Media Content

Media Issues

GFEM is an advocate to our grantmaker colleagues, encouraging them to fund innovative media arts and public interest media—through support of content, infrastructure, and policy—as a vital form of cultural expression and essential component of our democracy. Whether providing support for documentary or narrative films, or efforts to close the national or international “digital divide,” or supporting advocacy and educational organizations to keep the Internet unrestricted, or highlighting media advancements being made in developing countries, or the evolving media policies in developed nations-GFEM’s aim is to provide small and large funders alike with information to assist them in making decisions about supporting the interconnected areas of media content, infrastructure and policy.

Content

A television program or film puts a face on an issue. A radio news feature or documentary brings a tangible reality to recited facts. Video streamed on a website underscores issues presented in plain text and can move people to action. Whether the content is targeted to public or commercial media outlets, funders need a working understanding of the entire media landscape in order to be most effective in their grantmaking. View Content articles

Infrastructure

A high-speed, unfettered Internet, community-based media arts organizations, PBS, NPR, Public/Educational/Government (PEG) public access stations, or mobile phones are all a part of our media infrastructure—GFEM provides funders with information to help them in supporting media infrastructure, whether local, national, or international. View Infrastructure articles

Policy

Restrictive media policies can curtail access to the content we do have through the infrastructure we currently have in place. There are clear roles for funders to play in helping to address media policy issues and GFEM works to keep funders abreast of the constantly shifting media policy environment. View Policy articles

What’s the job for the Public Media Corps?

[Source: Current, by Nonso Christian Ugbode; Dec. 14, 2009] The setting is not ideal for video recording — an intimate din of 30 people, clinking our dinnerware and participating in ...
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Leading Role for Public Media at 'Future of Journalism' Workshop

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[Source: NewPublicMedia.org, by Candace Clement; December 03, 2009]
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The Internet Must Not Become a Segregated Online Community

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[Source: Center for Media Justice, by Malkia Cyril, Chris Rabb, and Joseph Torres; December 1, 2009]

NYT Editorial: Concerns About Comcast-NBC Merger

[Source: The New York Times; December 6, 2009 ]With technology changing Americans’ media experience at breakneck speed, it might seem quaint to worry about the merger of an old-style cable company ...
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Dealing with Broadband's Rural Downside

[Source: Daily Yonder, by Sharon Strover and Nick Muntean; November 18, 2009]
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Why Open Video?

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What is Open Video and what makes it an essential part of an engaged, inclusive media sphere?  How does Open Video promote free speech, diversity, and participation?
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Net Neutrality & Social Justice for NYC’s Immigrant Communities

[Source: New York Community Media Alliance, by Jehangir Khattak, November 23, 2009] New York City is home to more than 3.5 million immigrants, about 1.8 milli
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An Experiment Gone Right: Sesame Street at 40

[Source: NewPublicMedia.org, by Candace Clement; November 10, 2009] Forty years ago today, a man named Gordon introduced us to Sesame Street. As NPR’s Robert Smith reported, the New ...
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EBay Founder to Start Up Online Hawaii News Service

[Source: The Honolulu Advertiser; November 18, 2009] EBbay founder, philanthropist and Honolulu resident Pierre Omidyar said he plans to start up a local online news service that will cover ...