Philanthropy plays a crucial role in supporting media that improves democratic processes. The exercise of free expression and the financial support that make it possible are especially needed in places that lack press freedom protections. Around the globe, media funders have been keeping an eye on troubling global trends and potential threats to democracy, journalism and free speech. As anti-democratic, anti-media rhetoric increases globally, funders supporting journalism work must understand and incorporate security issues into their grantmaking in order to advance essential reporting and protect journalists and journalism.

Safety and security emerged as one of the major themes in Media Impact Funders’ forthcoming report, Global Media Philanthropy: What Funders Need to Know About Data, Trends and Pressing Issues Facing the Field of Media. Produced with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, this research draws on media funding data from across the globe, as well as surveys, interviews and contributions from experts working in the field.

We invite you to join us on Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2019, from noon to 1 p.m. ET (GMT -5) for a webinar on how global media philanthropy can address journalists' security.

We’ll hear from:

Sarah Armour-Jones, co-author of MIF's forthcoming report, will provide an introduction to the research and share insights from the report.
Marius Dragomir of Central European University's Center for Media, Data & Society (formerly of Open Society Foundations), will talk about how funders should respond to dramatic political shifts, such as the deteriorating climate in Hungary that has affected his work.
Rowan Reid, Project Director of Journalist Safety for global nonprofit Internews, will share tools and practices to improve digital and operational security, and how the sector can work collectively to broaden awareness and implement stronger practices.

You can re-watch the entire webinar HERE