Support for the fund
As we start fundraising in earnest, we will need political and diplomatic leadership from those countries and stakeholders most committed to reinvigorating democracy.
The Fund represents an unprecedented opportunity for international cooperation between governments, large technology companies, other corporations, and other sources of philanthropic capital to mount an ambitious, concerted effort to sustain the future of the world’s public interest media.
Those who support the Fund are ever more confident that it is needed urgently, that credible alternative strategies to support media at scale are not available, and that the democratic and development costs of failing to act escalate by the day.
United Nations Secretary-General
Antonio Guterres welcomes the creation of the International Fund for Public Interest Media. Ensuring sufficient funding and support is crucial to securing the long-term future of independent media organisations, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
Support, inspiration and encouragement for the fund are snowballing…
“Globally, only 0.3% of development funds go to media, and independent news groups will need help to survive the next few years of our information dystopia. This is why there is an effort to establish an International Fund for Public Interest Media… I am part of its Advisory Group.”
Maria Ressa
‘Rappler As democracy dies, we build a global future’
“Newspapers alone are looking at loss that could amount to a $30 billion drop in expected revenues in 2020 going by responses from our strategic sample. Huge risk of market failure. Urgent need to discuss responses, where policy or initiatives like the proposed International Fund for Public Interest Media.”
Dr Rasmus Kleis Nielsen
Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism and IFPIM Advisory Group member
Mark Nelson
Senior Director, Center for International Media Assistance
“Thousands of small grants have been given to journalists around the world by different foundations, companies and governments. But there is an understanding that saving journalism means thinking far bigger. Luminate is sponsoring a billion dollar International Fund for Public Interest Media.”
Dr Anya Schiffrin
Saving Journalism: A vision for the Post-Covid World, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung
“Democratic governments, tech companies and other stakeholders need to invest in public interest funds to support media that counters disinformation [such as] a major new global fund to strengthen public interest reporting around the world”
Peter Promerantsev
London School of Economics Maryam Forum report
Colin Crowell
US Representative, International Fund for Public Interest Media
“Support network funder initiatives that seek to foster new journalism investors with the assurance of independence and transparency – for example the International Fund for Public Interest Media”
Journalism and the Pandemic
10 key takeaways from the philanthropist’s roundtable, ICFJ and Tow Center
“I am personally backing an International Fund for Public Interest Media designed to draw on international development and other philanthropic resources to support independent media, both here in Africa and more broadly as media organisations adjust from a dying business model to one that has yet to be born. I appeal to our international partners and those committed to supporting democracy in Africa and elsewhere to do so too.”
His Excellency John A Kufuor
President of Ghana (2001-2009)
Sheetal Vyas
Founding Executive Director, International Fund for Public Interest Media
Dr Rasmus Kleis Nielsen
Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism and IFPIM Advisory Group member
Maria Teresa Ronderos
Co-founder of the Latin American Center for Investigative Journalism (CLIP)
Dele Olojede
Nigerian Journalist
