JFunders24

The Year of the Merger: Efforts to Solve Structural Challenges in Newsrooms

The year 2024 has been the year of increased consolidation in our sector. In our JFunders24 opening plenary, we explore the motivations, challenges and opportunities that drive journalism mergers and acquisitions, all in the name of financial stability and operational effectiveness, and the pivotal role of grantmakers in supporting successful integrations.

Speakers:

Monika Bauerlein, CEO, Center for Investigative Reporting
Kerri Hoffman, CEO, PRX
Nico Leone, President and CEO, KERA
Moderator: Kayce Ataiyero, Chief External Affairs Officer, The Joyce Foundation; MIF Board Chair

Revitalizing Local News: The Intersection of Public Policy & Media Philanthropy in California

The State of California has delivered substantial financial support for local news in recent years, with the creation of local news fellowships and more recently, in negotiations with Google to create additional financial resources. Alongside media philanthropy, public dollars and public policy can combine to provide a significant boost to public interest journalism. California State Sen. Steve Glazer has been a major advocate for local news in Sacramento, where he spearheaded the creation of the $25 million California Local News Fellowships administered by the Graduate School of Journalism at the University of California, Berkeley. More recently, Sen. Glazer authored legislation that would have required some of the state’s largest tech companies, such as Google and Meta, to pay millions of dollars to support local journalism. That legislation fizzled when a negotiated settlement was announced this summer, which is intended to provide much smaller payments to local news companies and organizations. In this session, Sen. Glazer talks to Lenny Mendonca—former chief economic and business advisor to California Gov. Gavin Newsom and chair of the Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund—about the potential impacts of policy on revitalizing local news.

Fact-Checking to Fight Disinformation with Meedan CEO Ed Bice

The rapid spread of misinformation has invited a cacophony of concerns, especially as generative AI has emerged as a leading culprit. But what if we could fight AI with AI? Winner of the 2024 Skoll Award for Social Innovation, Meedan has developed a powerful tool—Check—that leverages AI to help journalism organizations understand their audiences’ information needs and combat misinformation on closed messaging platforms.

In this flash talk, Meedan CEO Ed Bice shares more about Check.

Check facilitates the collection of questions from news outlets’ websites, analyzes content using AI, and disseminates high-quality, factual information, particularly during crises, elections, and other critical events. When the AI cannot find information on a topic, it escalates the query to journalists for human-powered fact-checking.

Facing Change: Anna Sale on the End & New Beginning of “Death, Sex & Money”

Anna Sale, the acclaimed host of “Death, Sex & Money,” reflects on the emotional turmoil and unexpected opportunities that followed the cancellation of her show in 2023 due to budget cuts at WNYC. Anna’s story took a hopeful turn when “Death, Sex & Money” was picked up by Slate, allowing her to continue exploring “the big questions and hard choices that are often left out of polite conversation.” Here, Anna shares an intimate look at the aftermath of professional and personal upheaval with Mikel Ellcessor, Executive Coach & Founder of Limina House.

Glynn Washington on KQED’s Acquisition of “Snap Judgment”

Glynn Washington, the visionary founder of “Snap Judgment,” shares details about his journey from launching one of the most innovative storytelling radio shows and podcasts in 2010 to its recent merger with KQED.

Performance Spotlight featuring SFJAZZ Collective

The SFJAZZ Collective has been pushing the boundaries of jazz for the last 20 years. In that time, the Collective has served as a bridge between jazz and the rest of the world, captivating audiences with its unique, unforgettable sound. For this musical performance, members of the Collective perform original compositions inspired by the de Young Museum’s About Place collection, which explores how artists are experiencing and relating to climate change, immigration, LGBTQ+ movement, California droughts and fires, and more. Experience the intersection of art and music as the Collective brings these themes to life through their innovative compositions.

Moderator: Gabe Meline, Senior Editor of Arts and Culture, KQED

Staying Human-Centered in an Automated World

Tech is evolving faster than we can keep up with it, so how can funders stay grounded in their mission? In this conversation, Jean Westrick, Executive Director of the Technology Association of Grantmakers, and Beth Kanter, nonprofit expert and co-author of “The Smart Nonprofit,” share insights on navigating the digital landscape while preserving the heart of your organization. Discover practical tips on how grantmakers can harness AI, build trust in a tech-driven world, and prioritize impact over innovation.

Redefining Documentary Storytelling: Ethics, Equity & Emerging Conversations

Join Carrie Lozano, a leader in the documentary field, as she explores the groundbreaking research study conducted by ITVS, supported by the NEA and Ford Foundation. This study was inspired by a growing criticism against sensational “true crime” content on commercial streaming platforms and the subsequent deeper conversations within the documentary community about power dynamics, authorship, and journalistic ethics. Carrie and JoeBill Muñoz and Lucas Guilkey—two filmmakers who are deeply committed to ethical and equitable storytelling practices—share how these critical issues are being discussed in real-world filmmaking. Together, they explore how the documentary genre is evolving to meet these challenges, highlighting the importance of values and ethics in shaping the future of nonfiction storytelling.

