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

Guiding Principles for Rural Broadband

The following document summarizes conversations emerging from the Rural Assembly process and was prepared by the Mountain Area Information Network (MAIN). 

Obama vs. McCain Tech Policy Comparison

This analysis by Wired.com analyzes what Barack Obama and John McCain say, and what they have done, about five key technology policy issues: achieving universal and affordable broadband, H1B visa ...

Study Shows U.S. Falling Further Behind in Internet Speed, Offers Rec's for Advancing Universal Broadband

A nationwide study of Internet connection speeds in the United States reveals little progress over the previous year in the country's median data download speed. At the present rate — a gain of ...

Historic FCC Ruling Favors Internet Freedom

On August 1st, a majority on the Federal Communications Commission voted to punish Comcast, the nation's largest cable company, for blocking users' access to the open Internet. In a landmark ...

A Big Tent in Denver Links Delegates to Media Reform Efforts

At the Democrats' recent convention in Denver, advocates for media policy reform created a unique forum to discuss the impact of media on democracy with an audience of the nation’s opinion leaders. 

Common Cause Releases Media Policy Agenda for the New Administration

This plan of action for the next president and Congress details the policies that advocacy group Common Cause has identified to ensure that the media is a full partner in enhancing our democracy ...

The Opportunity Agenda Releases an Affirmative Action Report

[Source: The Opportunity Agenda] Affirmative Action in the Public Discourse: Media Content and Opinion Analysis

Key News Audiences Now Blend Online and Traditional Sources

[Source: Pewresearch.org] August 17, 2008 - For more than a decade, the audiences for most traditional news sources have steadily declined, as the number of people getting news online has ...

Video: "Broadband Revolution: Developing a National Broadband Strategy"

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The United States continues to plummet in international rankings in terms of broadband adoption, speeds and costs. This panel discussion presented by the New America Foundation addresses policy ...

Rural Broadband? The Campaigns Talk

"Both presidential candidates promise to bring broadband to rural America. But...they have different approaches..."