moldova) is one of the most popular TV stations in Moldova, providing national coverage in both Romanian and Russian, with a strong focus on news and current affairs. Founded by a group of independent journalists and civil society leaders as a not-for-profit, it is highly respected for its journalistic integrity and professional standards. Support from the International Fund will allow TV8 to maintain the quality and quantity of its public interest content, and strengthen its online presence, with the goal of expanding its reach to Moldovans both within the country and abroad.

Established in 2004 as a print newspaper, Ziarul de Garda (Moldova) has developed into one of the most prominent and high-quality investigative media outlets in Moldova, now with a print and digital presence. Committed to impartial reporting and serving the public interest, Ziarul de Garda has become well known for uncovering corruption and holding power to account. It has won numerous awards and its investigations have been credited with achieving real-world impact, including resignations of corrupt officials, sanctions, and criminal investigations. Support from the International Fund will enable Ziarul de Garda to experiment with new formats and information channels, bringing its public interest content to a broader online audience.

Latin America and the Caribbean

The Asociación de Entidades Periodísticas Argentinas (Adepa, Argentina) is a nonprofit organization, created in 1962, dedicated to defending press freedom, promoting access to information, and ensuring journalistic independence. With a strong reputation in Argentina, Adepa has a membership of 180 media partners. With the International Fund’s support, Adepa aims to create a platform for studying global regulation, advocate for content ownership rights, and address issues like algorithm opacity and government advertising regulation that impacts media sustainability. In addition, they will continue to strengthen their network of partners to enhance its work by focusing on sustainability, professional training, and intellectual property.

Agência Pública (Brazil), founded in 2011, is a major non-profit newsroom in Brazil focused on investigative reporting and independent journalism. With the grant from the International Fund, Agência Pública aims to strengthen journalism through “Instituto Pública,” which will offer a new guidebook, courses on ethical journalism, and establish a “Pública Fellows Network” to support young, diverse reporters. Additionally, they plan to boost sustainability by generating revenue from their training school and developing “Pública IQ,” a tool to track and measure the impact of journalism, enhancing their ability to influence public discourse and societal change.

Founded in 2010, Chequeado (Argentina) is a non-profit aiming to enhance public debate and democracy in Argentina through fact-checking, investigative journalism and innovation. With the International Fund’s support, they plan to establish a “Federal Network of Innovative Journalism” to expand their reach and support local media. They will also explore new revenue sources by commercializing their tech tools and offering services like misinformation monitoring. Additionally, Chequeado will strengthen their innovation and institutional development capabilities to support their new monetization strategy.

Founded 28 years ago, the Foundation for Press Freedom (Flip, Colombia) works to promote freedom of expression and create a strong media ecosystem in Colombia. Through this grant, FLIP aims to promote a more equitable and transparent media environment by designing and promoting a journalism fund to support the media. It will also foster the development of knowledge about the challenges independent media face in terms of regulation and sustainability.

Founded in 2011, GK (Ecuador) provides in-depth journalism focused on context and understanding to support democracy and human rights. Unlike breaking news outlets, the organization emphasizes transparency, politics, economy, security, environment, and gender with a human rights perspective. GK, like most media in Ecuador, is facing a complex situation of sustainability due in large part to the recession and the economic crisis caused by the threats of organized crime in this country. With this grant GK will be able to ensure continued access to high-quality, explanatory journalism for the Ecuadorian public. 

2023

Africa and the Middle East

Amplify South Africa (South Africa) is a continuation of the South Africa Media Innovation Programme (SAMIP), a media business capacity-building program managed by the Media Development Investment Fund. Over the past six years, SAMIP has successfully supported 27 media outlets in the country with a mix of advisory services, training, and financial support. The International Fund’s grant will allow Amplify South Africa to continue its important work, supporting a new cohort of independent media outlets with funding, coaching, workshops, and training with the aim of developing the tools and skills needed to experiment with different revenue and audience generation opportunities.

