A Snapshot of Global Journalism Funding in 2024: New survey highlights how funders are examining their journalism funding strategies
Philadelphia, PA: Media Impact Funders (2024), 10 pp.
"Finding #1: Funders distributed the majority of funds within North America
Finding #2: The majority of foundations report an increase in journalism funding in the past five years. However, foundations are mixed on where journalism fits as a priority.
Finding #3: Journalism funds are most likely to come from a dedicated journalism portfolio (57.5% respondents), but they can come from a variety of portfolios or other sources such as leadership discretionary resources or donor advised funds.
Finding #4: Foundations have a variety of motivations for supporting journalism. They are most motivated by bolstering trustworthy news and counteracting misinformation, and least likely to be focused on promoting the safety of journalists.
Finding #5: Foundations primarily support news organizations, followed closely by supporting journalism education and training.
Finding #6: Funders face a variety of challenges when it comes to supporting journalism. Over half of respondents were concerned with supporting viable business models in the context of the instability of the larger journalism industry. Only three respondents listed increased danger for journalism grantees as a challenge.
Finding #7: Despite these challenges, funders remain overwhelmingly optimistic about philanthropy’s opportunity to make an impact in journalism." (Pages 4-8)
Finding #2: The majority of foundations report an increase in journalism funding in the past five years. However, foundations are mixed on where journalism fits as a priority.
Finding #3: Journalism funds are most likely to come from a dedicated journalism portfolio (57.5% respondents), but they can come from a variety of portfolios or other sources such as leadership discretionary resources or donor advised funds.
Finding #4: Foundations have a variety of motivations for supporting journalism. They are most motivated by bolstering trustworthy news and counteracting misinformation, and least likely to be focused on promoting the safety of journalists.
Finding #5: Foundations primarily support news organizations, followed closely by supporting journalism education and training.
Finding #6: Funders face a variety of challenges when it comes to supporting journalism. Over half of respondents were concerned with supporting viable business models in the context of the instability of the larger journalism industry. Only three respondents listed increased danger for journalism grantees as a challenge.
Finding #7: Despite these challenges, funders remain overwhelmingly optimistic about philanthropy’s opportunity to make an impact in journalism." (Pages 4-8)
"Based on a survey of media funders and conversations with funders and journalists, this research—conducted by Dot Connector Studio on behalf of Media Impact Funders—provides deeper insights on how funders are examining their own journalism funding strategies. Survey respondents included 47 funders of all sizes encompassing private, community, and family foundations; public charities; regranting organizations; pooled funds and venture philanthropy models; and individual donors. Geographical locations of respondents included the United States, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Two respondents had headquarters in multiple geographic locations. In addition to the survey, we held conversations with funders and journalists located in Nigeria—where journalism funding in Africa is concentrated—as well as Ukraine and the U.S. to add additional context. All responses are anonymous. In combination with this report, we have published complementary research on how 25 of the top journalism funders are funding journalism." Using data from our media grants data map, Foundation Maps for Media Funding, we found that 25 of the top media funders gave over $1 billion in journalism funds from 2018-2022. The bulk of funds went to North American recipients, with 5.5 percent going to European recipients, 3 percent to African recipients, and .5 percent to Asian recipients. In 2022, these foundations dedicated an average of 7.3 percent of their total giving to journalism projects, and 14.3 percent to media projects more generally." (About this report, page 3)
