Media Development Investment Fund

How can independent #media organizations build a great #pitch for #funders? What is it that funders want to know? Our Managing Director for Media Advisory Services Patricia Torres-Burd and Program Director for #LatinAmerica Ana Soffietto shared their advice on “How to pitch my Project?” to Associação de Jornalismo Digital - Ajor members at the 3i Festival in #RioDeJaneiro last month. For more information about the session 👉 https://lnkd.in/eZW_qmBs Swipe ➡ to take a look at the checklist.

#InvestmentAlert : We are pleased to announce our latest investment in Cambio Colombia, a news outlet in #Colombia widely regarded for its investigative #journalism, analysis and #opinion. Started in 1993 as a magazine with the aim to infuse critical thinking amongst citizens through its investigative pieces, Cambio was shutdown in 2010 owing to political pressure. Led by Patricia Lara Salive (one of the original founders) and with a group renowned journalists at its helm, Cambio Colombia was re-launched in 2022. Through this investment, we hope to help Cambio continue building a robust #business around their journalistic mission. More info ⬇ https://lnkd.in/eb8yacF4

Congratulations to our Senior Investment Officer (Africa) Lebogang Maphada for being appointed as one of the board members for African Women in Media. She, along with other inspiring women leaders, will contribute towards attaining gender equality in and through media in the region. Big congratulations once again to Lebogang and all the other women on their appointment!

“I won’t give up. I’m at peace, ready to spend three months or 100 years here.” These were the words of imprisoned #journalist and founder of Guatemalan newspaper #ElPeriodico José Rubén Zamora, whose detention under multiple dubious charges by Guatemalan Authorities has now been declared "arbitrary" by the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. Zamora's harassment by authorities exemplifies a crackdown on #freepress that has been unfolding around the world in different ways. Zamora's release would not just signify his freedom, but also re-inspire the faith of journalists, political activists and civil society agents that are tirelessly working to expose #corruption and malpractices under #authoritarian regimes. Check out the following links to know more about Zamora's case: Opinion published by the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention: https://lnkd.in/esCNCdPn Press release put out by Zamora's family- https://lnkd.in/evyE554i José Rubén Zamora, the fourth estate imprisoned in Guatemala: ‘I won’t give up’ - https://lnkd.in/e2H8Sxsd Guatemalan appeals court revokes order to grant house arrest to journalist José Rubén Zamora - https://lnkd.in/eCgd8hcu ‘Severe fair trial violations’ reported in José Rubén Zamora’s case - https://lnkd.in/eVsHB86m #FreeJRZ #ZamoraLibre.

Many congratulations team Media Forward Fund. What you have kicked off is timely and important. We wish you all the best on this journey!

Oluseyi Olufemi, Insight Lead, Dataphyte Nigeria and Oluwaseyi Ayeni, Senior Editor, Premium Times Nigeria (both NAMIP partners) will be sharing their experience of running two highly successful #media organizations in #Nigeria. Speaking at Interdisciplinary Corruption Research Network's 8th #ICRNForum being held in Lisbon between 27-29 June, they will be discussing the role of investigative #journalism in exposing inequalities while staying sustainable in times when journalism is going through a significant financial churn. More information : https://lnkd.in/dsJe89FQ

As we go through an #election year where more people will vote in a single year than ever before in history, we asked some MDIF clients what they learnt about #editorial #strategy and #innovation by covering elections in #India, #Indonesia, #SouthAfrica and #ElSalvador in 2024. To know what they said, you can read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/emasP2P4 Big thank you to the team at Josh Talks, Scrolla.Africa, El Faro and Project Multatuli for sharing their insights with us. If you are an independent media company that aims to report, analyze or create content around elections in your country, here's a quick squeeze of the lessons our clients and partners shared 👇

We are pleased to welcome The Continent News, Cape Town TV, Currency, Inanda Community Radio, Likhanyile, Mamba Online, Nthavela, Politically Aweh, Pulse FM 92.9, Vutivi Business News, Xenor Projects, and Zoutnet CC to the first cohort of Amplify South Africa, a tailored capacity-strengthening program aimed at helping independent #media in #SouthAfrica with tackling multiple issues impacting the country’s media landscape. Funded by International Fund for Public Interest Media, Amplify South Africa builds on the successes of MDIF’s South Africa Media #Innovation Program (SAMIP) which supported 27 organizations with #digitalinnovation and made six investments in promising young media companies between 2017-2023. #mediadev #freepress #digitalmedia More information ⬇ https://lnkd.in/dc8wXSZE

We are pleased to support the Africa Media Perspectives 2024, organized by Food For Mzansi, taking place in #Stellenbosch on 22-23 June. Apart from bringing leading voices from #African #media under the same roof, the event will also see workshops, discussions and networking opportunities for #journalists. Conversations will focus on navigating #democracy in the digital age and leveraging the power of GenZ journalists. More info 🔽 https://lnkd.in/enXsdd8c

Running a financially #sustainable #newsroom while upholding journalistic integrity is like walking a tight rope. It is tricky, challenging, and most importantly, requires great #skill. Interested in knowing how successful #publishers across #Africa have done it? MDIF backed #Nigeria #Media Innovation Program (NAMIP) will be hosting a session at the DW Global Media Forum on June 18. In the session titled 'The rough road to impact: How to keep #news outlets going', Múyìwá Mátùlúkò ,(CEO, Techpoint Africa), Deji Bademosi (Founder, TV360), Angela Agoawike (FNGE) (CEO,Omalicha Media Network) and Toun Okewale Sonaiya (CEO, Woman Radio) will be sharing their insights on what it takes to run a credible, sustainable media venture. More information ⬇ https://lnkd.in/eVaD5ZVr