Association of Independent Publishers (AIP, South Africa) is a membership-based organization in South Africa that represents grassroots independent publishers (print and digital). AIP’s membership comprises hundreds of small, locally owned media outlets from across the country, including newspapers, magazines, newsletters, and online publications that publish primarily in townships, rural areas, and small towns in all 11 official languages of South Africa. The International Fund’s grant will support AIP’s work to improve the long-term sustainability of its members.

Established in 1995, JoyNews (Ghana) started as the first licensed private radio station in the country. It has evolved into one of the largest and most staunchly independent media channels in the country, renowned for exposing corruption within public institutions. The International Fund’s grant will support the station’s work to continue pursuing its mission in an increasingly difficult operating environment. This funding will specifically enable the organization to invest in essential digital infrastructure, including technological upgrades and staff capacity building. The ultimate objective is to optimize its digital assets for the efficient dissemination of content.

Asia and the Pacific

iToim.mn (Mongolia) is a non-profit online news platform dedicated to providing fact-based news, articles, and political analyses that speak to the public interest. iToim’s late founder was a well respected columnist. His legacy guides iToim’s current editorial mission, recently celebrating nine years of success. Moreover, iToim serves as a valuable training ground for aspiring journalists. The organization has identified gaps in its hardware and other key capabilities that have proved to be barriers to retaining staff and strengthening multimedia content production. With the support of the International Fund, iToim aims to bolster its efforts to address these challenges and ultimately elevate the quality and scope of its work.

Lemon Press Digital (Mongolia) is an independent, forward-thinking, and ambitious publication with a clear vision to expand its reach and build a reader revenue model, which would make it the first digital publisher to do so in Mongolia. The grant from the International Fund will support Lemon Press to grow its audience reach and engagement through developing a new portfolio of editorial products targeted at learning outcomes for younger audiences, increase its editorial focus on accountability and anti-corruption reporting, and develop an organization-wide program to enhance wellbeing and professional growth within Lemon Press’ young and growing team. Another key goal of Lemon Press within this program is to build on its existing creative format to explain complex economic and financial information to investigate budget misappropriation, and to promote civic engagement and monitoring.

NTV (Mongolia) is a leading TV organization in Mongolia that has been operating for over 17 years. Its public interest reporting has had a major impact on society by exposing politicians who use public funds for personal use and uncovering poor health and safety conditions in public spaces and schools. The grant will enable the organization to address critical gaps in data and digital capabilities, provide professional development opportunities for staff, and establish new processes and products aimed at expanding revenue streams and reaching a wider audience.

Ub.life (Mongolia) is a unique independent digital news platform specifically tailored for younger audiences, with a dedicated and loyal following. The organization’s core content areas include domestic and international news, opinion pieces, culture, and lifestyle. It also publishes Gereg, a Mongolian-language quarterly print magazine in collaboration with the New York Times. With the International Fund’s support, the outlet will further diversify its content offering and explore opportunities to strengthen its financial resilience.

Zuunii Medee (Mongolia) is the country’s second-oldest legacy print newspaper, has operated for more than 30 years as an independent daily newspaper with a motto: “Journalism in defense of the public”. The publication is highly influential, often found in the offices of government agencies, and helps set the daily news agenda for television and online media. The International Fund aims to support Zuunii Medee’s digital transformation over the next three years.

Eastern Europe

Information Centers Network (ICN, Georgia) consists of two platforms: Mtis Ambebi and Sakartvelos Ambebi, both focused on reaching underserved communities in Georgia with a particular emphasis on the mountainous regions. It plays a unique role in the media landscape, combining investigative journalism with solutions-focused coverage of overlooked subjects and regions, which often then gain traction at a national level. The grant from the International Fund will enable the ICN to continue its impactful work in remote regions, serving underprivileged audiences with limited access to public interest information, and inspiring civic engagement.

Netgazeti & Batumelebi (Georgia) evolved from a regional newspaper in 2001 into one of the leading independent media outlets in Georgia. Today the outlet is recognized for its steadfast commitment to professionalism and editorial independence. With regional (Batumelebi), national (Netgazeti), and Russian-language (Ru.netgazeti) platforms, they are able to reach large and often underserved audiences through their broad content offerings. Support from the International Fund will enable them to sustain their pivotal role in the ecosystem ensuring the continued delivery of critical and balanced reporting for a large, diverse audience.