Media Grantmaking in a Changing Legal Landscape

The recent ruling against the Fearless Fund’s grant contest by a federal appeals court panel could significantly impact the future of charitable giving in the United States. In a 2-to-1 decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit determined that the Fearless Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the Fearless Fund venture capital firm, could not continue providing $20,000 in grants to businesses owned by Black women. In response, the Fearless Foundation agreed to settle the case and end its grant program. This crucial discussion with leaders in media philanthropy explores the broader impact of this ruling on charitable efforts, potential effects on philanthropy, especially those supporting communities of color, and strategies for advancing racial justice despite these legal challenges.

Speakers:

Khiara M. Bridges, Professor of Law, UC Berkeley School of Law
Carlissia Graham, President, New Media Ventures
Martin Reynolds, Co-Executive Director, Maynard Institute
Moderator: Mina Kim, Host of Forum, KQED

Storytelling for Reparations: Amplifying Voices, Transforming Narratives

Explore the intersection of media and reparative justice with a documentary project about the California Truth & Healing Council—established by California Gov. Newsom to re-examine and strengthen relations between the state of California and Native Americans. Through a close partnership with filmmaker Jacob Kornbluth, this documentary aims to educate and engage wider audiences about the diverse histories and nuances of California Indian Country, all while highlighting the importance of reversing cultural erasure.

Speakers:

Christina Snider-Ashtari, Tribal Affairs Secretary, California Governor’s Office of Tribal Affairs
Elena Chàvez Quezada, Senior Advisor for Social Innovation, Office of Gov. Gavin Newsom
Jacob Kornbluth, Writer, director; Co-founder, Inequality Media
Moderator: Mina Kim, Host, KQED Forum

Zette: Supporting Journalism, One Article at a Time

Tired of paywalls hindering your access to premium journalism? Zette, a new tech media startup, offers a solution: pay-per-article access that directly supports the newsrooms producing the content you love. Zette’s founder, Yehong Zhu, demonstrates how Zette is increasing our engagement with quality journalism by breaking down barriers, ensuring sustainable revenue for news outlets, and creating a win-win for both readers and media organizations.

Press Freedom Under Siege: Eric Meyer of the Marion County Record

In August 2023, the Marion County Record, a small Kansas newspaper, made national headlines after a controversial police raid. Authorities seized newsroom equipment and documents from the office and homes of Publisher Eric Meyer and his mother, co-owner Joan Meyer, who, shocked by the invasion, died the next day. While the paper was cleared of wrongdoing, the raid prompted widespread criticism as an attack on press freedom. Here, Eric shares his firsthand account of the raid and its serious implications for press freedom.

Moderator: Sandy Herz, Co-Founder, WUCO Impact

Reimagining Media for People and the Planet: A Look at Terraso

Far too few tools and resources are readily available to support effective decision-making at the ground level by the communities most directly impacted. Terraso, a new open-source platform from Tech Matters, was built to provide these resources for local leaders and empower them to tell compelling stories about their communities. Here, Amaya Webster, Program Manager of Terraso, introduces this innovative platform and its approach to reinventing the way media and technology serve communities and the environment.

How Listening Led to Policy Action on Local News in San Francisco

Fresh from the success of California Common Cause’s recent report, “Local Voices for Local News,” Media & Democracy Program Manager Maya Chupkov shares how community outreach and listening played a pivotal role in securing a groundbreaking resolution by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, which dedicated at least half of the city’s ad spending to community and ethnic media. This initiative was uniquely enriched by outreach efforts to diverse neighborhoods and ethnic communities, ensuring that community voices were at the heart of policy discussions. Discover how this approach not only fosters media diversity but also strengthens the fabric of local journalism.

In addition, Maya speaks about what it’s like to do local journalism policy with a stutter. The founder of Proud Stutter, an award-winning podcast and nonprofit, Maya is producing a film that aims to shift societal norms around stuttering and lift the voices of those with speech diversities.

Moderator: Sandy Herz, Co-Founder, WUCO Impact

Uncovering Hidden Narratives with Mapping Black California

Mapping Black California is a new data journalism project that aims to shed light on the experiences and challenges faced by Black communities across the state. This innovative initiative leverages data-driven storytelling to uncover hidden narratives and advocate for equity. Get a glimpse into the transformative power of data journalism to address systemic inequities and inform policy decisions, and explore opportunities to collaborate with data journalists and community organizations to create lasting change.

Speaker: Candice Mays, Project Director, Mapping Black California