Media

New Ford Foundation Grants Seek to Strengthen Public Media and Promote Innovation

The Ford Foundation today announced $50 million in grants for public service media in the United States. The funds will help innovative public media organizations to meet the public's growing appetite for in-depth information and diverse perspectives on national, international and cultural affairs.

This effort, Global Perspectives in a Digital Age, will 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.

"Public media has earned the public trust and is a proven trendsetter," said Susan V. Berresford, president of the Ford Foundation. "It is helping us all understand new global realities that affect our society and the ways in which our country affects others. Public media does this well and needs our support to continue this role. We expect that our grants will help key organizations create innovative programs, formats and distribution systems."

These grants mark the Foundation's continuing interest in the development and use of public television in informing audiences about national and world affairs. The initiative builds on the Ford Foundation's long history of support for public media, beginning with core funding in the 1950's to develop educational broadcast channels and programs that eventually led to the creation of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in 1967. Since 1951 the foundation has provided over $435 million of support to public television and radio for core support, innovative programming and educational outreach. This includes funding for the now legendary Sesame Street and for production of independent documentaries broadcast on public media outlets such as the award-winning Eyes on the Prize.

"An informed citizenry is vital to good governance and community life and these grants challenge media innovators to enrich our education and knowledge," said 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."

The new initiative's grantees represent the expanded field of public service media and encompass radio, television, Internet, satellite TV and print.

Global Perspectives in a Digital Age: Transforming Public Service Media $50 Million over 5 Years
	Totals (in millions)
Public Television System
Public Broadcasting Service	$10
Independent Television Service	5
Sundance Documentary Fund	5
National Minority Consortia	1.75
Subtotal:	21.75
Public Radio System
National Public Radio	7.5
Public Radio International	2.5
Public Radio Exchange	1.5
Public Radio Capital	2
Subtotal:	13.5
New Public Media Ventures
OneWorld US	1.25
New California Media	2
LinkTV	4.5
Subtotal:	7.75
Convening, Policy & Sustainability
Center for Social Media	3
Public service media finance fund	4
Subtotal:	7
Total:	$50

---

The Ford Foundation is an independent, nonprofit grant-making organization. For more than half a century it has worked with courageous people on the frontlines of social change worldwide, guided by its mission to strengthen democratic values, reduce poverty and injustice, promote international cooperation, and advance human achievement. With headquarters in New York, the foundation has offices in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.