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Media Democracy Fund Announces
2011 Grants
Awards Grants Totaling $2.1 Million
(December 20, 2011 Washington D.C.) The Media
Democracy Fund (MDF) has announced final awards of $2.1
Million in its annual grant making cycle of 2011. MDF
partners with foundations and donors to ensure that 21st
century communications and information systems are open,
fair, diverse, and accessible.
“2011 has been an incredible year,” said Helen Brunner,
Director of Media Democracy Fund. “We’re living in a time of
monumental change – and there is no doubt that the Internet
and new information technologies are a catalytic force.”
Media Democracy Fund 2011 grants emphasize
projects able to protect the public’s rights, freedom and
access in this new age, specifically around six primary
strategies: Legal, research and direct advocacy;
Representing, bridging and building power; Increasing
knowledge and amplifying the message; Capacity building;
Copyright; and, Advocacy.
MDF grantees had a number of hard fought
victories this year.
· President
Obama signed the Local Community Radio Act, which creates
the opportunity for communities to have their own low power
FM stations.
· Halted
the proposed $39 billion merger between AT&T and T-Mobile.
·
Protected the FCC’s new Net Neutrality
protectionsfrom a legislative effort to overturn them.
·
Launched a copyright/free expression
campaign, “Free Bieber” which garnered coverage across the
world, including: CBS, Fox and The Colbert Report.
The Internet and wireless technologies are
changing everything about how we communicate and access
information. The town square, newspaper, library, telephone,
television, and more are moving online—but our rights,
freedoms, and protections aren’t always following.
MDF’s grants support grassroots
organizations, national advocacy groups and coalitions
working on a variety of strategies for influencing
communications policy, including organizing, popular
education, litigation, legislative and regulatory reform.
View a complete list of 2011 grants.
The Media Democracy Fund partners with
foundations and donors to ensure that 21st
century communications and information systems are open,
fair, diverse, and accessible. Our tailored grant-making
initiatives and strategic partnerships are responsive, high
impact, and able to integrate support for advocacy tactics. |