funding health journalism
DESCRIPTION
Funding Health Journalism. June 14, 2013. Funding Health Journalism. By investing in our three community outcomes. we will produce our measurable results. Journalism matters… . Why we fund health journalism. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Funding Health JournalismJune 14, 2013
Funding Health Journalism
Why we fund health journalism
Colorado’s media landscape
Our approach
Lessons learned, challenges
we will produce our measurable results.
By investing in our three community outcomes...
Journalism matters…
Why we fund health journalism
“Foundations are making more media and journalism grants not for the sake of media alone, but because they are finding they need a healthy news ecosystem in order to achieve their strategic goals.”
Why we fund health journalism
Our goal
To increase the quality and quantity of health and health policy information in Colorado
Colorado’s media landscape• Rocky Mountain News closed
in February 2009• Colorado Public News and I-
News were started by former Rocky reporters
• Social media (90 percent of Denver Post reporters are on Twitter)
• Focus on greater community engagement
• Breaking down of silos• Cutbacks at the Denver Post
and other traditional media outlets
Our approach• Started slowly, partnering with a well-known and
respected public radio station• Responded to opportunities as they arose• Through our early grants, better understand the
evolving media environment
What we fund in health journalism • Public radio station to hire a full-time health reporter (3-year,
$285,000)• PBS NewsHour to increase capacity for health reporting (1-
year, $100,000)• Education news service to dedicate resources to covering
health issues in the school setting (3-year, $450,000) • A digital media project of the University of Colorado focused
on health issues (3-year, $322,000)• An emerging nonprofit news organization to increase its
focus on health issues (3-year, $425,000)• A community economic development publication to highlight
community health and healthy living topics (1-year, $30,000)
What we’ve learned…• Important to be clear about roles of program and
communication staff• No clear path to financial sustainability
– Some have potential revenue streams (memberships/subscriptions, ads)
– Other foundation grants• Media landscape is evolving so rapidly • Enterprises started by former journalists that don’t
necessarily have business experience• Need a better way to evaluate impact
Amy LathamPortfolio Director, Health CoverageColorado Health [email protected]