In episode 46, we talk to Sameer Padania about Philanthropy & Journalism. We ask why the media is looking to philanthropy as a source of funding; why philanthropic funders are interested in supporting journalism; and what challenges and opportunities this might bring. Including:
- Why has journalism come to the attention of funders and philanthropists recently?
- How are funders and CSOs using journalism to further their causes?
- How many funders see journalism and a free press as an important public good in and of themselves, and are thus willing to fund general journalism?
- What role could philanthropic funding for news media play in addressing problems like targeted online misinformation and the erosion of public discourse online?
- What should we make of the rise of non-profit newsrooms like ProPublica?
- Is the reader voluntary subscription model taken by the Guardian etc. is better than relying on a single major donor?
- What approaches are philanthropic funders taking to supporting news media?
- Is there a challenge in maintaining editorial independence when receiving philanthropic funding?
- Is the way in which philanthropic funding can take pressure off news media outlets to generate revenue a good thing, or is there a danger that it will lead to them losing focusing on what is of interest to an audience, and thus become less sustainable in the long term?
- Does philanthropic funding of news media undermine journalism's ability to hold philanthropy itself to account (as many feel it should)?
- Can ownership of news outlets exacerbate the distorting effect that philanthropy already has on democracy?
- Is there a danger that in encouraging philanthropic support for news media, we make journalism a "charity case" and thus undermine people's willingness to pay for it in the long term?
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