Latin America and the Caribbean

Confidencial (Nicaragua) has operated in exile from Costa Rica since June 2021. Confidencial covers public interest issues such as migration, politics, and economics with a human rights approach and a focus on the most vulnerable population. With the International Fund’s support, Confidencial aims to counter the threat of independent media extinction in Nicaragua by serving as a successful example of exiled media in Costa Rica as well as expanding its distribution.

Cuestión Pública (Colombia), a young and digitally native independent news organization, is well known for its innovative investigative data journalism covering issues related to corruption. The grant from the International Fund will help Cuestión Pública strengthen its content creation model, develop new types of innovative and inclusive content, and establish itself as a benchmark for investigative journalism in the country. The organization is also looking to experiment with AI solutions to optimize its social media strategy and to improve internal protocols with respect to journalist well-being.

El Surti (Paraguay) stands out for its effective use of memes and illustrations in its reporting. The organization focuses on critical public interest issues, including climate change, disinformation issues, and gender-related concerns, always through the lens of holding power to account. With the support of the International Fund, the outlet is looking to further refine and expand its innovative approach to impact journalism. This involves testing and implementing new content formats, ultimately aiming to inspire civic action through strong investigative journalism and compelling storytelling.

Journalism Fund (Brazil). Instituto Incube, with support from Associação de Jornalismo Digital (Ajor), a digital media association dedicated to promoting a free, diverse, and pluralistic press, will begin the process of designing and establishing a Journalism Fund to support public interest media organizations in Brazil, in partnership with a cohort of philanthropic organizations, as well as practitioners in the media field. The focus will be on supporting those media that have had fewer opportunities to access funding and are underrepresented in the media landscape. This grant will allow the partnership to build the initial structure of the Fund and launch its pilot round of grants to independent media organizations.

Journalism and Tech Task Force (Brazil) aims to become a recognized knowledge hub and thought leader on the challenges facing the media sector, particularly as they relate to tech platforms. With the International Fund’s support, the Task Force will commission research on the relationship between tech platforms and media actors and disseminate findings broadly throughout the media ecosystem; support communication efforts to raise awareness and develop partnerships on the issue; and explore the creation of an ‘urgent response fund’ meant to enable support from civil society for public interest media. The Task Force will be led by the recognized journalist Paula Miraglia, and will be fiscally sponsored by IRIS, a donor-collaborative platform.

Founded in 1912, La Gaceta (Argentina) is an independent newsroom in the province of Tucumán, located in the Northwest of Argentina. La Gaceta is the fourth best-selling print newspaper and one of the most visited online media in the country. It is a prestigious institution known for its quality journalism covering economic, political, cultural, and local issues. The organization will use the grant from the International Fund to attract and retain a younger audience and innovate through the creation of new digital products. It will also engage in an internal transformation process aimed at nurturing innovation and inclusivity in the workplace.

La Voz de Guanacaste (LVG, Costa Rica) is a nonprofit bilingual (Spanish and English) digital media outlet focused on providing the local Guanacaste community with high-quality, hyper-regional investigative journalism. LVG is a leader in Costa Rica’s growing digital media landscape as well as a pioneer in collaborative journalism. The International Fund will support LVG to invest in AI innovation, produce more high-quality journalism that showcases a variety of traditionally underrepresented voices, and strengthen its connection with younger audiences.

2022

Africa and the Middle East

Bush Radio (South Africa) is a pioneer community radio station that has, for three decades, produced independent, non-partisan news with and for the lower-income and indigent communities in South Africa’s Western Cape region. Amidst troubling economic and political conditions for the region’s community media sector, the International Fund’s grant will help sustain the station’s financial, technical, and human capacity to work at the heart of its community, cover the news that matters most to its listeners, and further expand its audience.

