Noncom broadcasters and other noncommercial media will be the beneficiaries of a major grant from the Ford Foundation. The effort, which it's calling "Global Perspectives in a Digital Age," will shower 10M a year for a five year period on numerous public communications outlets. In a release, the Foundation said it is making the commitment of funds to "...help ensure that public media organizations whose past innovations fostered the rich array of programs we now take for granted will have funds to create a new generation of programming in a rapidly changing media environment. They will help established and newer public media ventures use new approaches and technologies to expand international news, public affairs and cultural programming and reach diverse audiences that can help them attain financial security. Ford is also supporting activity that encourages independent media organizations to share resources, ideas, outreach and distribution strategies."
"An informed citizenry is vital to good governance and community life and these grants challenge media innovators to enrich our education and knowledge," said Ford Foundation President Susan Berresford. "The grantees will help us understand the news we receive from various sources, and contribute to the public dialogue that is essential in a healthy democracy."
PUBLIC TELEVISION SYSTEM
Public Broadcasting Service $10M
Independent Television Service $5M
Sundance Documentary Fund $5M
National Minority Consortia $1.75M
Subtotal: $21.75M
PUBLIC RADIO SYSTEM
National Public Radio $7.5M
Public Radio International $2.5M
Public Radio Exchange $1.5M
Public Radio Capital $2M
Subtotal: $13.5M
NEW PUBLIC MEDIA VENTURES
OneWorld US $1.25M
New California Media $2M
LinkTV $4.5M
Subtotal: $7.75M
CONVENING, POLICY & SUSTAINABILITY
Center for Social Media $3M
Public service media finance fund $4M
Subtotal: $7M
Total: $50M