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

Privatizing the Public Trust: A Critical Look at Connected Nation

[Source: Benton Foundation - March 28, 2009]The $350 million broadband mapping program approved in the recent economic stimulus bill would be set back if there is widespread participation in it by ...

The Broadband Gap: Why Do They Have More Fiber?

This is the third in an NYT series looking at the lessons for the United States from broadband deployment in other countries.

The Death and Life of Great American Newspapers, by McChesney and Nichols

We understand that this is a controversial position: Only government can implement policies and subsidies to provide an institutional framework for quality journalism. [Source: The Nation, By John ...

Video: A Generation of Consolidation

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This short video by ReelGrrrls explores the impact of media consolidation on news content, as well as the impacts on youth producers and consumers.

‘MEDIA CLOUD’ Project to Aid Research on Media Trends, the Blogosphere and News Industry Dynamics

Harvard University’s Berkman Center for Internet & Society has teamed with Thomson Reuters to support the new ‘Media Cloud’ open research tool - a resource that will offer unprecedented ...

Emerging Trends in Youth Media, Youth Development, and Social Change

Last month, Global Action Project, People’s Production House/Radio Rootz and Youth Rights Media held a panel event at the Surdna Foundation regarding the cutting-edge potential of ...

Consolidation Won't Save The Media (Daily Newspapers)

Allowing a few big companies to swallow up local newspapers created journalism's problems. More of the same can't solve them. [By Joe Torres and Craig Aaron of Free Press - March 26, 2009]

Internet Typology: The Mobile Difference

[Source: Pew Internet and American Life Project, By John B. Horrigan - March 25, 2009]

NEA Stimulus Funding Guidelines Released, Deadline April 2

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has announced their guidelines and application deadline, April 2, 2009, to apply for "stimulus funds" through the American Recovery and ...