Public interest media is under threat
Confronted with collapsing business models, well-funded propaganda and disinformation machines, and digital disruption, delivering independent journalism has never been harder.
Falsehoods, misconception and
disinformation are powerful tools for the few.
Independent, trustworthy information can empower the many.
Since launching the International Fund in 2022, we have tracked the vital role that core funding plays in supporting media organizations and their ability to resist external threats. Many grantees report that it has allowed them to pursue sensitive reporting, maintain higher editorial standards, and push back against pressures from donors, advertisers, and political actors.
of grantees reported that support allowed them to explore more controversial topics without fear of financial repercussions
of grantees reported that support allowed them to better resist external pressures
Economic Threats
Propaganda, disinformation and PR are all amply funded. Independent, verifiable information is facing a funding crisis. Commercial media business models have imploded with the rise of digital advertising. The pivot to subscriptions has placed quality information behind paywalls and in the hands of a privileged few. Under increasing hardship, more outlets are shutting down or risk political capture, especially in low- and middle-income countries where financial pressures are greatest.
Political Threats
Free and independent media is absent or severely limited in over a third of all countries around the world. Independent media is on the front line of attack when autocracies take hold. To avoid public scrutiny and stifle independent reporting, autocrats and their supporters are becoming increasingly coordinated. Newsrooms face intensifying legal threats, regulatory pressures, smear campaigns, and media ownership takeovers.
Technological Threats
Amid tectonic shifts in news consumption and the dominance of digital platforms, newsrooms are struggling to adapt and remain visible. Search engines and social media are downranking or outright banning news on their platforms. Generative AI is exacerbating media’s monetization problems, as click-through rates to media threaten to nosedive. Meanwhile, poorly-performing AI models reduce people’s access to quality information, especially for “low-resource” languages that are not a priority for global AI companies.
A Well-Funded Propaganda and Disinformation Machine
Russia is spending an estimated USD 1.5 billion a year on propaganda, including on content outside its borders, which is at least three times the foreign aid of the world’s largest democratic nations in support of free and independent media, and is not alone in doing so. Other major authoritarian actors such as China are also investing heavily.