Daraj (Lebanon) stands out as a bold, female-led news producer. Founded on the twin values of truth and independence from political funding and influence, support from the International Fund will enable Daraj to test out new formats and audience engagement strategies in order to expand the reach of its quality, independent journalism among a young Arabic-speaking audience.

Media Reform Coordinating Group (Sierra Leone) occupies a unique position in country’s media landscape as a coordinating body that has brought together the media sector to support research, reform, and capacity building. MRCG is now spearheading the creation of a National Fund for Public Interest Media, meant to support a diverse range of organizations across the country. The International Fund’s grant will help MRCG develop the framework and infrastructure for the Fund.

Nawaat (Tunisia), a collective blogging platform born out of the Tunisian democratic movement in 2011, has grown into a leading, fiercely independent producer of public interest journalism. In the next phase of its evolution, Nawaat will use the grant from the International Fund to test out a range of new formats and audience experiences, with the ambition of increasing reach and engagement with diverse and underserved communities across Tunisia.

Raseef22 (Lebanon) is one of the country’s leading producers of independent news, publishing content that explores social and cultural issues from a diversity of perspectives. A hub for journalists across 22 Arabic speaking countries, Raseef22 will use the International Fund’s support to strengthen its partnerships with civil society organizations across the region, exploring new avenues for audience development while also building capacity for video production.

Studio Kalangou (Niger) is the first producer of public interest media in sub-Saharan Africa to be certified through the Journalism Trust Initiative. The audio journalism service produces content in five different languages to communities across the country that often have little or no other access to independent, trustworthy information. The International Fund’s grant will support Studio Kalangou to expand its original content and its efforts to fight disinformation, including through short audio and video explainers on social topics.

Asia and the Pacific

Himalmedia (Nepal) has a long track record of holding power to account. After several years of financial difficulties, the International Fund’s support will help Himalmedia invest in its vision for the future: a newsroom more representative of the diversity of Nepali society, a stronger presence on social media to help reach younger audiences, and continued development of the investigative and long-form features for which they have come to be widely respected.

Eastern Europe

DII (Ukraine) has provided uninterrupted coverage across Eastern Ukraine despite the forced relocation of its newsroom in 2014 and 2022. Funding from the International Fund will support continued efforts to provide fact-based quality news coverage and analysis to communities vulnerable to disinformation and propaganda in the occupied regions of Eastern Ukraine and beyond.

Liga.net (Ukraine), one of country’s most respected and enterprising independent news sites, has long been known for its business news. However, at the start of the Russian invasion, Liga shifted its focus to providing reliable and accessible coverage about the war to its audience. The International Fund’s grant will enable Liga to continue to offer this widely read content, while broadening its work and analysis to cover changes to society caused by the war and potential pathways to economic recovery.

Latin America and the Caribbean

Marco Zero Conteúdo (Brazil) is a leading producer of investigative journalism in one of Brazil’s most underdeveloped regions. Marco Zero is committed to elevating the voices of those most impacted by social and environmental issues as well as supporting other independent news outlets across the region. The grant from the International Fund will support Marco Zero in enhancing the impact of its content, expanding its audience, and further developing the network of independent journalism producers across Nordeste that it helps to lead.

Mutante (Colombia) is a news producer pushing the boundaries of traditional journalism. It is continuously experimenting with new formats and approaches to audience engagement, with the aim of tackling polarization and building collective knowledge around complex social issues including mental health, gender equity, and climate change. The grant from the International Fund will support Mutante’s development of new, innovative editorial products, audience tracking technology, and a sector-leading staff wellbeing program.

Nexo (Brazil) is a trailblazing independent news outlet, popular with younger audiences, that fuses high-quality, balanced reporting with creative and experimental formats. The grant from the International Fund funding will help Nexo grow the production and distribution of its journalistic content and expand its audience reach throughout the country.

Vorágine (Colombia) is a dynamic investigative journalism start-up that is finding ways to reach young audiences with quality information. Its use of illustration and graphic novels to disseminate the findings of investigative reporting has proved promising. Vorágine now seeks to build on its initial success and use the grant from the International Fund to increase the capacity of its newsroom and strengthen its approach to audience engagement.