Media policies impact everything from broadband availability to the diversity of voices we hear on the public airwaves, cable TV, talk radio and in newspapers, and the volume and types of political messaging we receive. Today, the connection between a healthy media ecosystem and functional democracy couldn't be clearer.
Join Northern California Grantmakers and Media Impact Funders for a special funder briefing and discussion on the intersection of media policy and money in politics, and what funders are doing to support the health of both our media system and democracy.
We'll also learn about a newly released resource, Foundation Funding for U.S. Democracy, a mapping tool that tracks what funders are doing in this space that was created in partnership with the Foundation Center.
Target Audience
This program is open to NCG members. This is a free funders-only event and space is limited.
Presenters
Kelly Born, Program Officer, Special Projects, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
Michael Copps, former Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission and current Special Advisor, Media and Democracy Reform Initiative at Common Cause.
Yolanda Hippensteele, Associate Director, Media Democracy Fund
David Rousseau, Vice President and Executive Director of Health Policy Media and Technology, Kaiser Family Foundation
Recent Media Policy Updates
Last fall Low-Power FM radio celebrated a long-fought victory to expand local radio and expand the reach of local, independent voices and perspectives. But just recently the Federal Communications Commission unveiled its latest Open Internet proposal, which paves the way for paid prioritization of content -- a direct threat to net neutrality principles. Most recently in McCutcheon v. FEC, the Supreme Court ruled against campaign contribution limits to federal candidates, parties and PACs, which will change the political advertising landscape enormously. This comes on the heels of the US Court of Appeals ruling in favor of Verizon, regarding the FCC's authority to mandate net neutrality rules.
Learn More
Read Kelly Born's latest post about the new democracy mapping tool.
Be sure to read our wrap up post about a similar event we held in New York.